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Research
Exergaming, Exertainment, and Interactive Fitness are terms that have recently been used to describe the merging of exercise and the use of video games to encourage physical activity. Yet, there is a major distinction that needs to be made between these terms and more clarification with the variations of definitions that have been used to describe these similar but separate industries.
An ongoing challenge with physical activity in our society is finding ways to make it more interesting, exciting, and appealing. During the 1990’s, the fitness industry encountered a positive response from customers when they incorporated traditional exercise pieces such as a treadmill or exercise bike with a television screen or other technology devices that allowed the user to be “entertained” as they were engaging in physical activity. This combination of using technology-based devices and exercise is called exertainment. In exertainment, the technology driven activity is not necessarily in the form of a game, yet it engages the user to have a more positive response to exercise.
Similar to exertainment, interactive fitness activities involve the use of exercise and a technology driven devices to encourage physical activity. Interactive fitness does not necessarily involve traditional exercise or the play of a ‘game’, yet, it spans across a variety of activities that require the user to interact with a device in some manner while exercising - not just being entertained by media. Examples of interactive fitness may include iJoy, Coretrainer, HopSports technology, etc.
Exergaming is a separate industry as it does not include traditional forms of exercise as a component of fitness. Instead, exergaming takes the form of a technology-driven game that requires the participant to use his/her body to play that game. The popularity of videogames have given rise to this industry as many of the exergaming activities are accompanied by screens that incorporate some style of video game. Not all exergaming pieces are screen-based and use video games to engage the user and enhance physical activity; yet, all do involve some sort of game that the player uses his/her body as the controller. Exergaming activities also provide users with a variety levels to choose from that promote self-paced challenges.
An ongoing challenge with physical activity in our society is finding ways to make it more interesting, exciting, and appealing. During the 1990’s, the fitness industry encountered a positive response from customers when they incorporated traditional exercise pieces such as a treadmill or exercise bike with a television screen or other technology devices that allowed the user to be “entertained” as they were engaging in physical activity. This combination of using technology-based devices and exercise is called exertainment. In exertainment, the technology driven activity is not necessarily in the form of a game, yet it engages the user to have a more positive response to exercise.
Similar to exertainment, interactive fitness activities involve the use of exercise and a technology driven devices to encourage physical activity. Interactive fitness does not necessarily involve traditional exercise or the play of a ‘game’, yet, it spans across a variety of activities that require the user to interact with a device in some manner while exercising - not just being entertained by media. Examples of interactive fitness may include iJoy, Coretrainer, HopSports technology, etc.
Exergaming is a separate industry as it does not include traditional forms of exercise as a component of fitness. Instead, exergaming takes the form of a technology-driven game that requires the participant to use his/her body to play that game. The popularity of videogames have given rise to this industry as many of the exergaming activities are accompanied by screens that incorporate some style of video game. Not all exergaming pieces are screen-based and use video games to engage the user and enhance physical activity; yet, all do involve some sort of game that the player uses his/her body as the controller. Exergaming activities also provide users with a variety levels to choose from that promote self-paced challenges.
Exercise Engaged: Defining Exergaming
Written By: Lisa Hansen, Co-Director USF XRKade Lab
The Popularity of Exergaming
What makes exergaming so popular? The popularity of video games has had a major impact on the birth of the exergaming industry and on its continuing advancement. Videogames have been accepted as a fun activity for our the current generation of children, or the gamer generation, but they have also been labeled as a sedentary addiction that is helping promote the epidemic of childhood obesity that society is currently facing. Exergaming is taking the fun aspect of gaming and adding the physical activity component that offers a possible solution to help fight the rising obesity levels. This clever combination has made exergaming attractive not only to the gamers, but to anyone interested in helping find solutions to the obesity issue.
What makes exergaming so popular? The popularity of video games has had a major impact on the birth of the exergaming industry and on its continuing advancement. Videogames have been accepted as a fun activity for our the current generation of children, or the gamer generation, but they have also been labeled as a sedentary addiction that is helping promote the epidemic of childhood obesity that society is currently facing. Exergaming is taking the fun aspect of gaming and adding the physical activity component that offers a possible solution to help fight the rising obesity levels. This clever combination has made exergaming attractive not only to the gamers, but to anyone interested in helping find solutions to the obesity issue.
What Does Exergaming Look Like?
Walk into an exergaming environment and the first response is that you may have entered into a Sci-Fi futuristic arcade zone with a mirage of illuminating lights and sounds. Some users may choose to strap on a “magic” belt and find themselves jumping around inside a game to avoid letting falling balls exploding if they hit the floor. Others may begin pedaling on a bike that will advance the character on the screen through an off road path while racing a friend or another ally in the game - the faster they pedal, the faster the characters move. Dancing may be preferred - stepping to the rhythm of a chosen song that requires foot-eye coordination to match up arrows that advance up the screen in a variety of directions. Many of these games put the gamer in a virtual or fictional world for extended periods of time. They are engaging and entertaining and they offer the user the positive benefit of exercise.
Walk into an exergaming environment and the first response is that you may have entered into a Sci-Fi futuristic arcade zone with a mirage of illuminating lights and sounds. Some users may choose to strap on a “magic” belt and find themselves jumping around inside a game to avoid letting falling balls exploding if they hit the floor. Others may begin pedaling on a bike that will advance the character on the screen through an off road path while racing a friend or another ally in the game - the faster they pedal, the faster the characters move. Dancing may be preferred - stepping to the rhythm of a chosen song that requires foot-eye coordination to match up arrows that advance up the screen in a variety of directions. Many of these games put the gamer in a virtual or fictional world for extended periods of time. They are engaging and entertaining and they offer the user the positive benefit of exercise.
How Does Exergaming Work
It’s simple. Children love games and are relentless when it comes to playing them as long they are fun and success is rendered. Exergaming activities seem to provide games that are fun that require the participants to use their bodies to play them. Part of the enjoyment in these exergaming activities is gaining the problem solving skills that are required to advance to higher levels. As players acquire such skills as chunking or HUD use, they begin to experience success at different levels of the game. This success keeps the players engaged and develops a certain level of attachment to the possible outcome of the game. The solution: players become so engaged and attached to the outcome of the game, they forget they are actually exercising.
It’s simple. Children love games and are relentless when it comes to playing them as long they are fun and success is rendered. Exergaming activities seem to provide games that are fun that require the participants to use their bodies to play them. Part of the enjoyment in these exergaming activities is gaining the problem solving skills that are required to advance to higher levels. As players acquire such skills as chunking or HUD use, they begin to experience success at different levels of the game. This success keeps the players engaged and develops a certain level of attachment to the possible outcome of the game. The solution: players become so engaged and attached to the outcome of the game, they forget they are actually exercising.
