Anyone who has ever tried to stick with a diet or exercise routine knows how difficult it can be. Other seemingly small tasks—such as taking medication on schedule or checking blood-glucose levels—can prove even more challenging.
Researchers believe they have an answer: play games with your health. A rapidly growing number of healthcare providers and others are turning to incentives and rewards to boost compliance—similar to the way that video games provide tokens or points for slaying dragons or annihilating bad buys.
Jesse Schell, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University and a video game designer, believes that real-life health games will soon be a common part of daily life. Sensors have become so inexpensive that they will be embedded in everything from shoes to toothbrushes, he notes. These devices will measure progress and together with software offer points, coupons and discounts.
Already, developers and equipment manufacturers are integrating games into their products. For example, an iPhone app called Munch 5-a-Day keeps track of the fruit and veggies you eat every day and offers badges when you meet your goals. A game called Re-Mission lets young cancer patients zap cancer cells while learning about the disease. As teens and young adults master information they unlock new levels within the game.
In addition, a Facebook game called HealthSeeker, offered by the Diabetes Hands Foundation, rewards players for healthy behavior. Another game, Zamzee, encourages kids to adopt a healthy lifestyle through exercise. It uses an activity monitor that connects to a website and offers points for rewards. Rewards include virtual goods and can be sponsored by parents or organizations who want to encourage kids to move more.
Meanwhile, Interactive Fitness Holdings, the manufacturer of Expresso fitness exercise bicycles, has developed an interactive video system that displays game information while a person works out. Participants receive points for chasing and catching dragons or picking up coins. They can tour exotic places and race their “ghost self” (based on their own past performance). The goal? Focus on the game rather than the drudgery of working out.
Expect these gaming platforms to grow and attract new users from all age groups. It’s human nature to desire rewards and the ability to succeed in the game of life ensures a healthier and happier future.
CONNECT THE DOTS
For a look at some of the health related games and simulations now available online or on mobile platforms, click to this directory created by the University of Wisconsin. For news and information about health-centric games, visit the Games for Health website. Also check out our blog posts, “Video Games Get Seniors Moving” and “Can Video Games Make You Healthy?”
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