Technology has long been in the classroom, and soon it could be in gym class as well. Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley introduced legislation last week designed to encourage the use of technology in physical education classes, and the bill is named for Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, who hails from West Des Moines. Continue reading Technology in the School Gymnasium
Tag: Video Games
Impulsive Lawsuit
Take a very good look at the picture above. On the left is Impulse Technology’s Trazer Interactive Fitness machine, while the one on the right is the Nintendo Wii in action. Do they look the same, because Impulse Technology has filed a lawsuit against Nintendo – along with several third-party game development studios, for violating a 1996 patent for an “interactive system for measuring physiological exertion.” According to Joystiq.com the suit is reportedly based on the “weight-tracking Wii Balance board (and the games which use it).”
Impulse Technology has claimed that the Wii too closely resembles the Trazer Interactive Fitness machine. Now what is curious is that the Wii was launched in 2005 and the Wii Balance Board came out in 2007, so why the delay until late 2011? Could it be that Impulse filed a similar suit against Microsoft over the Kinect this past July and is just covering all bases?
[Via Joystiq: Impulse Technology suing Nintendo for patent infringement]
Wii Gets Zumba Fitness 2
It looks like the music won’t stop, as Majesco Entertainment has announced that Zumba Fitness 2 has arrived for the Nintento Wii. The original game was the number one fitness title of the year, selling more than four million copies, and now the sequel builds on that and promises to take it to the next level, getting gamers moving.
Zumba Fitness 2 features new music tracks, electrifying choreography, new venues and double the number of dance styles from the original video game, inviting players to party their way into shape with a fun and proven program. The game sees the return of presenters Beto, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant as they guide players through each exhilarating routine, ranging from Merengue and Hip-Hop to Bollywood and Latin Pop. And for the first time, players can customize their own class with their favorite routines and track calories burned. Video after the jump
Will It be a Kinect’ed Christmas Again?
Last year Microsoft sold 10 million of its hands free controllers for the Xbox 360, making it a very Kinect’ed Christmas. And instead of sitting on its hands free Kinect all year, Microsoft – along with many third party developers – are offering the promise of another big season. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that by holiday Microsoft will have 75 titles that offer the promise to get off the couch for gamers. Continue reading Will It be a Kinect’ed Christmas Again?
Sony Move Bundle for $99.99
If you don’t have a PlayStation Move now you should move on over to the store and pick one up. Sony has announced that beginning this week it will be offering a Move bundle. For about $100 you can get the PlayStation Move controller, PlayStation Eye camera and two Move-compatible titles, Sports Champions and Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest.
Sports Champions remains a classic fan-favorite Move title and includes six challenging events including Disc Golf, Gladiator Duel, Beach Volleyball, Archery, Table Tennis and Bocce; while Medieval Moves is an action-adventure game that has been designed specifically for PlayStation Move. Gamers must help Prince Edmund protect his kingdom against the evil sorcerer Morgrimm and his army of skeletons. And instead of mere button mashing, gamers will use the PS Move motion controller to sword fight, shoot arrows, and fling throwing stars in your epic battles. This one also offers full 3D support, so break out the glasses if got ‘em!
All you’ll need is a TV and the PlayStation 3 of course, but for $99.99 MSPR this is a good way to get your inner gamer off the couch and moving!
Your Shape 2012 Promises New You in the New Year
httpv://youtu.be/PHcx-d8mOJU
Microsoft and Ubisoft have provided a few more details for its Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012, which will officially launch tomorrow, via the new YouTube video (above). The fitness/sports game looks to build on the past success of the Your Shape Fitness franchise and once again promises to help gamers get off the couch and get a little more fit via the Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 360. Never a bad thing.
Zumba Fitness 2 Details Announced
You can dance… for inspiration. While the Material Girl sang that lyric back in the 1980s, today you can dance for fitness. And you don’t have to head to a club either. The soon to be released Zumba Fitness 2 from Majesco Entertainment will let you strut your stuff with 24 dance styles.
Zumba Fitness 2 promises to get you moving with Zumba creator Beto and international celebrity instructors Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant as they guide you through exhilarating choreography that spans 32 sizzling new tracks and 24 different international dance styles. Whether you’re playing in Single Song, Full Class or Zumba Party mode that supports up to four dancers, you’ll have a blast with this unique dance fitness experience that shapes, tones and transforms you body and almost forget you’re not working out.
MotionSports Adrenaline Gets Momentum on Xbox, PS3
Ubisoft just released MotionSports Adrenaline for the Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation Move for the PlayStation 3. The game takes advantage of the motion-sensing controls to encourage movement. MotionSports Adrenaline has a number of extreme activities such as wingsuit, mountain bike, rock climbing, kayak, kitesurf, extreme skiing.
Continue reading MotionSports Adrenaline Gets Momentum on Xbox, PS3
Rush To Fitness From Zumba in 2012
Winter can be a good time to tone up for spring, and Majesco Entertainment Company looks to get gamers fit for the New Year. The company announced this week the sequel to its best-selling fitness video game for Kinect for the Microsoft Xbox 360. Zumba Fitness Rush will get gamer’s hearts pumping this coming February with another controller-free dance workout game.
Zumba Fitness Rush promises to offer 42 hot new music tracks, sizzling choreography and a huge variety of new dance styles and arenas, which invite players to dance their way into shape with a fun and proven program. Six Zumba instructors get you moving to the beat, including celebrity instructors Beto Perez, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant, plus new stars exclusive to the Kinect game: Kass Martin, Jason Thompson and Erica Pierce. Each star instructor personally guides players through choreography that ranges in style from Merengue and Samba to Bollywood and Latin Pop. Dance hands-free as Kinect for Xbox 360 accurately tracks your every move. Continue reading Rush To Fitness From Zumba in 2012
Dive in With Michael Phelps: Push the Limit
Even if the pool is closed for the season you can still dive in for a swim, at least in the living room. Michael Phelps: Push the Limit, which was developed by developed by Blitz Games and published by 505 Games, has arrived this week for Kinect on the Xbox 360. The game makes a big splash as it offers players the chance to compete against each other as well as against one of the most decorated athletes of all time, Michael Phelps. Fans play in quick matches in single player or local/online multiplayer against friends or immerse themselves in the challenging and fun Career Mode where they swim their way to the podium through some of the most breathtaking locations across the world, finally facing Michael himself in the final. Continue reading Dive in With Michael Phelps: Push the Limit
The Third Dimension of Training with Traq3D
httpv://youtu.be/8Y1I_soc_-Y
Fitness is now heading to a new dimension as Traq3D has announced the launch of the next generation TRAZER system, which utilizes the Panasonic Electric Works’ 3D Image Sensing Camera, D-IMager, as the preferred 3D motion detection device for this new product. TRAZER is an innovative interactive exercise technology that was featured on according to the company measures the previously immeasurable fundamental components of movement. It provides the power to detect movement asymmetries and weaknesses to guide rehabilitation, performance enhancement and injury prevention programs.
While this has the appearance of the technology used in current video games, such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft’s Kinect for the Xbox360 or the PlayStation Move, it is really a lot more says the technology’s innovator.
Continue reading The Third Dimension of Training with Traq3D
Alabama Schools Employ Wii to Combat Childhood Obesity
Sales of Nintendo’s Wii are down and the popularity of the gaming console isn’t as explosive as a few years back (you can now actually find one in stock, and for much cheaper), but the Wii is still name-checked as the first successful console to bring fitness and video gaming together. The Wii Fit accessory and “game” can be found in millions of homes (albeit also collecting dust is many households), and it is frequently referenced in popular culture. Despite the success it has achieved to date in getting people off their sofas, the Wii Fit doesn’t actually deliver the level of intensity a traditional exercise provides.
Never mind all that. Public school officials in Alabama still see the Wii Fit system as a way to combat childhood obesity in the state. The “Wee Can Fight Obesity” program uses the Wii Fit Plus Bundle and EA Sports Active games as a form of exercise three days a week during phys-ed class for third graders. The one-year program is rolled out to 30 schools, and was in 30 different schools the previous year; the goal is to expand the program to every elementary school.
The program puts a different spin on what is exercising. The kids don’t view it as torture in school, but as playing. Children are exercising and shedding pounds without ever thinking of it as physical activity. While the Wii Fit will never offer the benefits of true exercising or activity, it does give kids a positive spin on the dreaded P.E. class. Importantly, the Alabama program recognizes the threat childhood obesity poses and is doing what it can to address the issue.
[Via The Birmingham News: ALABAMA PUBLIC SCHOOL TURNS TO WII TO HELP FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY]
Golf Training Gets Mental
httpv://youtu.be/nOHa94jkqCk
Trying to improve your golf game might drive you “mental” as they say in the U.K., and as golf was born in Scotland we totally understand. But now you can improve your game by going mental in a totally good way, as in by using the Pro Mental Coach interactive program instead.
This program, which is based on neuroscience, is the world’s first mental coach of its time and was actually selected by the PGA Center for Learning & Performance. Users of the program undergo an initial assessment to determine mental game strengths and weaknesses. Following this assessment, the program customizes the appropriate “exergames” training routines based on the user’s skills. The proprietary, personalized Dynamic Intelligence System adapts difficulty level in real-time to ensure mental game training is optimized and the user gets maximum benefits in minimal training time. Continue reading Golf Training Gets Mental