[vicsireland] Putting the 'we' in Wii for blind gamers

From: "Ciaran Ferry" <Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 12:37:24 +0100

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20006305-247.html

VI Fit, a video game research project at the University of Nevada, Reno,
could help people who are visually impaired stay fit with active games
modeled on the Wii <http://www.cnet.com/nintendo-wii.html>  that do not
require vision (of the literal variety, that is) to play. They do
require Wii remote controllers and a Windows PC with Bluetooth support
or a USB Bluetooth dongle, but the games can be downloaded for free at
vifit.org <http://www.vifit.org/> .

  (Credit: VI Fit) 

"Lack of vision forms a significant barrier to participation in physical
activity, and consequently children with visual impairments have much
higher obesity rates and obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes,"
says Eelke Folmer <http://www.eelke.com/> , an assistant professor in
the computer science and engineering department who led the project.

Folmer says the two new games, VI Tennis and VI Bowling, are the first
of several to come, and that while they are adaptations of Wii exercise
games, VI Fit is in no way endorsed by or associated with Nintendo.

VI Tennis uses Wii tennis but with audio and vibrotactile
<http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13307>  cues to
instruct the players when to serve and return the ball, and it can be
played against other players with remotes, or against the computer.

The group says the 13 blind children who tested the game at Camp
Abilities <http://www.campabilitiesbrockport.org/>  in New York engaged
in "levels of active energy expenditure that were high enough to be
considered healthy <http://www.eelke.com/publications.html> ," which is
a scientist's way of saying they got the kids off the couch.

VI Bowling uses Wii bowling but with a novel motor-learning feature,
where vibrotactile feedback gives players clues on where to throw the
ball. The six adults who were evaluated playing the game exerted about
as much energy as if they had spent that amount of time walking.

Folmer's research team includes: Tony Morelli
<http://www.tonymorelli.com/tonymorelli/school.html> , a doctoral
candidate at the University of Nevada, Reno; John Foley
<http://www.cortland.edu/physed/faculty/foley.html> , a faculty member
in the physical education department and expert in movement studies in
disability at State University of New York, Cortland; and Lauren
Lieberman <http://www.brockport.edu/pes/faculty/lieberman.html> , a
researcher in the Department of Kinesiology, Sports Studies, and
Physical Education at SUNY, Brockport, who specializes in adapted
physical education, especially children with sensory impairments.

 
Ciaran Ferry, Web Projects, ESB ICT Group Software, 27 Lwr Fitzwilliam
St, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353-1-(70)27945 | EMail: Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx | Web: 
http://www.esb.ie <http://www.esb.ie/>

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[vicsireland] Putting the 'we' in Wii for blind gamers

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