Our summer intern Lynsey Gilchrist would like you to get up off your ass:
At the company’s E3 press conference Thursday, Nintendo announced a new game for its Wii console: Wii Fit. The game calculates players’ body mass index based on age, height and weight, then creates a set of fitness goals. The game features programs like hoop twirl (twirl a virtual hula hoop) and soccer heading.
Considering that 30 percent of Americans are overweight and another 30 percent are obese, whatever Nintendo or anyone else can do to get people’s heart rates up is a good thing. But virtual hula hoops and soccer?
Also Thursday, the New York Times reported on a growing trend of schools using Dance Dance Revolution as part of P.E. class. The article cites a study that said kids expend more energy playing DDR than sitting and watching TV or playing traditional video games. Of course they do—you expend more energy doing just about anything than you do sitting on a couch.
It’s the middle of summer. Put down the controller, go outside and kick around a real soccer ball. Maybe the calorie difference isn’t a lot, but virtual reality can’t compete with real fresh air and real sun and interaction with real people.
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Comments on this entry:
Great article!
I don't understand why so many kids (and adults) would rather sit in their homes than go outside and feel alive.