The promise of exergames as tools to measure physical health

Abstract

Exergames are popular video games that combine physical activity with digital gaming. To measure effects of exergame play on physical outcomes and health behaviors, most studies use external measures including accelerometry, indirect calorimetry, heart rate monitors, and written surveys. These measures may reduce external validity by burdening participants during gameplay. Many exergames have the capability to measure activity levels unobtrusively through monitors built into game equipment, and preliminary analysis indicates that exergame measures are significantly correlated with external measures of caloric expenditure, duration of play, and balance. Exergames also have unique capabilities to measure additional data, such as the game challenges, player movement, and levels of performance that affect aerobic activity. Researchers could capitalize on the data collected by the exergame itself, providing an efficient, unobtrusive, comprehensive measure of physical activity during exergame play.

The Effectiveness of Exergames in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Previous studies have indicated that exergaming that increased physical activity in geriatric patients with a high risk of falling or with cardiovascular diseases was practical and safe [15][16][17][18][19][20]. The effects of exergaming on age-related impaired postural control have been examined in some studies [16,17,19].…”

“…Rehabilitation and exercises programs based on virtual reality are gaining importance nowadays, and the inclusion or adaptation of exergames in rehabilitation and exercises programs is a popular issue. The potential value of exergames, especially in obesity, cardiology, hemiplegia rehabilitation and in chronic musculoskeletal back and neck pain has been demonstrated [15][16][17][18][19][20]. But prior to the current study there has been no research investigating the efficacy of exergames in chronic inflammatory conditions.…”

“…Active-play videogames, also known as exergames, are a high-tech approach to fitness that could help some people become more active and stay that way [15,16]. Rehabilitation and exercises programs based on virtual reality are gaining importance nowadays, and the inclusion or adaptation of exergames in rehabilitation and exercises programs is a popular issue.…”

Play with Me! Gender-Typed Social Play Behavior Analysis in Interactive Tag Games

“…This can be achieved by implementing games where multiple players play together, such as interactive playgrounds [11,12], or by explicitly designing interactive installations that target social interactions such as competition [13] or collaboration [14]. To evaluate whether these games achieve their specified goals, questionnaires, observational studies, and interviews are typically used [15,16]. This leaves room for improvement as these measurement techniques are usually subjective and their application in analyzing play behavior is often time-consuming.…”

From traditional to interactive playspaces: automatic analysis of player behavior in the interactive tag playground

“…These methods consist mostly of external evaluations such as direct observation of game sessions, proxy reports, offline annotation of recordings, or asking participants to assess their own experience through questionnaires [84,85]. Many of these interactive systems are capable of analyzing information, interpreting signals and making smart inferences based on the data that is gathered.…”