Zamzee to help kids get moving

Zamzee is a prototype device designed to “ignite a lifetime of physical activity in every kid.” It is a wearable activity meter combined with an online rewards program

The concept came out of a contest called “Ruckus Nation” held by Hope Labs. They then did research to find out why kids weren’t moving more and the GDitty–now Zamzee–was born.  According to the research, the device got kids moving about 30% more than without.

Tweens wear the Zamzee on a belt or in a pocket where it record information about how much the child is moving. Then the kid uploads the info to the Zamzee website where activity is calculated into points. These points can be redeemed for virtual goods or real-world rewards, including customizable avatars, gift cards or even gifts to charity.

Currently the product is still in research and is not widely available, but if you would be interested in participating in research, you can get more information here.

See also:

Getting Fit Just Got More High Tech

Help Keep Kids Fit and Health with BAM

Zamzee to help kids get moving is a post at Digital Landing.

Row Your Boat

The Wii is never at a loss for add-ons.  The newest addition is the Wii Rowing Machine.

The Wii Rowing Machine looks like a less than lasting rowing machine with pedal straps for your feet and a resistance changeable pull bar.  I don’t know how that pedal stand is going to stay on the ground every time I pull unless it’s full of weights, but that’s just a question.  Supposedly the rower will be compatible with Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort, and the Jillian Michaels work out game.  I don’t know how much of a useful work out it will be …

More than One Small Step

Forget the pedometer, no one cares how many steps you’ve taken in a day if you can’t find any relevant meaning in your movement combined with the rest of your day. That’s where the Fitbit comes in.

The Fitbit can calculate anything from the miles you’ve traveled and the calories you’ve burned to how long it took you to fall asleep and how many times you woke up in between. For $99 the Fitbit is definitely a calculating time savor, and with the health obsessions sweeping the states I can’t see how Fitbit can lose. I don’t know how I’d feel about wearing the little thing around all the time, but hey, it’s not as ugly as it could be.

A New Way To Resolution

It’s almost 2009 and that means it’s new year’s resolutions time.  Every year lots of people swear they’ll exercise more, at least now we have new tools to achieve that. (Even is you’re afraid of the video games and against “fake” exercise whether or not it works).  That no longer means technology can’t help you.

Sega (yes it is a toy company) will soon be sending help for those less motivated outdoors types.  The FiTrainer is a set of headphones with a built in motivational speaker (that’s the idea anyway).  It comes with three exercise modes and looks exactly like a pair of headphones.  The best part is that, at the very least, you won’t look like more of an idiot speed walking down the street.

Wii-itis

Achey knees, sore wrists and tennis elbow. No, it’s not the lunch conversation at grandma’s house–it’s what doctors are calling “wii-itis.”

Doctors in Britain say that 10 people a week are hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games.  That’s just crazy.

I presume that often these injuries are the result of people who aren’t used to being physically active over-doing it. The article also says that sudden movements in games where participants play tennis or run are also to blame.

One malady dubbed “Wii-knee” is blamed on the bending of the knee in the Wii-Fit game. I wonder if this is just a case of poor design or poor athletic conditioning.  Treatment for the condition includes months of shots and therapy.

I applaud Nintendo for getting people off the couch to play but perhaps there should be some additional warning about not overdoing it. I wouldn’t want to explain that one to my insurance company.

Play safe!

Interest in Exercise

I’m not much of the jogging type.  I like my comforts and my computer, but I have always had a weakness for the climbing wall.  Climbing walls have always been fun for me and never made me think of forced exercise but simple athletic pleasure.  Unfortunately my rock wall access has always been limited, until now.

Brewer’s Ledge Inc. has just released the at home answer for the rock climbing deprived, the Tread Wall.  The Tread Wall is exactly what it sounds like, basically a rock wall style tread mill.  You’re never more than one or two feet off the floor as the wall slowly moves (at your set speed) to provide another level of hand holds to reach for.  You can even adjust the walls incline for more personalized exercise.

I’ll say right now, I’m a fan, whatever that may say about me.  And one day perhaps I’ll live in enough space to get a rock wall of my own.

Zen Moment

Summer is on its downhill run and schooltime chaos is about to ensue. Stop. Take a deep breath and enjoy this moment.

Don’t let busy schedules and budget-busting gas costs keep you from your yoga class.

I found a free, hour-long streaming yoga class that is fresh every day for you to practice in the privacy of your own home at your own time. Yoga Today offers free classes videos at beautiful Jackson Hole, WY by experienced yoga instructors. Classes of every level are offered each week.

Currently you can only view about a week’s worth of classes from the site, but a full archive of low-cost downloads in the works. Can’t you see it now . . . you can download the file to your iPod, take it to a serene setting and have your very own zen moment.