2008:SOFTENG702:InterfacesForPhysicalPlay

BMJ=

In a study done on the energey expendature by adolecents playing new generation active computer games such as those on a Wii, over games of a sedentary nature such as those on an XBOX360, it was found that active computer games use significantly more energy than playing sedentary computer games.

Many adolecents have a mostly sedentary lifestyle[3bmj] and time spent at computers is not physically very productive. Adolecents also tend to spend a large amount of time on computer games[6bmj], and it is difficult to persuade them to relinquish these screen based activities.[7bmj]

Using an IDEEA system to predict energy expendature, five girls and six boys played on a relativly inactive game (Project Gotham Racing 3) and then a range of active Wii Sports games. The results confirmed that the energy expendature during active gaming was at least 51% greater than druing sedentary gaming. Wile this may only account for less than 2% of the total weekly energy expendature in these adolecents, it may contribute to weight management.

The energy expended during these simulated sports was still less than what would be expended during authentic boxing, bowling, or tennis. These simulations were still not intense enough to contribue towards the recommended daily amount of physical activity for children.