Exercising and Video Games

Most people think that the ideas of physical exercise and video games are mutually exclusive. But the new input format of the Wii video game controller is actually turning these traditional ideas on their head. For the uninitiated, the Wii controller is very different from the traditional joystick and buttons method of inputting commands to a video game. With the Wii, users undertake the actual movements envisioned by the game, such as swinging a tennis racket, or bowling. Of course, this is all done with the controller in had. No one has yet developed a format where the player uses a real racket -- oh wait, they have, it's called tennis.

Nevertheless, in a weird "couch potato meets exercise guru" way, the Wii is being used by some as a tool for physical activity -- and are actually losing weight and meeting personal goals. A recent Washington Post article "Exercise, It's All Fun and Games" highlights this trend. Take the example of Tom Klimchak, an overweight gaming enthusiast who has lost 16 pounds in the last month by, in part, playing a Wii boxing game which requires his active patricipation in punching and swinging at the set. In fact, there's so much potential here that the website Traineo.com is starting to develop exercise programs for the Wii. Some schools are even including Wii-based programs in their Phys Ed class. Imagine that! Having to by a Wii to do your homework!

This is just the latest in a series of arguments against the accepted tenents that video games make you stupid, lazy and fat. Steven Johnson laid aside the first two arguments in his book "Everything Bad is Good for You." Now we've laid aside the "video games make people fat" argument to rest.

What's next?