The newest fitness trend is exergaming, the combination of physical exercise and video games. Also known as Active Gaming, the products are in and out of the news with one common question, does it work? The answers are being uncovered right here in Tampa.
This week, Examiner.com visited the XRKade Research Labs at the University of South Florida (USF) to meet with a department dedicated to understanding the practicalities of exergaming. Dr Lisa Hansen, formally Witherspoon, is the Co-Director of the labs and comes from a long background with sport and PE. Lisa gained All American status wearing the number 10 jersey for Virginia Tech’s NCAA women’s basketball team in 2000, but now her game is all electronic. She answers our questions:
EXAMINER: What are the XRKade Research Labs?
Dr Hansen: The XRKade labs are two active gaming research laboratories associated with the University of South Florida. One is located in a local elementary school and the other is located in the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science on the campus of USF.
EXAMINER: How did the XRKade Research Labs come into being? Who started it and why?
Dr Hansen: I was exposed to active gaming in 2005 and was fascinated with the concept of making exercise more fun and enjoyable to children. I began my PhD at USF in 2006 with the intention of having active gaming as my research focus. Dr. Steve Sanders at USF was excited to begin working with technology, strongly supported the concept of exploring active gaming, and was able to find space to develop the initial active gaming lab. It was with his support that USF was able work with a distributing company in the active gaming field to develop both research labs.
EXAMINER: Video games are seen as an enemy of physical activity, so how does exergaming fit in with a Physical Education Department?
Dr Hansen: The physical education department supports developmentally appropriate physical activities and encourages activities that will promote voluntary physical activity behaviours. Supporting the research with active gaming does not suggest that our department is an advocate of all aspects of active gaming. The research on active gaming at USF is conducted in order to learn about active gaming including the positive and negative relations to this contemporary movement regarding its potential involvement in physical education.
EXAMINER: What work do you do in the Labs and how does this benefit the students at USF?
Dr Hansen: The specific goals for the laboratories are to (1) establish a model active gaming center where beginning and experienced teachers as well as other practitioners can explore the pedagogical strategies and contemporary curriculums/programming used in an active gaming environment; and (2) to conduct research and investigate the potential of active gaming as a method of increasing children’s fitness levels and decreasing childhood obesity.
We have been involved in both qualitative and quantitative research projects in our research labs. We encourage collaborations from other departments at USF as well as other Universities in order to learn more about active gaming.
EXAMINER: What has the reception been from both the media and the academic community to the Labs?
Dr Hansen: The reception has been positive. The media has been involved including print press (newspapers, magazines, brochures, etc.), television, University programs, etc. at the local, national, and international levels. We have not experienced aversion to what we are doing at USF as we like to position our research in terms of supporting the research of modern day technology physical activities that may be an appropriate compliment to traditional physical activities - certainly not a replacement.
EXAMINER: What are the plans for the future of exergaming at USF?
Dr Hansen: Research, research research. We have many research projects already in the plans for both of our research labs. Several studies that have already been approved by the Institutional Research Board. Since the labs have been up and running for several years, it is nice to now have publications coming forth that illustrate the work we have been doing the past few years.
In addition, we would like to continue updating the labs with current active games that are released in the market as well as develop relationships with other researchers in order to expand and improve research capabilities.
EXAMINER: Given $1m in funding, what aspect of exergaming would you research and why?
Dr Hansen: I think the general consensus of those interested in the active gaming industry would like to see long term results related to physiological data, weight loss, fitness benefits, etc. While we certainly would like to develop such a research study, we would also like to learn more about how various populations perceive active gaming. Ultimately, if participants do not enjoy this concept over time the ultimate goal to improve lifelong activity levels will not be accomplished. Therefore, learning the benefits of active gaming physiologically as well as how various populations perceive these games (including which actives may obtain attention and interest longer) is extremely important in order to develop the most appropriate methods of implementing and using active gaming.
EXAMINER: What part does USF play in the wider exergaming research picture?
Dr Hansen: USF is open to collaboration with other researchers around the world and that we would welcome any researchers who would like to collaborate on projects or get together on scholarly papers. To learn more about the USF active gaming research labs including current and past research projects, news reports, print and video publications, and presentations please visit the following link:
http://www.coedu.usf.edu/main/departments/physed/labs/xrkLab.html
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