Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page 42) education j j Synopsis: West Virginia public schools use a popular video game to help kids get fit. Agency: West Virginia Department of Education. Technology: Konami Corp. Dance Dance Revolution. Wednesday state local federal Fever Afternoon Y BY C H A D VA N D E R V E E N | T E C H N O LO G Y A N D P O L I T I C S E D I T O R ou’ve probably seen them around town — at the mall, the bowling alley or the local pub. The machines are quite elaborate, with flashing lights, psychedelic imagery and familiar music. Yet one element is particularly arresting. Upon stepping onto one of the machines, seemingly normal kids display dance moves so complex that even Emmitt Smith might not keep up. What could cause ordinary ’tweens, teens — and even some adults — to suddenly bust a move when, under normal circumstances, they couldn’t tango their way out of a wet paper bag? It’s the ultra-compelling and ultra-popular Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) — a hip hybrid of video gaming, booty shaking and grooving. Even casual DDR players know the game is a sensational way to work up a sweat — a fact the West Virginia Department of Education observed. After statistics showed West Virginia’s childhood obesity rate was among the worst in the nation, the Department of Education looked for ways to encourage more physical activity for an increasingly sedentary age group, tapping DDR as a possible solution. Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes DDR is a world-renowned video game. Originally launched by the Japan-based Konami Corp. in 1998, the game has spawned nearly 100 versions, and features more than 1,000 songs. Despite the many iterations of the game, from arcade version to home version, the basics remain the same. Like other video games, there’s a lot occurring onscreen. But DDR’s magic happens on the attached dance platform. The platform has four primary foot panels — up, down, left and right, though some versions have two additional diagonal panels — surrounding a neutral center panel. Each panel has a corresponding arrow. During game play, users watch the screen and listen to a song. While the song plays, Physical fitness in West Virginia schools gets groovy. OCT_07 42 http://www.govtech.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - October 2007 Contents Point of View Big Picture The Last Mile GT Spectrum Letters How It Works Cerf on the Net Way Back Machine Separation Anxiety Let's Roll Rising to the Challenge Wednesday Afternoon Fever Parking Possibilities Products Signal: Noise Government Technology - October 2007 Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page CW1) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page CW2) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page CW3) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page CW4) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page 1) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page 2) Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page 3) Government Technology - October 2007 - Contents (Page 4) Government Technology - October 2007 - Contents (Page 5) Government Technology - October 2007 - Contents (Page 6) Government Technology - October 2007 - Contents (Page 7) Government Technology - October 2007 - Point of View (Page 8) Government Technology - October 2007 - Point of View (Page 9) Government Technology - October 2007 - Big Picture (Page 10) Government Technology - October 2007 - Big Picture (Page 11) Government Technology - October 2007 - The Last Mile (Page 12) Government Technology - October 2007 - The Last Mile (Page 13) Government Technology - October 2007 - GT Spectrum (Page 14) Government Technology - October 2007 - GT Spectrum (Page 15) Government Technology - October 2007 - Letters (Page 16) Government Technology - October 2007 - Letters (Page 17) Government Technology - October 2007 - How It Works (Page 18) Government Technology - October 2007 - How It Works (Page 19) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 20) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 21) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 22) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 23) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 24) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 25) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 26) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 27) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 28) Government Technology - October 2007 - Cerf on the Net (Page 29) Government Technology - October 2007 - Way Back Machine (Page 30) Government Technology - October 2007 - Way Back Machine (Page 31) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 32) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 33) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 34) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 35) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 36) Government Technology - October 2007 - Separation Anxiety (Page 37) Government Technology - October 2007 - Let's Roll (Page 38) Government Technology - October 2007 - Let's Roll (Page 39) Government Technology - October 2007 - Rising to the Challenge (Page 40) Government Technology - October 2007 - Rising to the Challenge (Page 41) Government Technology - October 2007 - Wednesday Afternoon Fever (Page 42) Government Technology - October 2007 - Wednesday Afternoon Fever (Page 43) Government Technology - October 2007 - Wednesday Afternoon Fever (Page 44) Government Technology - October 2007 - Wednesday Afternoon Fever (Page 45) Government Technology - October 2007 - Parking Possibilities (Page 46) Government Technology - October 2007 - Parking Possibilities (Page 47) Government Technology - October 2007 - Products (Page 48) Government Technology - October 2007 - Products (Page 49) Government Technology - October 2007 - Signal: Noise (Page 50) Government Technology - October 2007 - Signal: Noise (Page 51) Government Technology - October 2007 - Signal: Noise (Page 52)
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