Government Technology - October 2007 - (Page 44)

education Students at Dorseyville Middle School in Pittsburgh use Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) machines to elevate their heart rate; work up a sweat; and enhance their agility and foot/eye coordination. Pennsylvania is one of 10 states using DDR in schools. In spring 2006, at West Virginia University’s (WVU) Health Sciences Center, researchers Linda Carson, Ware distinguished professor at the WVU School of Physical Education and director of the WVU Motor Development Center, and Emily Murphy, research instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the WVU School of Medicine, conducted a study to find ways of addressing the growing problem of childhood obesity. The study was sponsored by the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) to find a way of preventing costly obesity-related problems among future members before they start. “PEIA came to Dr. Carson and me, and my mentor Dr. [Rachel] Yeater, and said they had heard we worked with children’s programs and wanted to know if we would be interested in trying to develop a homebased intervention for kids,” Murphy recalled. “It needed to be something kids could do in their own homes, and in a wide variety of homes.” After investigating possible solutions, Murphy said they came across DDR. “We’d seen it in the arcades,” she said. “So we thought we’d try to use this with this population of kids. It appealed to us for two reasons — kids were able to do it in their home, and also, it had different levels. Kids using it for the first time could, over time, advance with it.” During clinical studies, the researchers found that over a 24week period, children playing the game five days a week for at least 30 minutes per day improved their cardiovascular risk profiles. Though not all children lost weight, the majority did not gain weight and improved their aerobic capacity. In addition to the original PEIA funding, Murphy said Konami has been a partner in the project, covering the costs of the game’s software. Still, each unit delivered to the schools is costly — running approximately $800 each. The biggest expense comes from the dance platforms. Konami does not manufacture dance platforms that can withstand dozens of school kids using them daily. As such, Murphy said they’ve been purchasing platforms from Cobalt Flux — a third-party vendor that sells “industrial strength” dance platforms. Murphy said they struck a deal with Cobalt Flux to get the platforms at a significant discount. “[The platforms are] the most expensive part,” Murphy said. “We’re providing two pads per school and that’s about $700.” DDR is a pastime for kids waiting for the school bus, and an outlet for those who don’t participate in extracurricular activities. However, any student can use the game. “We’re putting them into the schools not to replace physical education, but to basically provide another opportunity for the kids to be physically active during the day,” Murphy said. “What we’re planning, once we get them into the schools, is developing an afterschool program based around active video games — like a DDR club for kids who aren’t necessarily interested in doing sports activities.” Though it’s not a cure-all for the nationwide problem of kids’ increasing girths, West Virginia public schools are cleverly harnessing the power of video games. Since their inception, video games have been loved by kids and reviled by an older generation that regards them as a waste of time. But as those video-game loving kids grow up and move into positions of authority, they give video games a new credibility, posing them as having a positive impact on health instead of being a detriment to it. Placing DDR in schools uses what kids already enjoy to improve their fitness. The craze has caught on like wild fire — hundreds of schools in 10 states have weaved DDR into their physical education programs. As one might expect, the feedback from West Virginia’s students and teachers has been positive. “The only negative thing is we’re not able to provide it quick enough,” Murphy said. “We get calls every day, ‘When do we get it?’” OCT_07 arrows appear onscreen and users tap the appropriate foot panel to the song’s beat. As users progress, the beat becomes faster, more complex and harder to follow. The result is a wholly unique style of dance that combines elements of tap, break dancing and freestyle. Advanced players often demonstrate impressive abilities. 44 Join Our Growing Government Team ESRI helps governments worldwide integrate geospatial technology into their organizations. Our dynamic sales, marketing, and consulting experts work together to provide strategic direction and leadership for federal, state, regional, and local government agencies. We are looking for energetic, articulate people who are enthusiastic about GIS technology and have expertise in government-related disciplines for the following positions: • • • • • • Community Development Industry Manager AEC Industry Marketing Specialist Engineering Industry Marketing Specialist Federal Marketing Specialist Local Government and LIS Consultants/Project Managers Account Managers PHOTO COURTESY OF DORSEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL j j Dance Hall Soon after the study began, it drew the attention of both the Department of Education and the governor’s office, and it was decided that DDR would be used in the state’s public schools. “We started with the middle schools — and we’ve completed putting them into all the middle schools in West Virginia,” Murphy said. “Now we’re moving on to high schools, and eventually we’ll get to elementary schools.” Join the team dedicated to helping government agencies improve the quality of life for their constituents. Copyright © 2007 ESRI. 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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

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