New UGA MR Game Encourages Activity in Children
A recent study by the University of Georgia suggests that a new mixed reality game could be a promising solution to help children become more physically active. The study demonstrated that children who engaged with a mixed reality kiosk featuring a digital fitness programme showed a marked increase in physical activity levels compared to those in a control group.
The study concentrated on more than three hundred children and their parents attending YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta after-school activities. While the other half utilised computer-based software to create workout objectives devoid of social input, half of the participants were allocated to the mixed reality kiosk.
The digital fitness initiative featured a virtual dog, designed by the research team, to guide children in setting physical activity targets and encourage them to achieve those goals. The experiment aimed to assess how a child’s sense of autonomy influences their fitness aspirations by allowing them to set their own objectives using the mixed reality kiosk.
Each child’s activity was monitored using Fitbits. Upon meeting their fitness targets, they were rewarded with the opportunity to interact with the virtual dog. As children continued to hit their goals, the virtual pet became healthier, enabling longer playtime and the ability to teach it more advanced tricks.
Parents and guardians were also actively involved in the process. They received real-time text messages updating them on their child’s progress, which allowed them to send personalised words of encouragement.
Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, the lead author of the study and a professor at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, who also serves as the director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE), highlighted the challenges of using video games to promote physical activity. Ahn noted that expecting children to exercise or lose weight solely through video games is a significant challenge.
She emphasised the importance of social support, stating that everyone needs some level of encouragement and social connection to sustain positive changes. Ahn added that technology can be leveraged to strengthen the bond between parents and children, enabling them to pursue a shared family objective of keeping kids active and healthy.
