New fitness gadget
Technology and gadgets are often accused of inciting children to spend several hours in front of screens, without exercising. However, several companies, such as the Nintedo Wii Fit, have tried to disprove this belief. The latest and most prominent effort comes from Pushstart Creative and bears the name Loop. It is a device, based motion tracking technology to boost physical activity. The interactive game rewards players when they move outside. It uses accelerometers, sensors and GPS. The original design for PC’s, tablets and smartphones includes four components: the Loop Clip, a Motion Bar, headphones and a gaming platform.
Loop
The Loop Clip can be adjusted in the Motion Bar, a belt or a backpack. It includes a pedometer, audio outputs and a hard disk for game saving. On the other hand, the Motion Bar detects movements with embedded accelerometers and gyroscopes. The two devices communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth, so the data record the Motion Bar sent and stored in the Clip. Once the data is collected it is sent to the game platform and the player moves to the next level. The reward is proportional to the difficulty of the exercise. For example, running or jumping gets more points than a simple walk.
Loop
The aim of the Loop is not to create a culture of fitness or coerce children into physical activity. The goal is to promote fun and socializing through active play, as explained by the company. The development of the Loop is still at an early stage and no information on when it will become available.
Loop
By Nicole P.
