Nintendo ‘Wiihabilitation’
p2pnet news | Games:- A dodgy wrist strap was haunting Nintendo in a big way, p2pnet posted just before Christmas in 2006
With the remote controller, users were supposed to be able to really get into things by using it to repeat off-screen movements, on-screen, said out story, going on:
"But the wrist straps keep breaking, allowing the controller to fly off on its own to possibly damage to items such as TV sets, say some people."
Games therapy is nothing new, but the ability to make those same movements —- broken TVs or not, —- has led to a new kind of digital 21st century treatment which, to Nintendo’s delight, has been dubbed ‘Wiihabilitation’.
"Using the game console’s unique, motion-sensitive controller, Wii games require body movements similar to traditional therapy exercisesm" says the Canadian Press, going on:
"But patients become so engrossed mentally they’re almost oblivious to the rigour".
James Osborn oversees rehabilitation services at Herrin Hospital in southern Illinois and according to him, "In the Wii system, because it’s kind of a game format, it does create this kind of inner competitiveness."
When people can refocus their attention from tedious of physical tasks, "oftentimes they do much better," Osborn said.
Says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
"The most popular Wii games in rehab involve sports – baseball, bowling, boxing, golf and tennis. Using the same arm swings required by those sports, players wave a wireless controller that directs the actions of animated athletes on the screen.
"The Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital west of Chicago recently bought a Wii system for its spinal cord injury unit.
"Pfc. Matthew Turpen, 22, paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident last year while stationed in Germany, plays Wii golf and bowling from his wheelchair at Hines. The Des Moines, Iowa, native says the games help beat the monotony of rehab and seem to be doing his body good, too."
Also See:
haunting Nintendo – Nintendo in wrist strap lawsuit, December 21, 2006
Canadian Press – Doctors use Wii games for rehab therapy after strokes, surgery, February 10, 2008
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Doctors use Wii games for rehab therapy, February 8, 2008
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February 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
“wrist straps keep breakng” ???? should be a warning on the box – “Not suitable for cack handed clumsy cretins”