Regular readers will note that I’ve always been fascinated by Nintendo’s approach to using health and social care as an area for gaming entertainment (dating back to Trauma Centre : Under The Knife in February 2006) and here comes another one for the Wii and DS systems: Hysteria Hospital

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You can organise the ward and direct the patients to treat their conditions as quickly as possible and design and improve your ward for life-saving efficiency to be the best head nurse and save the Hospital from being overrun. There are 7 different wards to run, from a local Maryville clinic through to New York Central Hospital.

And as previously mentioned we’re not too far removed from moving this concept into the realm of ‘real’ health education dealing with the idea of trying to manage a ward or accident and emergency area with proper rather than made up cases…….

A short case study report on our Nintendo DS and Brain Training/Big Brain Academy/Opera Browser TechDis projects has now been published on the HEA Social Policy and Social Work Subject Centre Website…

View Report

Well we didn’t win on the night but had a great time at the Handheld Learning Awards in October (which seems ages ago now). JISC TechDis have just issued a press release about the event which provides a nice coda and I’ve also submitted a precis of our findings as a SWAP case study which should soon see the light of day…..

JISC TechDis Press Release

Looking forward to heading up to Mlearn 2008 on Wednesday – here’s my presentation (if you missed it or can’t attend) on the Techdis project……

mlearn 2008 Presentation

ps – to vote for the TechDis HEAT Project at Handheld Learning 2008. Txt HEAT to : +447786203140

Well the nominations are in, and I’m delighted (and flattered) to say that we’ve made it to the final three in the Handheld Learning 2008 Conference awards in the Special Needs Category – sponsored by Redhalo – under the Innovation award.

Having last attended the conference in 2006 I know it’s a great event for learning using mobile or ubiquitous technologies and a really stimulating place to be. As I’m already attending MLearn 2008 the previous week to give a paper on the JISC TechDis project – The Nintendo DS as an assistive technology tool for health and social care students – I’m not sure if I’ll be able to attend the whole conference but I’ll hopefully manage to get to the Brewery by hook or by crook……..

Handheld Learning 2008

Finalists

ps – to vote for the JISC TechDis HEAT Project. Txt HEAT to : +447786203140

Since its release in February, Professor Kageyama’s Maths Training has helped many Nintendo DS owners nail down the 1-2-3s of basic arithmetic. The game’s namesake, Hideo Kageyama, talks to the Nintendo website………..

Prof. Kageyama talks about Maths Training

Make 10: A journey of numbers (released 26/09/08) is a mathematics game where players must complete numbers puzzles centered around the number 10. The overall aim of the game is to find and challenge the so-called “Make 10 Masters” as you improve your maths and puzzle-solving skills. Players use the Nintendo DS Touch Screen to complete the maths puzzles, and a gradual increase in difficulty and storybook style presentation mean the game is accessible for players of all ages.

Make 10 – A Journey Of Numbers

Simon Parkin of Pocket Gamer asks “are we here to be entertained or are we here to get healthy? Because My Health Coach: Weight Management is the latest in a recent run of Nintendo DS titles to blur the lines between video game and health product” and concludes “Not a game but an interactive exercise manual. My Health Coach: Weight Management might help shed the pounds if followed to the letter but it won’t do very much to entertain you along the way”

More on My Health Coach

Pocket Gamer Review

Pocket Gamer Preview

The final report on our HEAT2 project has been emailed to JISC TechDis today and will hopefully be appearing on their website soon. There have been some interesting comments from the three participants on their use so far of the Nintendo DS, Brain Training, Big Brain Academy and Opera Browser packages since they received the kit at the end of October.

Releasing the Potential of Handheld Gaming Devices as Effective Assistive Technology Tools

As we come to the end of phase two of the Heat Project Nintendo release this great numeracy tool – perfect timing as I prepare to write the report…

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A quick radio appearance today on UCB (UK Life with Paul Hammond) discussing my TechDis Heat Project and the use of the Nintendo DS for Learning (with a live interuption for a test fire alarm at my end…..what are the chances of that happening? etc). The second phase report is hopefully due for completion by the end of this month….

Tuesday 12th February – Can a hand-held gaming device be used as an assistive technology tool? This is the question Andy Pulman from Bournemouth University is going to try and answer.