Wii Fit Plus is the latest instalment in the Wii Fit series, and brings all new features to make your workout more productive, personal and even more fun.

Wii fit Plus will now allow you to check and monitor four key areas of your physique, BMI (body mass index), centre of gravity, and calories burnt during your workout, allowing you to set your goals

There are five training categories (including the brand new Training Plus), which help you to develop body balance, burn fat, tone and condition muscle, as well as increasing stamina. On Wii Fit Plus you can customise your own training routines, or ask your Wii Fit trainer to do it for you based on the area of your body you’d like to work on.

This summer writes Simon Crompton in the Times, the Medical College of Georgia in the United States announced the results of its research into the effects of “Wii-hab” on people with Parkinson’s disease. In an eight-week study, 18 people were asked to play Wii Sports, including virtual versions of boxing and ten-pin bowling, for an hour a day, three times a week for four weeks. By the end of that time all the participants showed significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels. Importantly, their depression levels also decreased; depression affects around half of people with Parkinson’s disease….

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Source : SL Health List

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 Consolarium project involving Professor Layton and the Curious Village on Nintendo DS supporting learning in a school in the Orkney Islands (lets hope they’re doing better on it than I am at the moment !) …..

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Take a walk on the fun side with Nintendo’s latest lifestyle game, which comes with two very special Activity Meter pedometers! Walk with me! Do you know your walking routine? helps you work out if your activity rhythm is up to scratch and provides valuable insight on how to set up a regular routine – the healthiest way to live!

Release date: 20/02/2009

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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…

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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