Interactive health care and fitness content

[hax]

I work for a big Texas state agency doing health care policy analysis and research, with a specialty in health care IT. My research and analysis projects cover e-prescribing, telemedicine, EHR & PHR and beyond. That is my way-cool day gig. At night, I am a passionate computer gamer who builds his own custom rigs and struggles to squeeze out a few more frames per second with everything maxed out.

I admit to a fascination with Health 2.0. I see it as the place where a lot of the things that look promising in health care and technology are all mashing together.Xbox

As a follower of developments in both the health 2.0 movement and the gaming industry, I came across the following article that piqued my interest. It deals with the deal reached between Netflix and Microsoft to facilitate movie downloads to those using the XBOX Live network.

Reading this, I got to thinking it might have implications for Health 2.0. The question: Why not use these emerging gaming and movie delivery platforms to deliver interactive health care and fitness content.

Hmm, I wondered further: Would Netflix consider a deal with Microsoft to permit XBOX 360 users access to free download of certain interactive health care information content? I could see modules for management of certain diseases (including those that impact young people, such as asthma). There could also be modules with health and fitness activities that incorporate interactive video and gaming elements.

[bluesnow]

I think Wii can be considered as healthy gaming. It not only let the players interact with game, but also, some of the games requires the players to move around and exercise instead of merely sitting down and exercising the fingers. Its quite successful in making gaming a much healthier activity and its interactive nature makes exercising more enjoyable and fun.

[Cermet]

I think these games are emerging just because of the unhealthy nature of sitting and looking at a computer screen all day(hm, maybe I should stop that).. but I see them as just a fad-- I saw the rise of these interactive games several years ago in Asia and at first glance they seem to be addressing the problem with kids not getting exercise, but I'm sure kids will get tired of this and return to their static games or hopefully find a new interest-- short answer, kids need to turn off the game and go outside and play.