The Quest for the Perfect ExerGame

The theme of this post is about “transforming” the energy of physical movement. The picture below is from an award winning art installation/sculpture called ”Volume“ that was running at the same time as the Hide and Seek Festival a couple of weeks ago at Southbank, London. As people moved around the pillars of the installation, they responded with multi-colored light patterns and waves of ethereal sounds. Exactly how each pillar sensed movement and translated this into sound and light wasn’t clear, but it certainly made people curious. As people tended to move to a particular area, the sounds and lights became focused in that area. However, if everybody stood still for too long, then the effects began to die down. This would prompt people to move and explore a new area which would then dynamically spring into life.

Interestingly, I just heard a news item about the opening of Britain’s first so called “eco-night club”. In addition to having solar panels and a wind turbine, the high-tech dance floor generates electricity by the piezoelectric effect in response to movement. – I guess if nobody gets up to dance, then the music stops and the lights go out!

The electronic nature of “ExerGames” means that they require electricity for their operation. But, as in any activity, you have to look at the total energy balance of the activity. There is the potential for “ExerGames” to reduce travel related energy costs compared to conventional activities. But then there is energy cost of manufacture! Clearly it is a complex equation and deserves consideration.

Finally, before reaching any definite conclusion, the equation msut be balanced by the excess energy costs of future health care treatment arising due to the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. I guess this is something we will hear a lot more about in the future.