Weight Loss Game Looking for 'Neat-O' Results
From: University of Houston News - 09/12/2007
By: Ann Holdsworth

University of Houston computer science professor Ioannis Pavlidis and
research assistants Yuichi Fujiki and Kostas Kazakos have developed a
computer game targeted at overweight people that uses motion sensitivity to
encourage mild exercise. Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT-o) games,
including races and logic puzzles, can be played on any handheld personal
digital assistant while the user wears a sensor that detects movement such as
running, walking, bending over, and even foot tapping. The movement data is
wirelessly sent to the PDA, where the player can see the game avatar move in
real time. The game can run on the PDA all day to track the user's movements
as he or she walks around the office or home, and can be connected to other
handheld devices to compete against other PDA users. Mayo Clinic physician
and leading authority on obesity James Levine says a lack of daily mild
exercise is largely responsible for the world's obesity epidemic. Levine
created the term "NEAT" to cover any physical activity that is not conscious
exercise. Pavlidis hopes the NEAT-o games will increase physical activity,
add a little bit of fun, and build the NEAT mindset into modern lifestyles.
"The allure of computer gaming and competition with other users encourages
players to make small lifestyle changes that can add up to big health
benefits," Pavlidis says. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.uh.edu/admin/media/nr/2007/09sept/091207neato_weightloss.html

Links:
Yuichi Fujiki
http://www.cpl.uh.edu/html/localuser/yfujiki/homepage/home.html

Kostas Kazakos
http://www.cpl.uh.edu/html/localuser/kkazakos/html/

Levine Lab (NEAT)
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/levine_lab/

James A. Levine, MD
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/Staff/levine_ja.cfm

Office of the Future
http://www.mayoclinic.org/spotlight/levine-office-of-future.html

Ioannis Pavlidis
http://www.cpl.uh.edu/html/modules.php?name=zlTeam&func=detail&tid=11
