Give me back the Xbox remote, grandma!!!!
8th April 2011 · 0 Comments
Not sure what to get Grandpa or Grandma for their birthday or Mother’s Day? Consider purchasing them the Microsoft Kinect Sensor with an Xbox 360 for that next special event.
Matt Scherer, my publicist, noted four months ago how Melinda Rodriguez, chief executive officer of Access Quality Therapy Services, was using the Nintendo Wii Bowling as a therapeutic activity for her Parkinson’s Disease patients.
Then, Matt and I saw that Microsoft was introducing the Kinect sensor for Xbox, and he suggested that I contact Melinda in my role as a vendor for the folks in Redmond, Washington. When we met several months ago, I learned that she had written a research paper on how her patients had improved health related to the use of the Wii. According to her research, the Wii gaming system helped her Parkinson’s patients with regular exercise and was a motivator for them.
Today, Matt reported that Melinda’s therapists are using the Kinect as part of their treatment plan. He added that initial patients’ reports were that some of the Wii regulars didn’t like Microsoft as well because it was more difficult than the Nintendo offering. He added Melinda’s therapists liked the Kinect because it required more motion than the Nintendo.
Melinda’s therapy with her patients is a work in progress. We’re working with some software coders to see if we can modify some of the programs for Xbox or Nintendo for Parkinson’s patients. If we can convince one of these major game vendors to allow someone with coding experience to make some changes for people with Parkinson’s and other conditions, we can improve the ways they stay active.
Until that happens, here’s some limited proof that Xbox or Wii is good for the elderly. If you do not own the Nintendo Wii or Xbox, purchase the system. Matt said he thinks that the Wii Resort game is a good choice for those who have the Nintendo. I haven’t seen that or the new Microsoft games in action yet, but I am sure that the bowling will help those afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease and other ailments.
With Easter coming up, it’s a good time to show your grandparents this article. And, then if you have the gaming system, take the time to show them how to play something simple like bowling.
Yet, be aware that if you do that grandma may not let you have the controls back. So, go ahead and get her own Microsoft Xbox. And, this will motivate your children to want to come with you to visit your parents for some friendly rounds of bowling or one of those more complex role-playing sword games.
(Note: Brian Guinn, the president of San Antonio based Prism Technologies, is also the chapter president of the San Antonio chapter of the International Association of Microsoft Professionals.)
