Genesis of an Active Nutrition Game:Alien Health

Mina C. JohnsonRadboud Universiteit and

minaj@embodied-games.com

Why?• Obesity epidemic is still ongoing

• Creating videogames to change behavior seems a timely way to meet children where they are (enough with the pamphlets...)

• In addition, when a game is co-designed for parents to play with - there is a chance for real change

• Alien Health is in demo area

First iteration Mixed Reality

12 IR motion capture cameras

Using handheld trackables to move virtual objects

SMALLab

Situated Multimedia Arts Learning Lab

Chemistry Titration – in a virtual flask

SMALLab at Arizona State University

Excellent embodied environment for multiple users

How does using the whole body (gesture) affect learning and retention?

Multiple studies have shown effects of better learning in

• Math• Geology• Physics

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SMALLab Centripetal Force Study (under review)

Significant interaction between embodiment and time, generative test items

F (1, 62) = 4.83, p = .03

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Interaction between time and embodiment

low embodiedhigh embodied

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How to instruct in nutrition in an engaging manner using the whole body?

Alien Health: Alpha screenshot

Dyadic play with a Selector and a Runner

Johnson-Glenberg, & Hekler (2013). Alien Health game: An embodied, exergame to instruct in nutrition and MyPlate. Games for Health Journal.

Nutrition Pretest Nutrition Posttest66

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Alien Health: Mixed Reality PilotStudy with one class of 9 year-olds, one exposure to game

DV = paper/pencil nutrition knowledge test

Significant gain paired t-test, t(18) = 4.13, p <.001.

Next Iteration• Needed to move to more cost effective platform

• Really focus on message – What is the nutrient profile in common

foods? Make that info “pop”

• Give practice so food decisions become more automatized

Microsoft Kinect sensor Natural User Interface Skeletal tracking, V1

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh438998.aspx

Alien Health with Kinect Beta 1

Experimental Condition – Foundling Alien narrative and exercise

Control Condition - same forced choice content, performative aspects

Included level with nonfoods

For exercise condition, quality and duration of short exercises assessed via Kinect

Experimental: Physically performed exercises to help alien metabolize food

Control: Game-like tap moving dots and observe stick figure exercise

Again, we see group-wise retention effects with delay

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Alien Health Game with Kinect

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Experimental ES = 1.14 Control ES = .83

Post to followup inter-actionF(19)= 3.96, p < .058

Pretest Posttest 2 Week Followup

Johnson-Glenberg, Henry, & Savio-Ramos, 2014. Games for Health Journal. Open Access.

In education, we are in the business of retention

More knowledge retained at followup in condition with embodiment and more exercise

Being active during learning helps maintain knowledge in several content domains

Similar results seen in skill acquisition and memory consolidation literature (Stickgold & Walker, 2007)

What’s better than a make over?

A second make over!!

Increasing knowledge is well and fineBut what about behavioural change?

Next iteration = Kinect V2 in classrooms, Feb 2016

Translate to nederlands and adding typical foods like:krentenbol vs. volkoren broodje

More DV’s like real food choice - snack task

Four classes of 6th graders, class randomly assigned to Control = BAUAlien Health = Kinect V2

More platforms:Intel’s RealSense with embedded sensors

and Virtual Reality - now that it is “ready for its close up”

With RealSense able to pilot the “runner” spaceship by leaning

Note: Your ship must have enough fuel aka proper nutrition!

Intergenerational gameplay, etc.• Always thinking about designing socially and

getting players to discourse – we need to get the food purchasers in on the gameplay

• How to make attractive to parents, homework

• Enter own food items

• Get in grocery stores so kids can play while the parents shop...

Look forward to reporting back on progress next year.

Thank You!

QuestionsMinaj@embodied-games.com

Or Ken Koontz on the demo floorKenk@embodied-games.com

Publications on Alien Health• Johnson-Glenberg, M.C., Savio-Ramos, C., & Henry, H. (2014).

“Alien Health”: A Nutrition Instruction Exergame using the Kinect Sensor. Games for Health Journal. Open Access http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/g4h.2013.0094

• Johnson-Glenberg. M. C., & Hekler, E. (2013). Alien health

game: An embodied, exergame to instruct in nutrition and MyPlate . Games for Health Journal: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications, 2, 6, 354-361.

Open access - http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/g4h.201 3.0057. doi: 10.1089/g4h.2013.0057.