Presented by Lauren Switzer and team from the CP Discovery Lab, this Research TEDTalk showed us the value of virtual gaming environments for social connectedness.
Summary
Presenters included:
- Lauren Switzer - Research Project Manager in the CP Discovery Lab in the Bloorview Research Institute
- Hamilton Hernandez - PhD Candidate in the EQUIS Lab from the School of Computing at Queen’s University
- Wesley Magee-Saxton - Grade 10 student and Holland Bloorview client, and his mom Jan Magee, a member of the Research Family Engagement Committee
The Exergames Project, led by Dr. Darcy Fehlings and her CP Discovery Lab, gives kids with cerebral palsy the chance to play video games powered by exercise bikes, combines fitness and fun.
The Exergames TEDTalk focused not only on the positive physical fitness results coming out of the study, which Lauren Switzer showed to be promising, but on the value of the social opportunities provided by the virtual gaming environment. Hamilton Hernandez, a game designer from Queen's University, spoke about the need to create custom games that will keep kids with CP engaged and hitting their physical targets. Wesley, client and research participant, talked about makind friends through helping to develop and test the video games - and his mom attested to the convenience of an in-home solution that provides physical activity and social connectedness.
