Exergaming

3/29/2023 9:59:53 AM

Do you know?

Exergaming or exer-gaming (a portmanteau of "exercise" (moving the body) and "gaming") is a word used for video games that are also a form of exercise.
Exergaming is based upon technology that records body movement. The game type has been credited with promoting an active lifestyle.

Let's explore more in the following passage!

PREPARING TO READ

The words and phrases in bold below are used in the text "Exergaming". Read the sentences and match the word or phrase to its definition.

We finally managed to pry the door open with a screwdriver.

The traffic got slower and slower until it was stationary.

You can substitute oil for butter in this recipe.

Students will have more access to resources and support, both virtual and physical.

They are meeting consumer demand for fashionable products at affordable prices.

1.1 (adj.): made to appear to exist by the use of computer software

1.2 (adj.): not moving; not intended to be moved

1.3 (v.): to use something or someone instead of another thing or person

1.4 (adj.): cheap enough that people can afford to pay it or buy it

1.5 (v.): to use force to separate something from something else

Read and complete the tasks.

Exergaming

Parents often face a difficult time prying children away from video screens and getting them outdoors for some good old-fashioned exercise. Today, they might not have to. Exergaming, a combination of video games and physical movement, is becoming a hot fitness trend all over the world.

Exergaming was popularized in recent years by the Nintendo Wii. This game system allows players virtual participation in sports like baseball, tennis, and bowling. But the roots of exergaming extend into the 1980s. The first exergaming device, Computrainer, led stationary bike riders on a trip through a virtual landscape. Similar “virtual reality” systems followed, but they proved too expensive and complicated for the average person.

In 1998, Konami’s fun and affordable “Dance Dance Revolution” brought exergaming into the mainstream. Players stand on a platform and tap colored arrows with their feet in tune to musical and video cues.

Today, fitness clubs, schools, and community centers throughout America offer exergaming machines. Some schools even substitute exergaming workouts for traditional PE classes. Though parents are happy to see their children exercising, many still worry.

“Exergames burn calories, raise heartbeats, and offer a physical benefit for kids,” said Lisa Hanson, co-director of a Florida research laboratory. But she added that it is unclear whether active gaming offers the same benefits as traditional workouts. A British study found that many Wii games, for example, don’t provide intense enough exercise.

Source: Reading for the Real World 2

Mark each statement as either true (T) or false (F) according to the reading.

The Nintendo Wii was instrumental in popularizing exergaming in recent years. 2.1

Prior to Computrainer, there were several cycling-based exergaming devices. 2.2

It was not until the 19th century that exergaming was brought into the mainstream. 2.3

According to the last paragraph, Lisa Hanson _____.

believes that exergaming can replace traditional workouts for its salient physical benefits for kids
casts doubt on the positive effects of exergaming when it comes to physical benefits
is uncertain if exergames provide equivalent benefits to those of conventional workouts
states that Wii games' physical activity level is sufficient for some people's fitness needs

What is true according to the text?

Exergaming is proven to reduce children's addiction to video screens.
The Nintendo Wii offers players the virtual experience of playing several sports except bowling.
All Wii games are known to lack intense physical activity.
There are mixed reactions to the replacement of exergaming workouts for traditional PE classes.

What is the main idea of this text?

a thorough comparison of exergames and traditional workouts
a brief history of exergaming and concerns about its effectiveness
an explanation for the popularity of exergaming in the mainstream
a controversy around the application of exergaming in education

Drag and drop to complete the summary.

Exergaming is a new 6.1 that combines video games with physical movement, allowing children to exercise while enjoying video games. The popularity of exergaming was 6.2 by the Nintendo Wii, which allowed 6.3 in sports. Although exergaming devices were introduced in the 1980s, they were too expensive and 6.4 for the average person. The 6.5 and fun factor of "Dance Dance Revolution" by Konami in 1998 brought exergaming into the mainstream. Today, fitness clubs, schools, and community centers throughout America offer exergaming machines, but whether it offers the same benefits as traditional workouts remains unclear.

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive idioms in the topic area of Health & Fitness

Think of ONE word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences.

1. Come and _____ the tires on this latest version of the software.

2. The department met over dinner to _____ around ideas for increasing sales.

3. With the help of a support group, he was able to _____ the habit of compulsive gambling and turn his life around.

Answer:

Choose the sentence that is CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.

After successfully completing an extensive physical exam, the athlete was declared to be in good health.

To demonstrate his physical well-being, the athlete was required to undergo a sequence of examinations.
But for an extensive physical exam, the athlete's health would remain a mystery.
The athlete received a clean bill of health after passing a thorough physical examination.
The athlete was deemed to be in good health despite failing a demanding physical examination.

Jack: How's John doing?

Mary: He had a rough week of it with the flu, but he's _____ now, thank God.

on the ball
on the mend
on the air
on the blink

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in brackets. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given. Do NOT change the word given.

Colleen started to feel nauseous due to the constant swaying of the boat. (GILLS)

=> The constant rocking of the boat caused Colleen .