Linking Physical Activity to Virtual Rewards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual activities, such as online social networking games, are sedentary and discourage physical activity, contributing to rising obesity and health issues due to lack of encouragement for exercise.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating non-virtual, real-world physical activities into virtual environments by sensing and evaluating parameters of physical activities to award benefits within the virtual world, such as points or achievements, thereby encouraging regular physical activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If virtual activities are designed to be engaging and enjoyable, then user participation and social interaction are improved, but physical activity levels deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser participationVSAvoidphysical inactivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines virtual game activities with real-world physical exercise by integrating motion sensors that detect physical movements and translate them into in-game actions. This merging allows players to earn virtual rewards through physical activity, simultaneously maintaining engagement while promoting health

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Motion sensors serve as an intermediary device that bridges the virtual and physical worlds. The sensors detect physical movements and convert them into digital signals that control virtual characters or actions, creating a feedback loop that encourages continued physical activity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If virtual activities provide entertainment value, then user enjoyment is improved, but health benefits deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment valueVSAvoidobesity and health issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts game difficulty and rewards based on the intensity and duration of physical activity detected by motion sensors. This creates a adaptive experience that maintains entertainment value while ensuring adequate physical exertion for health benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of virtual activities based on detected physical movement parameters. For example, the distance a virtual character moves, the speed of actions, or the complexity of tasks are adjusted according to the intensity and type of physical exercise performed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8721453B2Virtual activities that incorporate a physical activity

Publication Date: 2014.05.13 G TRACKING

AI summary

A virtual activity is facilitated by receiving collected data related to a non-virtual, real-world physical activity performed by a user, evaluating the collected data to determine what benefit the user has earned by performing physical activity, and providing a benefit to the user that enables the user to virtually build or reconstruct something in a virtual world. In some embodiments, the user is enabled to virtually reconstruct a real-world location at which the physical activity was performed by unlocking a feature of that location within the virtual world. In other embodiments, the user is enabled to virtually build a fictional location by unlocking the ability to add a feature to that location within the virtual world.