Computer games to promote healthy living

Humana Europe, a provider of integrated commissioning services and support to NHS PCTs, are working on a new initiative to use electronic games to change the way people live their lives.

Development of prototypes are underway at the company’s US headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky and include developing game technology aimed at improving the coordination and dexterity of the over 50s.

The company is also investigating the use of entertainment exercise technologies, such as games mats, to address obesity trends in children.

Humana’s chief executive, Dr Jonathan Lord, said: “Giving members of the public the ability to become more closely connected with the management of their own health through video games is a unique way in which to accomplish Humana’s goals of helping individuals become healthy and improving health outcomes.”

The games will be developed in the Humana Innovation Centre in Kentucky in partnership with interactive gaming specialists Digitalmill.

Digitalmill have already founded similar technology in the Games for Health Project  which is used regularly in the US.

Humana says that through their partnership they aim to ‘explore the use of gaming technology to guide and motivate people to make healthy lifestyle choices and protect their future wellbeing.’

Grant Harrison, vice president of Humana’s Innovation Centre’s integrated consumer experience team, said: “When you think of video games, you might think of ‘couch potatoes’ sitting in front of the TV, playing for hours. However, new technologies developed by the industry have increasingly been focused on stretching the player both physically and mentally.

“We see health games fundamentally changing the way that families learn and engage in physical activity to improve their health.”

It is unclear at this stage whether the games will be made available to PCTs in the UK who already work in the UK.

A Humana spokesperson told EHI Primary Care: “Humana and their partners are currently carrying out research into the most ideal platforms and use for these games. Once the technology has been developed they will certainly look to bring it to the UK.

They added that it was too early in the research to say exactly how and who will use the technology because this will depend on the results of their development research. They will release more specific detail about the technology once development has been carried out.”

The Innovation Centre is also partnering with the University of Southern California GamePipe Laboratory to develop new game interfaces to tie real world exercise to virtual worlds, and with Touchtown, retirement entertainment specialists, to develop services tailored specifically towards helping older people maintain their strength and independence.

The spokesperson added: “Humana’s long term vision is to be able to support the health and well being of all patients in the most motivational way possible, Computer games can help people to lead healthier lives and guide their lifestyle choices – we hope to develop systems capable of improving lives for the better.”