Digital Outcasts by Kel Smith

Author:Kel Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780124047136
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Published: 2013-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

The Importance of Reinforcement

In 2010, doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital in the University of Toronto made an intriguing discovery. Dr. Gustavo Saposnik, director of the Stroke Outcomes Research Unit, installed a device in the hospital called a Wii—an electronic game console for playing virtual sports and video games. He then tested the use of the game on 20 patients recovering from stroke; half of the patients with an average age of 61 underwent eight 60-minute sessions on the Wii, the other half did not. After 2 weeks, patients using the Wii reported a 30% improvement in motor skill efficiency over the group using conventional methods.

Nintendo released the Wii in 2006 to great acclaim, due to its unique handheld pointing remote that detected movement in three directions. For instance, players may see an image of a bowling lane with a group of pins, with a hand on the screen that corresponds to the movements of the remote. The player goes through the exact same physical motions as if bowling in real life. The Wii also shipped with a console that enabled the receiving of messages over the Internet, meaning that participants can connect with other players in real time.

Today, physical therapists have adapted the Wii to treat a variety of conditions. The device has been used to assess dynamic balance, create visual stimulation, improve hand/eye coordination, and strengthen range of motion. As I write this, you’d be hard pressed to find a long-term care or rehabilitation facility that doesn’t have a Wii system installed somewhere on its campus—elderly patients consider the Wii the perfect incentive to leave their rooms and take part in social activities.

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