Virtual Activity: Is This the New Look of Fitness?

I happen to love technology. While I’m in no way a “techy” by any stretch of the imagination, hand me a gadget with the promise of adding convenience to my life, and I’ll figure out how to use it. Unfortunately, we all know with every technological advance that comes our way, we’re getting lazier as a result. Prime example: this recent touch screen mania. Seriously, since when is it so hard to press a regular keypad or scroll through pages with a button anymore?!  Am I the only one who doesn’t get it? Maybe. But with all this technology giving us new ways daily to accomplish tasks without ever leaving the couch, it’s refreshing to see that video games of all things, seem to be taking a step in the right direction. Perhaps I’ve been living under a rock, but I only just learned about the new Xbox 360 Kinect that Microsoft released this past Friday. I know Wii has been a front runner in gaming systems that get you moving for the past few years, and even more so with products like the Wii Fit, but the Kinect takes it a step further by eliminating the controller altogether, so your body literally is the controller. The best part is, this will appeal to the demographic who need it most: school-aged kids, many of whom, sadly, no longer have gym class or recess as an option. While this still doesn’t beat good old-fashioned playing outside, or “real” physical activity, if it gets people moving, it’s a plus in my book! If you too have been living under a rock, check out this video to see for yourself how the new Xbox 360 Kinect works.

I’d love to hear your feedback! What are your thoughts on gaming systems like the Kinect or Wii as a source of physical activity? Many people use Wii Fit as a part of their fitness routine; do you think it’s a legitimate source of exercise or the lazy way to workout?