DanceDance in Schools

Konami’s smash hit arcade machine, Dance Dance Revolution, and its
various spawn easily dominate the struggling arcade scene. The frantic
gyrations required to score on the machine attract a species of gamer
some thought didn’t exist, the athletic type.

According to Gamasutra
though, the craze has attracted to attention of a West Virginia
Insurace group, hoping that placing the units in schools will promote
physical health and prevent adulthood obesity, a problem that shows no
signs of slowing across the country. A preliminary study has a sampling
of 85 children of varying ages using the video games as a kind of P.E.
replacement and monitoring they’re health along the way. Nidia
Henderson, health promotions manager of the Public Employees Insurance
Agency, is confident that the $60,000 program will lead to steps they
can take to curtail the $77 million in claims associated with obesity.

Test subjects are receiving home copies of the game, a pad to dance on
and personal monitoring equipment to reccord their progress. In
addition, PEIA is investing some $10,000 to place the game in 20 of the
state’s public schools to further the study. Results have not yet been
gathered, but speaking from how much sweat I’ve poured over this game
the few times I’ve tried, it’s easy to assume positive results.