Final Ideas: Sports Training Tool

Overview:

Healthy living is a trend that has swept the country. On top of this, child obesity and fitness levels have come into question, leading to many predicting large-scale obesity levels in the future. Everyone agrees that more needs to be done to encourage children to lead healthier lives.

The team agreed that we should consider developing tools to battle the nation’s child health crisis. The Sports Training Tool will do this.

The Nintendo Wii is a new games console, which is aiming to revolutionize the way people play computer games through the use of their innovative Wii controllers. Nintendo have skilfully combined several pre-existing technologies into their lightweight remotes, namely an accelerometer, a gyrometer, infrared and Bluetooth technology. The accelerometer and gyrometer measure the motion and tilt of the controller whilst the user moves and swivels it. The infrared and Bluetooth technologies are used to interact with a sensor bar (placed by the T.V.) and to send information to the console. It also has a rumble facility like most modern games controllers. As IGN concludes “All of these technologies combine to deliver users a level of precision and interactivity not possible”. Nintendo are already working on improving the technology.

The group decided that they would like to consider developing a Sports Training Tool, which could be used in schools to help teach certain sports indoors. The tool will use technologies similar to the ones used in the Wii remotes. The tool will focus on building skill levels in different sports, thus ensuring that children feel confident taking part in these activities when played outside.

The tool would be most suitable for sports such as tennis, badminton, baseball and cricket. For each sport the system will have different settings to test/teach the children about different parts of the game e.g. how to strike the ball to create spin, how to hit the ball into certain areas and speed/power.

The child will place the base controller into the corresponding sport’s racket/bat and then attempt to strike the ball as normal, whilst following direction from the tool.

Once the student has finished, he/she can check their feedback on the computer and then continue with the lesson plan.

Brief specification:

Accelerometer
Gyrometer
Infrared
Bluetooth
Sensor bar(s)
Screen
Computer

Strengths:

1. Tools can be used when weather is poor.
2. Feedback from the computer will give the student more direct help.
3. Children love computer games, so would love to use this.
4. Doesn’t promote mindless ‘play’, focuses on building skill.
5. Will build up skill levels that will aid match play.
6. Helps kids build up confidence.
7. Disabled students can take part without feeling left out.
8. Help children’s hand-eye coordination.

Weaknesses:

1. Having enough room at the school to store the tools.
2. The P.E. department will need at least one computer.
3. Students may misbehave further due to having a ‘computer game’ to play.
4. May actually promote computer games rather than sports.
5. Large screens will need to be fitted.
6. More security concerns for the P.E. department.
7. Each school will need at least 6 systems so that there is a minimum wait to use them for the children.
8. Device may get easily damaged.

Some information about the Wii and it’s technology can be found at IGN here.