The Way Technology is Changing the Way Some People Workout

Over the past 25 years different ways people exercised have emerged including various trends that were the "new" and cool way to workout. The newest and probably the most creative is Nintendo’s Wii Fit video game platform. Wii Fit is a balance board that allows the user to perform many exercises that were are being shown on the TV screen. Exercises include yoga poses, dancing, pushups and jogging. In total there are over 40 different exercises that can be completed The software can calculate body mass index and allow users to take fitness tests. As of May 2010 Nintendo has sold 22.61 million copies since its' release in October 2009. Support has been increasing with growing awareness from health professionals and the general public.

The American Council on Exercise stated that Wii fit is an average workout and when surveying 18-24 year old female and male users on average burned 165 calories in a 30-minute workout. The problem with this survey is the lack of diversity in the ages of participants. I think the Wii Fit is marketed towards older people because in most cases would able to burn more calories using compared to a 18-24 year old that is in the best shape of their life.

With the success of Nintendo’s Wii Fit, there have been many competitors trying to jump onboard. EA Sports, Sega, and Microsoft have recently announced similar gaming systems and equipment. When these product are introduced Nintendo will most definitely lose some market share. However, like the feeble attempts to de-thrown apple from IPod King, usually the innovating company controls market share.

This software allows people to exercise minus the travel time and the high costs of joining a gym. It also allows parents of young children to complete a workout in their house while still watching their child. Like most technological inventions or advancements, Wii Fit is making exercising more convenient to complete. Because we all know that when we do not exercise we create some subpar excuse to justify not doing so. My favorite is that I have to much homework or that "its ok" because I will go tomorrow.

Technology has in most cases made daily life much more efficient. If a college kid were to go back and live in 1980 for a year, he or she would be mortified by some of the technology or actually the lack of technology being used. If my cell phone could barely fit in my backpack and couldn't get the Yankee score or check my email I think I would have a panic attack. This being said I never thought the “prehistoric” idea of going for a run or joining a gym to exercise would be upstaged.

I have personally used Wii Fit a few times and I think that it is pretty entertaining and a decent workout. It is definitely innovative and pretty incomparable to any other video game. I think that it is definitely something very useful for some people; however, I would never use one for exercise. In my opinion going to a run outside or a trip to the gym with friends is the best way to complete a workout