Childhood Obesity and Serious Games

Integrating Gamification and Lifestyle Technologies for better Personal Health Management

David Wortley GAETSS

Childhood Obesity is a Complex Issue

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Obesity is a Global Challenge

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Lifestyle Related Global Challenges● Obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular● Ageing Society● Education● Environment● Equitable Society

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These challenges require a holistic solution

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Top Ten causes of Death 1900 vs 2010

The Burden of Disease and the Changing Task of Medicine

David S. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., Scott H. Podolsky, M.D., and Jeremy A. Greene, M.D., Ph.D.N Engl J Med 2012; 366:2333-2338June 21, 2012DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1113569

In many respects, our medical systems are best suited to diseases of the past, not those of the present or future.

We must continue to adapt health systems and health policy as the burden of disease evolves. Disease is a complex domain of human

experience, involving explanation, expectation, and meaning. Doctors must acknowledge this complexity and formulate theories, practices, and systems that fully address the breadth and subtlety

of disease.6

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Global Challenge – HealthObesity, Diabetes, Cancer & Cardiovascular Problems

● Sedentary lifestyle● Convenience foods● Comfort eating● Inadequate exercise● Couch potato syndrome● Spectator society

How do we Solve the Problem?

● Develop clinical solutions that prevent or manage these conditions or

● Influence the food industry and citizens through public policy interventions or

● Develop better personal health management solutions and practices

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Clinical Solutions

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Public Policy InterventionsTaxes & Legislation

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Public Policy InterventionsAwareness and Education

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Better Personal Health Management

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Which is the Best Solution?Who will Provide the Solution?

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Medical Professionals or Politicans or Citizens?

The Transition from Cure to Prevention

It’s quite clear that the best chance we have for increasing our life spans and

overall improving our health is to adjust our personal behaviours and to do so at an

early age. 16

How can we change Personal Behaviours?

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An Approach for Better Personal Health

Gamification Enabling Technologies

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What is Gamification?

Gamification is a process designed to influence actions, behaviours, characteristics and states through the use of games strategies and

mechanics

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What is Gamification?

Every Human Activity can be Viewed as a Game !!

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Games are part of Everyday Vocabulary

Teaching Game

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Property Game

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Insurance Game

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Used Car Game

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Game = Influence & Persuasion

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Big Players have Most Influence



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Gamification is a Life Skill

Gamification and the ability/motivation to Gamify is embedded in the genetic make up of every living creature.

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The Gamification LensStrategistTactician

MotivatorCoach

SkillAbility

MotivationSelf-Esteem

LoyaltyPassion

EngagementSupport

InterestAwarenessKnowledge

UnawareIndependentSelf-sufficient

Growing Influenceand Ability to Achieve Goals

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Gamification ElementsScenarios/NarrativesChallengesRulesChance/UncertaintyRisksRewards/IncentivesPenaltiesCompetitionExplorationSuccess/Achievement

FailureDiscoveryLeaderboardsLearningDevelopmentSkill/AbilityAction/ReactionMeasurementFeedbackReflection

Gamification introduces some or all of these elements into everyday situations

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The Gamification Cycle



Challenge

Response

Measurement

Feedback

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The "A List" Influencers



Every Individual responds to different influencers in making decisions or choices

Enabling Technologies and Disruptive Change in Society

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Enabling Technologies

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What enabling technologies will affect the lives ofNurses, Doctors, Hospitals and Care Workers and how will that impact Childhood Obesity ?

How Do Enabling Technologies Cause Disruptive Change?

The Thomas Cook Story

In 1842 a Cabinet Maker from Market Harborough in the UK set out on a journey

that shaped the world we live in today.

He made an innovative connection between his passion for the Temperance Movement

and the disruptive enabling technology of the railway network.

On that day travel and tourism was changed forever.

Disruptive Technologies, Win-Win Relationships, Commercially Sustainable Social Enterprise

Why did Thomas Cook Succeed?

36A Proposition that was Attractive, Accessible and Affordable

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Enabling Technologies and Society



The Disruptive shift from Hierarchical Society to Networked Society is a challenge and an opportunity to shape the influence of

technology on society

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Impact on Knowledge Professionals



Knowledge Professionals influence on Behaviours and Actions is being eroded by enabling technologies especially with Digital

Natives

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Enabling Technologies and Society



Knowledge Professionals no longer have hierarchical authority as a means of influencing behaviour

They have to influence by facilitation and mentoring

Impact on Knowledge Professionals

40What happens when everyone can access knowledge?

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The Prosumer Revolution



Today's users are increasingly Producers as well as Consumers competing in the Attention Economy

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Attention Economy



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The Attention Economy

The Next Generation have very different expectations

Who will Most Influence Future Health?

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Making a FreshStart

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The Perfect Storm of OpportunityUrgent Societal Issues

● Health – Obesity, Diabetes etc● Ageing Society – Dementia and

care costs● Education – Rejection of

traditional practices● Environment – Unsustainable

demand for Resources● Commerce – E-Commerce threat

to traditional Physical retailers on the High Street

Enabling Technologies● Lifestyle sensor technologies● Mobile Applications● Cloud Computing● Internet of Things● Big Data Analytics● Data Visualisation● Social Media

Creating synergistic collaborative partnerships across multiple disciplines and sectors is key to commercialisation of the opportunities

The GAETSS Mission

Tackling global challenges by building strategic, profitable, sustainable and innovative win-win partnerships based on social enterprise and united

in a common purpose enabled by technology

The Fresh Start Background

We live in a society where unprecedented advances in technology provide instant access to and control of many aspects of our lives.

This situation has created a “Perfect Storm” of Urgent Societal Problems and commercially viable Technology Solutions

Changing Lifestylesand Consumer Empowerment

One of the consequences of this convenient and

easy access to our daily wants and needs is a

decline in the physical and mental challenges

necessary for our lifelong development and health

maintenance

Global Lifestyle Related Challenges

Modern Lifestyle consequences include many negative effects which place

increasing demands on available resources and

threaten the sustainability of public services for future

generations

Global Challenge – HealthObesity, Diabetes, Cancer & Cardiovascular Problems

Very High Profile in UK Press and Media

Who is to Blame?

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In a Spectator Society we come to expect other people to resolve global challenges

Who is to Blame?

The truth is that we are all collectively responsible through our lifestyle choices…and we are all collectively able to turn things around…

Government

Fast FoodCompanies

Television

Education

Video Games

Lack of FacilitiesPressure of Life

What can be Done ?

The consequences of a failure to address these challenges are unthinkable…..

Personal Health Management

Over the last 20 months I have explored and experienced first hand the potential of Gamification and Enabling Technologies to transform personal health and have a

passion to be part of a revolution in health and well-being. I lost 21Kg in 3 months and significantly improved physically and mentally

Gamification and Enabling TechnologiesLeveraging Consumer Technology Usage and Demands to Address

Global Challenges

Our insatiable demand for technologies that give use choice, interactivity and control is key to developing a strategy

for addressing global challenges in a holistic way

Gamification and Enabling Technologies Deliver Results

2013

2013 Feb 2015

Who can Most Influence YOUR Future Health?

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Childhood Obesity Issues

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How can we influence Generation Z?

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Global Challenge – EducationExpectations of Generation Z Digital Natives

● Early exposure to interactive technology

● Engagement in video games

● Easy access to information● Rejection of traditional

teaching methods

Shifting the Locus of Control

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Games and the Locus of Control

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Games put you in Control and transfer the responsibility for outcomes to you

The Pegaso EU Project

The Pegaso EU Project uses wearable devices and games to encourage active lifestyles and healthy eating – see http://www.pegasof4f.eu/

Measurement and Feedback

67Snapshot data Real Time data

Gamification of Childhood Obesity

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Gamification of Childhood Obesity● Body composition snapshot data to measure progress● Real time data lifestyle tracking to measure activity,

sleep and nutrition● Data analytics and visualisation to control outcomes● Personal responsibility for personal performance● Education benefits for STEM subjects

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Types of Game Mechanics● Quest and exploration games● Scoreboards● Teams and clans● Points and Badges● Leaderboards● Virtual (and physical) coaches/mentors

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Conclusions

Childhood obesity is a complex and serious global challenge that arises from today's technology enabled lifestyles. The same technologies which contribute to these

challenges can also be applied to solving these challenges but it requires fresh thinking

and a fresh start.71