technology and health - how might wii fit into the picture?

We are constantly looking for ways to incorporate healthy eating and activities into our ever-busy lifestyles. You might try a new diet here, or walk the extra distance to work or school there, or try to get some stretches done while watching your favourite television programmes. Things have changed, however, and now we can ask the following question: Why not get active and involved using technology that has been developed for home use?

The Nintendo Wii console was released in 2006 along with two other seventh-generation gaming platforms, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3. However, the advantage that the Wii had over its competition is its wireless handheld point-and-click controller, making for a directly kinetic, interactive experience that doesn't simply involve pressing buttons and remaining rooted to one spot.

Each Wii console came with the game Wii Sports when purchased. Right when you get home with your Wii, you would be able to play the tennis court, enter a boxing ring, putt a few holes, hit a few fly balls, and hit the bowling lanes, either alone or with a friend. Experts believe that Wii Sports is a great way for a very wide audience (youth and children, especially, are an important target market) to get active and involved when they swing round a remote that simulates a tennis game.

And more recently, in order to promote more in-depth physical activity, Nintendo released the Wii Fit. Using the Wiimote and the Wii Balance Board, the user is able to follow yoga routines, muscle training, and other exercises, all with the help of the Wii Fit's virtual trainer. It is able to measure your body mass index (BMI) and uses it in order to help you place your health goals as you progress with training. The game also places focus on defining one's centre of gravity to help with the work-out, and improving posture and balance—as such, the game seeks to appeal to virtually anyone of any gender or age group.

The effects of the Wii haven't gone unnoticed. In fact, one man embarked on the 'Wii Sports Experiment', where he added 30 minutes of playing Wii Sports to his regular routine, every day for six weeks, and at the end of the experiment, he lost nine pounds! The full article can be found here.

Of course, the Wii is no substitute for going out on a run or getting to play an actual tennis game on the court. But in any case, the Wii is meant to be seen as an extension or companion to strenuous exercise. So long as one knows what they are doing, it's a great way to get motivated towards a healthier lifestyle. And what could be more appealing than starting with a useful gadget from the comfort of your own home? Being accessible and fun, not only has the Wii been developed for our ever-growing lifestyle demands, but it also promotes the act of taking the time to focus on our health.

References:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12744

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1584697,00.html

http://www.squidoo.com/Wii-Fit-

http://wii.ign.com/articles/869/869127p1.html

Blogs I commented on:

Gaming Consoles Reaching Out to Physical and Active Lifestyle Changes

What would we do without technology?

recycling sludge, or: how i learned to stop worrying and love biosolids

Say what? Sewage sludge—the unwanted material from our toilets, drains, and what have you—can be recycled to help our environment? Definitely!

Except we won't call it just 'sludge'. Biosolids are the byproduct of treated wastewater and sludge. The solids produced from wastewater treatment are heated in order to break down the organic matter, and to eliminate bacteria and other harmful organisms. This material becomes known as biosolids, and generally looks and feels very similar to regular soil. In Toronto alone, our city's wastewater system generates about 195 000 tons of biosolids per year.

Depending on their level of treatment, biosolids can be used in a variety of different ways. For instance, they can be applied as a natural fertiliser for farms. Biosolids contain nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as a number of nutrients in trace amounts, such as magnesium, iron, and calcium, which are beneficial for crops and plants. The application of biosolids has been a regulated task for over forty years.

While there are all these noteworthy benefits, biosolids are not without their disadvantages. There are concerns over high concentration of metals, chemicals, and other unknown organisms within the biosolids that could prove to be harmful. It's understandable—people don't want these unknown organisms to contaminate their crops, food, environment, and so forth. But at the same time, wastewater plants go through extensive treatment processes to ensure that metal contents are moderated and harmful organisms eliminated before distribution. Some people might also have an issue with the odour that biosolids give off, especially when spread over a large field, but this smell disappears after it has been mixed into the soil anyway.

In any case, making use of biosolids is a cost-effective method of recycling the nutrients and minerals that have gone down our drains. Think about it: it's a resource that is readily available and pretty much free! While biosolids come with their drawbacks, their benefits for the environment outweigh them. Disposing of biosolids would only increase the amount of waste in our dumping sites and landfills—we simply don't have enough room for that, so why not choose to perform the available alternative and recycle them for the good of our environment?

References:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forests/education/adventure/biosolids/making-biosolids/processing
http://www.ebmud.com/our-water/wastewater-treatment/wastewater-treatment-programs/biosolids-faq
http://www.toronto.ca/water/biosolids/index.htm
http://www.toronto.ca/water/biosolids/agriculture.htm

Blogs I commented on:
Biosolids
Human waste as Fertilizer!?

industrial agriculture vs. sustainable agriculture

In the midst of our fast-paced life, is the public in the know about how our food is grown?

Currently the more widespread form of agriculture is industrial agriculture. Here, the industrialised production of crops, livestock, etc. is looked at from a 'factory' viewpoint. Industrial agriculture focuses on generating high yield for very little money and space. In turn, the prices for food remain low for consumers; exports to foreign countries will be abundant; and feed for the animals also remains cheap. However, as you might have guessed, industrial agriculture relies heavily on growth hormones, chemicals and pesticides, which have been linked to elevated cancer risks¹. They rely on a monoculture system of crops and raise only a few specific animals, thus reducing biodiversity within these environments. In addition, the animals are raised in very overcrowded, compact spaces that are often extremely unclean. Because they live in such conditions, they are prone to contracting many diseases.

Alternatively, sustainable agriculture is focused on understanding nature as a functioning ecosystem. In other words, sustainable agriculture looks at ecosystems as a natural aspect of life that must be preserved. The welfare of the animals is one of the top priorities: a wide variety of plants and livestock are raised within these sustainable environments, and they are treated fairly and humanely. While food grown on sustainable farms may cost a little more, it is worth considering that everything is grown naturally, with no hormones, pesticides or chemicals to speed up the process. The animals are allowed to feed, graze, etc., as they please. It is also worth mentioning that since the animals live in a healthy environment, so do the workers—they work in a much safer environment than within industrial agriculture. Food grown in these sustainable environments is much healthier and better for you in every way.

The way I see it, while sustainable agriculture aims to imitate natural ecosystems, the processes that function within the industrial agricultural environment are a result of human intervention and control.
As such, it's easy to wonder why industrialising agriculture is the more common method of growing our food. Our growing population is a factor—of course as the nation grows, so does the demand for food and produce. But considering the repercussions that come from industrial agriculture, are we really willing to risk reducing biodiversity? Do we really want to further compromise the animals'—and our own—health and welfare, just so we can save a few dollars the next time we head to the shops? I say we should look into sustaining agriculture as opposed to industrialising it. The costs of the produce that come from sustainable farms may even be lowered as we invest more and more into it in the future. It's an available alternative that is well worth getting involved in, to ensure our earth's longevity and welfare.

References:
1.)How Sustainable Agriculture Can Address the Environmental and Human Health Harms of Industrial Agriculture
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_industrial_agriculture/industrial-agriculture-features.html
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm
http://www.alternet.org/story/13900/
http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/comparison

Blogs I commented on:
Industrial or Sustainable Agriculture - Which is the way to go?
Industrial Agriculture & Sustainable Agriculture