Presenter: Mina Johnson, President Embodied Games. Radboud University, NL Event: Games for Health Europe 2015 Conference Date: 02 NOV 2015 / 14:00 - 15:30 Location: Juliana Congreszaal, Jaarbeurs Utrecht

1. Genesis of an Active Nutrition Game:
Alien Health
Mina C. Johnson
Radboud Universiteit and
minaj@embodied-games.com

2. Why?
• Obesity epidemic is still ongoing
• Creating videogames to change behavior seems a
timely way to meet children where they are
(enough with the pamphlets...)
• In addition, when a game is co-designed for
parents to play with - there is a chance for real
change
• Alien Health is in demo area

3. First iteration
Mixed Reality
12 IR motion capture cameras
Using handheld trackables to
move virtual objects
SMALLab
Situated Multimedia
Arts Learning Lab

4. Chemistry Titration – in a virtual flask
SMALLab at Arizona State University

5. Excellent embodied environment for
multiple users

6. How does using the whole body
(gesture) affect learning and retention?
Multiple studies have shown effects of better
learning in
• Math
• Geology
• Physics

7. SMALLab Centripetal Force Study
(under review)
Significant interaction between
embodiment and time, generative test items
F (1, 62) = 4.83, p = .03
22.00
23.00
24.00
25.00
26.00
27.00
28.00
posttest followup
Scoreonoffline,generativesection
Interaction between time and embodiment
low embodied
high embodied
7

8. How to instruct in nutrition in an
engaging manner using the whole body?

9. Alien Health: Alpha screenshot
Dyadic play with a Selector and a Runner

10. Johnson-Glenberg, & Hekler
(2013). Alien Health game:
An embodied, exergame to
instruct in nutrition and
MyPlate. Games for Health
Journal.
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
Nutrition Pretest Nutrition Posttest
Alien Health: Mixed Reality Pilot
Study with one class of 9 year-olds, one exposure to
game
DV = paper/pencil nutrition knowledge test
Significant gain paired t-test, t(18) = 4.13, p <.001.

11. Next Iteration
• Needed to move to more cost effective platform
• Really focus on message –
What is the nutrient profile in common
foods? Make that info “pop”
• Give practice so food decisions become more
automatized

12. Microsoft Kinect sensor
Natural User Interface
Skeletal tracking, V1
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh438998.aspx

13. Alien Health with Kinect
Beta 1
Experimental Condition –
Foundling Alien narrative
and exercise
Control Condition - same
forced choice content,
performative aspects

14. Included level with nonfoods

15. For exercise condition, quality and
duration of short exercises assessed
via Kinect
Experimental: Physically
performed exercises to
help alien metabolize food
Control: Game-like tap
moving dots and observe
stick figure exercise

16. Again, we see group-wise retention effects
with delay
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
NutritiontestScores
Alien Health Game with Kinect
Control Exercise/Narrative
Experimental ES = 1.14
Control ES = .83
Post to followup
interaction
F(19)= 3.96, p < .058
Pretest Posttest 2 Week Followup
Johnson-Glenberg, Henry, & Savio-Ramos, 2014. Games for Health Journal. Open Access.

17. In education, we are in the business of retention
More knowledge retained at followup in condition
with embodiment and more exercise
Being active during learning helps maintain
knowledge in several content domains
Similar results seen in skill acquisition and memory
consolidation literature (Stickgold & Walker, 2007)

18. What’s better than a make over?

19. A second make over!!

20. Increasing knowledge is well and fine
But what about behavioural change?
Next iteration = Kinect V2 in classrooms, Feb 2016
Translate to nederlands and adding typical foods like:
krentenbol vs. volkoren broodje
More DV’s like real food choice - snack task
Four classes of 6th graders, class randomly assigned to
Control = BAU
Alien Health = Kinect V2

21. More platforms:
Intel’s RealSense with embedded sensors
and Virtual Reality -
now that it is “ready
for its close up”

22. With RealSense able to pilot the
“runner” spaceship by leaning
Note: Your ship must have enough fuel aka proper nutrition!

23. Intergenerational gameplay, etc.
• Always thinking about designing socially and
getting players to discourse – we need to get the
food purchasers in on the gameplay
• How to make attractive to parents, homework
• Enter own food items
• Get in grocery stores so kids can play while the
parents shop...

24. Look forward to reporting back on
progress next year.
Thank You!
Questions
Minaj@embodied-games.com
Or Ken Koontz on the demo floor
Kenk@embodied-games.com

25. Publications on Alien Health
• Johnson-Glenberg, M.C., Savio-Ramos, C., & Henry, H.
(2014). “Alien Health”: A Nutrition Instruction Exergame
using the Kinect Sensor. Games for Health Journal. Open
Access
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/g4h.201
3.0094
• Johnson-Glenberg. M. C., & Hekler, E. (2013). Alien health
game: An embodied, exergame to instruct in nutrition and
MyPlate . Games for Health Journal: Research,
Development, and Clinical Applications, 2, 6, 354-361.
Open access -
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/g4h.201
3.0057. doi: 10.1089/g4h.2013.0057.