In August of 2012, Blue Marble Game Company completed Treasure of Bell Island; an application funded by the Army and designed to improve the efficiency of interventions for blast related neurotrauma at home and in the field. It was a significant achievement. We at Blue Marble are proud to help our service members returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other points abroad.  Even more so, we are extraordinarily proud of our achievement in completing our  Army contract to spec and on time.

But we haven't slowed down, because there is definitely more to do! In May we will take part in a crucial feasibility study, where service members with mTBI will use Treasure of Bell Island for a few weeks. During that time we will collect their feedback and make improvements to the application before we begin our lofty goal of making a copy available to every service member or veteran that wants a copy. And just in case there is any doubt, the software is free to all active duty service members and veterans.

Here is where you come in. We need your help! The application is in a beta release, which means its a version of our software program that has not yet been fully tested for bugs. We could really benefit from additional feedback from new play testers. That's right, we are asking you to play Treasure of Bell Island for 5-10 hours and provide us your constructive criticism. Your feedback will have direct impact and make the application better for our service members.

Everyone with a Windows 7 PC computer and/or a Motorola Xoom tablet can play. The sign up process is easy and in appreciation of your efforts, when the testing is done, we will upgrade you to the latest version of software for free. You can use the software for as long as you like.

For more information point your browser to: Playtesting at Blue Marble Game Co

Blue Marble Game Co.  (BlueMarbleGameCo.com) is developing a video game for brain injured veterans/ active duty military and their friends and family. We are in the process of choosing an art style for the game and would love to have your opinion about the options we are considering. 

Please take a few minutes to complete our survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2T2NPDG    It is free and anonymous.

Thank you in advance!

(Limbs Alive logo.)

Limbs Alive is a company that specializes in the rehabilitation of hemiplegia. Hemiplegia is the paralysis of one side of the body, usually the result of a stroke. Limbs Alive specializes in the rehabilitation of the hands and arms of their patients, but what sets them apart from other rehabilitation companies is that they are trying to make therapy fun. In order to accomplish this goal, they use interactive challenges through video games to help patients through their recovery process. Their games focus on patients trying to move as much as they can by setting goals that are both challenging and fun.

Limbs Alive states they are founded by the "six Fs": Fun for all ages, Focused on developing two handed skills, Frequent therapy, Financially feasible, and Fit for purpose. They pride themselves on the fact that everyone will be able to use their products, which are specifically designed to help patients move. By using consumer products for their games, families will be able to afford Limbs Alive products. One of the games made by Limbs Alive is "Circus Challenge" which is designed to help patients move their arms in complex ways with precise coordination. With engaging gameplay, this game will help patients rehab in a fun new way.

Source: www.limbsalive.com

(Controller design that may work for Apple devices.)

What can be considered a shift in the way developers may make games for handheld devices, Apple has filed patents for a console-like controller that would work for many of their devices. One of the diagrams presented in the patent was a PlayStation Dualshock-like controller communicating with an iPhone or iPod Touch. Since the controller will be able to communicate with devices that are running iOS devices, it is even more likely that the controller will be able to control games on the iPad. Gamers that are accustomed to playing with controllers may view this as a plus for their mobile device gaming, but it presents a problem for Apple: which gamer do they want playing their devices?

The mass appeal of the iPhone and iPad is that it is easy to use with its touchscreen controls and it has games that anyone can play. With this new controller, there will now be more games that require more precise controller movements, which can be intimidating for many people. This patent may suggest a shift in focus for Apple and what type of games they want being developed for their devices, which means more "hardcore-style" games showing up in the App Store. While this may seem like a way to attract new players to their devices, it may alienate their current base of "casual-gamers".

What made the iPhone and iPad so successful was that they were easy to use; people could just about anything with the tap of the screen. But with this new controller, Apple may be giving up on the one thing that sets them apart from the rest of the game consoles out there.

Source: kotaku.com/5929365/apple-has-a-patent-for-a-physical-video-game-controller

(Wii balancing game.)

People who have surgery for lung cancer usually have a long and arduous time recovering from such a serious procedure. Not only will they be recovering from the surgery, they will also have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy. That is why it is important for these patients to stay active so they will recover faster from these difficult procedures. One way these patients have been recovering is by playing the Wii after undergoing lung cancer surgery. 

Researchers at Michigan State University have been using the Wii for a light-intensity, self-paced series of walking and balancing exercises. The prospect of regular exercise may be daunting to these patients, so playing a video game helps relax the patients, and it also gets them moving. Since the Wii is easy to use, patients of all ages will be able to engage in these light exercises. This shows that after having life-threatening surgery, video games can help people relax and recover at a faster pace.

Source: www.michiganradio.org/post/msu-study-uses-video-game-help-lung-cancer-patients-recover-surgery

(Kinect Sports Boxing)

Exercise is probably the least fun thing people can think of when they are trying to lose weight. People know it's a way to help lose weight, but no one really likes to do it or they simply just don't have the time to exercise. And that's just for adults; imagine the difficulty of trying to get children to exercise, now that is a challenge. That is why the video game industry game came up with devices like the PlayStation Move, Microsoft Kinect, and the Wii as a way for chuldren and adults to exercise with the equpiment they already own. Research is now suggesting that playing games that involve a lot of movement affects heart rates and energy expenditure.

Heart rates that were measured after playing the game "Dance Dance Revolution" can reach up to a 64% of maximum heart rate when played on the Xbox 360 and the Wii. This maximum heart rate is in the suggested range by the American College of Sports Medicine for adults, but the rate that is necessary for younger children is up to 80%. Other games like "Kinect Sports Boxing" provides energy expenditure that is equivalent to playing a game of volleyball or walking at 7km/h. When comparing the same games on different systems, games played on the Kinect provided a greater energetic expenditure than the same game being played on the Wii. This suggests that the whole body movement required by the Kinect results in greater activity.

If children were to dedicate half their time playing these types of games, it would lead to approximately the daily-recommended 60 minutes of activity. With these types of games, it can lead to a health boom that has never been seen before.

Source: theconversation.edu.au/a-big-kid-did-it-and-faded-away-videogames-vs-childhood-obesity-8133

(Department of Veterans Affairs Seal.)

In a way to help veterans get the healthcare that they need, the Department of Veterans Affairs have contracted a compnay to develop a wireless mobility infrastructure for healthcare that will support 26 medical centers across the country. The development for this infrastructure will be done by the Melbourne, Florida based Harris Corp., which was awarded the $19 million contract. With this contract, the Harris Corp. will be able to design a mobility infrasturcture that will accommodate voice, video, and real-time location services.

With a focus on wireless mobility, healthcare will be available to anyone and anywhere. Veterans will be able to have access to the healthcare they desperately need, and with this system, healthcare professionals will be able to provide the care veterans need. Veterans being able to talk to healthcare professionals with their computers and tablets will be crucial, especially if the veteran has suffered injuries that will make it difficult to travel.

The new infrastructure will be especially useful for Blue Marble Game Co.'s "The Treasure of Bell Island", which is a tablet game that uses wireless technology for veterans to communicate with clinicians while they play the game. "The Treasure of Bell Island" is a tablet game that is designed to help patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury by having the player solve puzzles and have characters complete different tasks. The game uses the internet to connect to a database that clinicians will be able to access to view patients' progress.

Source: www.healthcareitnews.com/news/va-awards-19m-contract-mobility-network

(Kids playing with the Wii.)

As children are constantly growing and learning, they begin to learn new skills by playing with others. Most recently researchers have discovered that children who play interactive video games, such as the Wii, have developed better object control motor skills. At Deakin University, researchers conducted a study with 53 pre-school kids to determine if there was an association between playing interactive video games and fundamental movement skils. Children's physical activity were monitored and then their movement skills were assessed after some time playing with interactive video games and compared to children who played with non-interactive video games in a week. 

The researchers then discovered that those children who spent more time playing the interactive video games were competent in object control skills while the children who played non-interactive video games had no such improvements. Research suggests that since these children are playing these interactive video games, they are developing better motor skills since they are constantly using them. It also suggests that playing interactive video games can increase hand-eye coordination.

Although this is a good sign for interactive video games, more research still needs to be conducted in order to definitively conclude that interactive video games improve motor skills. As more video games become more physical, there will be more proof for these claims to be tested.

Source: www.healthcanal.com/mental-health-behavior/31007-Kids-who-play-interactive-video-games-have-better-motor-skills.html

(Patient using iPad to write letters.)

With the rise and success of tablets, there has been a shift in traditional ways of taking notes and reading books. But unlike traditional notebooks, these tablets can be used for more than just reading and taking notes, they can become an extra smartphone or even a personal computer. With the countless things that these tablets can do, there is now a push to use these tools to help patients who are suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). With TBI patients struggling with memory, oftentimes using caregivers to help with their memories, doctors are hoping that using the iPad will help improve their memory.

At the Royal Centre in Sydney, Australia, 21 TBI patients were given iPads using their calendar and other apps to help them with their daily tasks. The iPad would be set with an alarm to help with daily reminders and pictures of family and friends would be in the iPad to help these patients put a name on a face. At the same time, other TBI patients were using regular diaries to help with reminders; and at the end of the study, researchers discovered that those patients who were using iPads had a greater improved memory than thoe who were using diaries. Also with the iPad's many apps, TBI patients who have trouble speaking can use an app called "Prologuo2Go" which is a text-to-speech app.

Source: www.braininjuryinstitute.org/_blog/Traumatic_Brain_Injury_Blog/post/Can_the_iPad_help_with_brain_injury_rehabilitation/

(A child coloring a picture on the iPad.)

When the iPad was introduced, many knew that the device would revolutionize the way people would read, watch movies, and even communicate with each other. With its vibrant screen and easy to use controls, anyone at any age can use this wonder device. Children especially seem to want to explore the iPad, which is why hospitals are now using iPads for children's therapy sessions. With the many apps that the iPad has, there are a number of ways children will be able to use it to interact with the world around them.

At the Children's Hospital of Bethany, kids that are suffering from traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are now able to learn and also communicate with others by using the iPad. By using the iPad, the kids are now learning at their own pace and becoming more independent, which is an extremely positive thing for their therapy. By being able to draw things and change colors with the touch of the screen, it is a tool that becomes so engaging, that children become more focused and will be more willing to try new things.

With the iPad, and other tablets as well, there will now be a new way for patients to become rehabilitated at a faster rate. With the possibilities of adding new apps and new connections to these tablets, the future of electroinc rehabilitation is looking very bright.

Source: www.imedicalapps.com/2012/02/ipad-revolutionizing-childrens-rehabilitation-therapy/

(Surgeon using Kinect to view important information.)

The operating room is one of the cleanest rooms in a hospital, while the surgeon is probably the most sterile doctor in the hospital. Surgery is also one of the trickiest procedures because there are so many things that can happen at any given moment. So when a doctor needs to look up information about a patient mid-surgery, the surgeon would have to leave the operating room, look up the information, and re-sterilze to continue the surgery. But now with the Kinect, there can be an easier and more efficient way to look up information in the operating room.

With simple gestures made at the screen, surgeons can look up the medical history of their patients without having to leave the room or re-sterilze. The Toronto-based company GestSure Technologies developed a program for doctors to look up medical records without having to touch a screen or a keyboard. Knowing this information with a simple swipe of the hand can make most surgeries easier and therefore more successful. While the Kinect is not being used directly by a patient to become more healthy, it is helping doctors perform better so their patients can become more healthy.

Source: business.financialpost.com/2012/07/18/how-microsoft-kinect-has-inspired-the-surgeons-gps/

(Patient playing the Wii while his doctor monitors.)

A neurophysiologist at the Neuroscience Research, Australia, is presenting data at the international conference of the Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology that will show the Wii as an effective rehabilitation tool. Dr. Penelope McNulty is set to present data that suggest an intensive two-week training program that uses the Wii will result in drastic improvements in ways that stroke patients will be able to use their limbs, even those who suffered from strokes many years ago. 

Dr. McNulty used this regiment with patients that suffered strokes from at least one month prior to those who suffered strokes as far back as 21 years. The promising data showed that all those patients did show improvements after playing the Wii in their rehab routine. The advantages of using the Wii in rehabilitation are: it is inexpensive, accessible to most patients, and what has been important to patients, it is fun to use. This fun factpr is key to patients sticking to ther rehab, which is the key to recovering fully. They notice improvements playing the games on the Wii, but they also notice improvements with everyday activities, such as using a fork or opening a door.

Since this research is being conducted in Australia, it shows that people from all over the world are realizing the uses of video games as rehab tools. It also shows that video games ca become a universal language helping many people all around the world.

Source: www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/news/general/video-games-can-be-good-for-your-health/2628917.aspx

(Seniors at Tiger Place having some fun.)

As they grow older, elderly people are more susceptible to injuring themselves in more harmful, sometimes even life threatening ways. The classic "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up" was not only a marketing tagline; it is based on a real problem affecting the elderly. That is why researchers and caregivers at Tiger Place, an independent senior housing complex, are now using Kinect to monitor the movement of their seniors. Researchers are now able to gather what is called "gait data", which is walking speed, stride length, and step time, and with that information, they will be able to notice subtle changes in their patients.

With the Kinect sensors in the seniors' rooms, researchers and caregivers are now able to monitor any functional change that can lead to harm prevention. By noticing changes in movement earlier, doctors can determine if there is something wrong with the patient, or inform them of ways to improve mobility. One of the ways that the Kinect is especially helpful at Tiger Place is with all the data that it is gathering, it can email nurses if something has gone awry. For example, if the sensors have noticed that someone's movement has slowed, if their gait data has changed drastically, or more importantly, if someone has fallen, nurses will be notified through email for a faster response time.

Ever since the Kinect was introduced, it has been used for many things besides what it was originally designed for, which is controller free gaming for the Xbox 360. But what started as a new dimension for gaming, has been transformed into something that can really help people with serious medical problems.

Source: www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2011/dec11/12-19KinectEffect.aspx

(Player playing a Jinotronix rehab game.)

As a finalist for Microsoft's TechStars-based Kinect Accelerator program, company Jinotronix has made a large step in helping rehab patients by winning the grand prize at Montreal's International Startup Festival with their Kinect-based rehab program. The goal of Jinotronix was to use the Kinect to make games for rehab patients to make their physical therapy more fun and affordable. Since it uses Kinect, their rehab no longer has to be confined to just the rehab center, it can also be done from the comfort of the patient's home.

As the CEO of Jintronix, Justin Tan decided to help make gams for rehab patients when his father suffered a stroke and was going through the rehabilitation process. He noticed that most patients were not getting the full benefits of the rehab experience, and most of the current rehab exercises were either outdated or just plain boring. He soon realized the potential of the Kinect, with its use of precise movements to play their games, it can become a new form of physical therapy. Justin is not the only one who believes that the rehab experience should change. There are many companies like his that plan to change the rehab experience by making it current with the times, and with systems like the Wii and Kinect, patients can look forward to a more fulfilling and accomplishing rehab experience.

Source: venturebeat.com/2012/07/13/jintronix/

(Kinect Bowling)

When people remember P.E. in their school days, they usually remember all the games they used to play and the gym clothes. It was not just physical education; it was a way to release some energy from being inside a classroom all day. But for those students who have physical disabilities, P.E. is not just something that is more difficult to do, but for some, it may even be impossible. With child obesity steadily rising over the last few years, teachers at the Aaron School, a private special needs school in New York, decided to use video games to get kids to start moving again. 

The teachers decided that using the Nintendo Wii, Kinect, and the PlayStation 3 would be an excellent way for kids to use their arms and encourage movement for their kids. Since these kids are suffering from physical disabilities, movement can be more difficult for them, which is why the teachers use these games to initiate the exercise these kids need. Bowling is played because of the constant movement of the arms. The harder the kids swing their arms, the faster the ball rolls and so on. Table Tennis is played in order to help the kids' hand-eye coordination and it is coupled with the constant movement of their arms. Soccer is also used because of all the precise movement that is needed in order to score the perfect goal.

What was once a difficult, sometimes impossible, task for these kids is now a fun and a much needed activity thanks to these video games. Video game companies are realizing the importance of physical activity, so they are making their games both more fun and more accessible for all those people who want to move around while playing.

Source: www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2012/07/12/298610-get-out-your-seat-on-feet-video-games.htm

(Tetris Party)

What makes video games so captivating and enthralling is the fact that the game gives the player choices on how to play the game. Even the simplest games like "Tetris" give players an incredible amount of choices (where to place the blocks, which way to rotate the blocks, when to make a line disappear) and it is this feeling of choice that makes games so fascinating. This is one of the many reasons why there are so many researchers using video games to search for ways on how the brain is able to make quick decisions in an instant. Video games are constantly stimulating the brain, through sight, sound, and even executive function with completing the task it sets out for a person. Even games that are "on-rails" (a pre-determined path one must take to complete the level/game) give the player many choices on how to reach the end.

Kotaku editor Stephen Totilo describes that the best games available are the ones that give players an abundant amount and interesting choices in order to complete the game. He states that games that allow the player to feel like they have multiple ways to solve a problem, even though there might be only one correct answer, still gives the player a sense of exploration and wonder, which makes the game brilliant. It is this sense of engagement that researchers are using to help patients use their critical thinking skills to help improve their critical thinking skills. In order for patients to get better, they must constantly use their brain and video games are an excellent way to use their brain.

Source: kotaku.com/5924387/the-difference-between-a-good-video-game-and-a-bad-one

(A student helps a patient play a game on the Wii.)

Very recently, the entertainment business realized the economical boom that the video game industry has undergone. The entertainment business began to take notice when video game sales contributed more to the world market than both DVD and Blu-Ray sales combined. Once they realized that video games were now a viable source for revenue, entertainment studios began to develop or partner with video game companies to make new games. Then, when Nintendo came out with the Wii and a few years later when Microsoft released Kinect, hospitals then saw the potential of video games as a tool for helping patients going through rehabilitation.

Hospitals viewed the Wii as a way for patients with degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, to alleviate symptoms by motivating exercises and concentrating over a long period of time. The Microsoft Kinect also has patients move and concentrate on precise movements to play most of their games. Patients view playing games as a more entertaining form of rehabilitation than traditional means of rehab, like doing the same exercise over and over again.

One game that was designed for therapy purposes is "Circus Challenge" developed by Professor Janet Eyre from Newcastle University and the Department of Health. This game is designed for people who have problems with mobility and is used as a complimentary tool to physical therapy.

Source: http://www.bristol247.com/2012/07/02/how-video-games-can-be-good-for-you-30376/

(Patient using Kinect for rehabilitation.)

With the precision and possibilities of the Microsoft Kinect, doctors are realizing that home rehabilitation will now be possible for patients who have suffered strokes. Recovery teams in Southhampton University have developed a way to use the Kinect for exercises for their stroke patients that they will be able to do at home. Since the Kinect is used with the Xbox 360, home set-up will be possible, along with personal regiments designed by the doctors for each patient. Doctors have noticed that patients do become more involved when using the Kinectm which shows that when rehabilitation is entertatining and engaging, more patients will be more inclined to go through their rehab.

Source: www.crazyengineers.com/microsoft-kinect-employed-in-stroke-rehab-system/

(Didget with Nintendo DS)

People who are suffering from diabetes have many more worries than those who do not have that disease, most notably; they are required to check their blood sugar by pricking their fingers to get a blood sample. Most adults are able to complete this task, but to a child who has diabetes, pricking thier fingers may seem like a scary thing. That is why Bayer made Didget, a glucose monitor that also comes with a game called "Knock 'Em Downs" to make the pricking of fingers less scary for children.

"Knock Em' Downs" is played with the Nintendo DS, which is a staple for children. As the child takes regular blood updates, the Didget will add more points to the game which will then unlock more features for the game. Having this extra incentive for children will help them maintain their blood sufar, which is the main purpose of the Didget. This shows that games have the ability to keep playershealthy and more knowledgeable about the disease they are living with. As more healthcare providers notice the potential of gamification, there will be more people understanding the value of video games for healthier living.

Source: www.forbes.com/sites/marketshare/2012/07/10/gaming-your-way-to-better-health/

(Kinect PlayFit Dashboard)

When Microsoft unveiled the Kinect, their goal was to make the player the controller, but now, Microsoft wants to make the player healthier. Microsoft launched a new dashboard for the Xbox 360 called Kinect PlayFit. This new dashboard is designed to help players keep track of their movement while they play Kinect enabled games.

Games such as "Dance Central 2", "Your Shape Fitness Evolved", "Kinect Star Wars", "Kinect Sports", and other Kinect games will have data that PlayFit will aggregate and provide personal fitness stats. PlayFit will also have achievements for vast replay value, calorie tracker, and for social gaming, a leaderboard to see which one of your friends is more active.

With Microsoft joining the gamification of health fitness, it shows that major companies are more interested in helping people get healthy. Companies are realizing that video games are not only for entertainment, but also as a tool that can help people start living a better life.

Source: www.theverge.com/2012/7/10/3148832/kinect-playfit-xbox-dashboard-release