A pioneer in research on play, Dr. Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults — and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.
Now, through his organization, the National Institute for Play, he hopes to expand the study of human play into a vital science — and help people everywhere enjoy and participate in play throughout life.
Buchanan is a volunteer in a research project being conducted by two Capitol Region professors. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the researchers $200,000 to see if workouts integrated with video games motivate the elderly to exercise more.
The video simulates the crunch of earth under the tires. A wooden fence blinks and Spandex-clad cyclists throw quick looks over their shoulders as they pass. You can almost feel the competitive juices flow.
“I’m disinclined to exercise by myself,” Buchanan said in slight drawl that belies her Boston roots. “It’s not a lot of fun to exercise by yourself.”
Although video-exercise games have been around for more than a decade, the field was revolutionized by the Wii game system that makes players “feel” like they are really swinging a bat or jumping a hurdle or dozens of other athletic movements.
“Today, Microsoft chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie announced a gaming research project designed to support games as learning tools for math and science subjects among middle-school students. Titled Games for Learning Institute (G4LI), the project is a joint endeavor of Microsoft Research, New York University and other higher education establishments. Microsoft will contribute $1.5 million, with NYU and its various partners also contributing $1.5 million.”
Buchanan is a volunteer in a research project being conducted by two Capitol Region professors. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the researchers $200,000 to see if workouts integrated with video games motivate the elderly to exercise more.
