Comparing Hart Rate After Playing Tennis and After Playing Virtual Tennis Using the Wii Game

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Comparing Hart Rate After Playing Tennis and After Playing Virtual Tennis Using the Wii Game

Abstract

The purpose of my experiment is to compare the heart rate change results between playing a sport in real life and playing a video game based off of that sport. I will use a procedure that involves multiple people playing tennis in real life, taking and recording their heart rate pulse, then having them play a video game that is based off tennis with a motion-sensor controller that acts as if they were swinging an actual tennis racquet, and finally record their pulse afterwards, and comparing the two pulses between the two different activities. I presume that the data will show that playing actual tennis will increase your heart rate more rather than playing a video game, even if it’s similar. You only have to swing your arms in the video game; foot movement is not necessary. This means that your body wouldn’t have to work as much as if you were playing real tennis instead. Case in point, I’m merely testing how much more your heart rate increases after playing actual tennis compared to its video game counterpart.

Introduction

Some say that the Wii Sports video game is just as engaging and interactive as playing sports in real life. I disagree with this claim and will use this science experiment to scientifically prove my point.

When the Nintendo Wii released in November 2006, one of its launch titles that was included with every retail Nintendo Wii was Wii Sports. Wii Sports is a game where you play sports with the motion-sensor controller, which also comes packed with the Wii. It took the video game industry by storm, being bought by families all over the world. Soon after, speculations were being made that kids were...

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...heir heart rate after playing real tennis is nearly double than that of the heart rate after playing the video game. Player 7’s heart rate even reaches above 200 after playing tennis. I suppose the answer is clearly apparent about how much more your body works to play real tennis rather than the video game.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The conclusion of the matter is, obviously, real tennis uses more energy and increases heart rate considerably more than playing Wii Tennis. Yes, Wii Tennis may decrease weight and requires more energy than the average game, but it will never beat the real thing.

References

"Study: Wii playing kids lose weight." WiiHealthy - Wii Fit, Wii Sports, Nintendo sportsgames, Wii Fitness, Wii Balance Board, Yoga, Mii, Exergaming. 19 May 2007. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .

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