Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition and the "Health Happens in Schools" initiative take off for kids health in Fresno California

A while back I did a post about Dance Dance Revolution Classroom edition, which is a version Konami games development produced to help school kids fight against childhood obesity problems. The new DDR game seems to be spreading like wildfire, as now it's made its way into the classroom in Fresno, California. This is the result of a partnership agreement between the California Endowment's "Health Happens in Schools" and Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. It's a joint effort to make exercise and physical activities fun for the students by bringing music into the mix for them to dance to. DDR Classroom edition makes it possible for up to 48 students to participate at the same time using wireless dance pads for them to move on. The new music game has already caught on and taken hold of multiple schools by now, which is starting to make this initiative a nation wide effort in the process. So let me bring you up to speed with the full official description of Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition.

"DDR Classroom Edition is an interactive video game that combines physical activity with energetic music and visuals, also known as an exergame. The game and associated hardware technology, which was developed by Performance Designed Products, enables up to 48 students to participate simultaneously, using wireless mat controllers that feature a smart card reader that tracks each student's individual progress. While students move to the beat, teachers receive vital information about their students' health including steps, body mass index (BMI) and caloric burn rate.  The project was funded by a grant from The California Endowment."

You can check out some images below and a couple of videos for you watch just to get a better understanding of how the whole process works when you get a bunch of kids together in a classroom to burn those calories away. Dance Dance Revolution has really caused just that, a revolution in more ways than one.

 

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United Health Care and Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition join forces to help fight against childhood obesity problems

Too many burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, and no where near enough exercise to offset it all. That is one problem many kids these days are facing when it comes to childhood obesity. But how to inspire them to get into the spirit of exercise has always been a big concern that needs some serious solving. That's where Dance Dance Revolution has come into play, or rather Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition. Konami games development and United Health Care have joined forces and announced today at the International Consumer Electronics Show the new DDR Classroom Edition title which has already been in use in three different schools including places like Fresno, Texas, Longwood, Florida, and Gainesville, Georgia. The new DDR title features elements like a wireless mat controller with a smart card reader, and up to 48 students can participate at any one given time.

Teachers can then monitor the health status of classmates and keep a watchful eye on physical elements such as body mass, calorie burning and so on. The new DDR title is said to be an "Exergame", meaning it takes the concept of a physical workout and combines it with music and visual elements. If your in the Las Vegas area, you can head over to the United Health Care booth #25515 where DDR Classroom Edition is currently on display starting from today, January 8th, until the 11th. There will be other health related items there for you to see as well.

Ever since Dance Dance Revolution was first introduced years ago, it has taught us all one important lesson about exercise. It doesn't have to be a nightmare and can actually be enjoyable and fun. It brought the power of music and visual arts and combined it with physical activity while making the whole process a real health benefit. Along the way it also inspired other companies to sort of make their own spin off titles, but in the end Dance Dance Revolution has always and will always be in a class by itself. The soundtrack to DDR games has been on the fans wish list every time a new title hits the store shelves or arcades. So off we go to see some cool images and watch a couple of videos below so you can get an idea of what this whole thing is about. Who knows, you might be a woman reading this who attends an aerobics class and decide you need some new material to move to. Dance Dance Revolution Classroom Edition just might be your thing.

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