Play Tetris, lose weight
Want to lose weight by playing video games? Not coordinated enough to play DDR? Tim Tucker has the solution for you: Tetris Weightlifting. It's a version of Tetris that you control with a pair of handles each attached to a set of weights. You pull the right handle to move the piece right and vice versa for the left, and press a button on either handle to rotate the piece. Tucker built the Tetris Weightlifting machine out of an open source version of Tetris and a Phidgets electronic sensor. "Users expressed high satisfaction with the system," says this promotional poster. "They focused more on game-play than on exercise, setting goals based on in-game cues rather than traditional metrics such as number of repetitions." It sounds like my kind of workout, but Tucker doesn't say how many calories players can actually burn. You can download the Java source for his customized version of Tetris as well as the C# code for his sensor controller.[Via Waxy.org]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Claude Gelinas said 1:04AM on 10-29-2006
If you're looking for a fun way to lose a few calories, do the following:
1. Blow a regular-sized (round) balloon;
2. Lie on your back, face up;
3. Throw the ballon in the air, over you;
4. Never let it touch ground;
5. For half an hour.
Keep your hands in the air most of the time and use your legs regularly. Keep your eyes on the ball(oon) and have a good time.
Do it every night for at least a month, you'll be amazed at the results.
You can do it with your mate or your kids and you can even listen to an audiobook while doing it.
It's simple and surprisingly effective... but it's not Tetris, I know ; )
Reply
wildweasel said 5:58PM on 10-29-2006
If you don't want to create a new controller for this, there's an alternative that uses your legs - just get any Tetris game (even Flash ones will work), a copy of JoyToKey, a PS2-USB controller adapter (or any controller adapter, really), and a Dance Dance Revolution dancemat. Hook the adapter to your computer, plug in the dance mat, use JoyToKey to map the dancemat's buttons to keystrokes or mouse movements, and then play your Tetris game with your feet.
Reply