We've reported on the role of video games in health before, but the session on the Wii laproscopy simulator at the Games for Health Conference really caught our eye. It's just one of the attractions of the event being held in Boston later this year. Focusing on ways in which patients and doctors are using the latest gaming platforms to improve health and clinical performance, it builds on events held in previous years with a focus this time round on exercise gaming, active games, health training games, disease management efforts and more.
“It's been exciting to see the increasing momentum around the healthy games industry since our first conference five years ago,” says Ben Sawyer, founder of the Games for Health Project. “We are looking forward to once again offering attendees an interactive and dynamic conference platform with exciting content, networking opportunities and this year, an increased emphasis on community led tracks.”
As well as the Wii game for laparoscopic surgery, the two-day conference will offer more than 40 sessions featuring 60 speakers. Sessions include a discussion and assessment of the role of video games in improving global health initiatives. In addition, Jayne Gackenbach of Grant MacEwan University will at look how serious video game play changes fundamental qualities of dreams in the player, and the ways in which players process cognitive and emotional information.
The Games for Health Conference 2010 will be held from May 25 to May 27 at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel in Boston.