For the playstation generation, technology is undoubtedly at the forefront of leisure time, however with sedentary activities topping the list of children’s favourite pastimes, it’s no surprise that childhood obesity is an ever present concern.
As games industry giants fight to introduce active gaming into their offer, conversely, outdoor play manufacturers are introducing technology to the playground to try and recapture a lost generation. Swings and roundabouts no longer hold the attention of a nation of gamers and it seems the twenty-first century playground is undergoing an unexpected makeover – of a digital nature.
New technological developments in playground equipment encourage interaction and strengthen mental and physical agility, coaxing the user into exerting physical effort without even realising; often with a series of jumps, stretches and manoeuvres to be completed against the clock. Another benefit is their environment; the child is still getting their tech-fix, but in a more health-conscious outdoor setting – hopefully opting to rediscover their enthusiasm for the traditional playground while there.
Indeed the very reason that technology is so important in play is its increasing intrusion into every aspect of our lives – games consoles have been top of children’s wish lists since the launch of the gameboy twenty years ago now, and the play industry has been forced to take notice of this.
Barry Leahey, Sales Director at Playdale Playgrounds, explains how children today have a very different perception of fun to that of their parents and grandparents. He says, “Whereas children thirty years ago were sent outside with a football, nowadays they’re more likely to be confined indoors with an Xbox 360. This means we have to find a way of combining this technology-centred idea of fun with physical exertion – remember that children are meant to play because it’s enjoyable – not because it burns calories.”
One benefit of technology-enhanced playground equipment is the feedback it can offer on the positive effects on the users’ health. For example, Playdale, who also design and manufacture school playground equipment, have developed their i.play unit to offer feedback on the number of games played, the amount of calories burned and the equivalent resulting heart rate. While calories should not be of importance to children, they are certainly a good indicator of the effectiveness of any equipment that promotes physical activity and this, along with other data generated, is likely to be of great interest to the play provider so they can gauge the popularity of their playground equipment and justify the expense too.
Certainly the play industry is aware of the challenge facing it, and is already hard at work developing new products to educate and engage young people. There may be challenging times ahead to lure children back outside, but the stakes – society’s health – are surely worth the effort.
