Exertion Games involve physical effort and as a result can facilitate physical health benefits. We present Hanging off a Bar, an action hero-inspired Exertion Game in which players hang off an exercise bar over a virtual river for as long as possible. Initial observations from three events with audiences ranging from the general public to expert game designers suggest that Hanging off a Bar can be engaging for players and facilitate intense exertion within seconds. Furthermore, we collected suggestions for what game elements players believe could entice them to increase their physical effort investment. These suggestions, combined with Hanging off a Bar as research vehicle due to the easy measurement of exertion through hanging time, enable future explorations into the relationship between digital game elements and physical exertion, guiding designers on how to support exertion in digital games.

No abstract

Joggobot illustrates a novel approach towards a more social use of robots, where the robot acts as exercise companion to make physical activity more enjoyable. Joggobot is the first autonomous flying robot companion for joggers. Joggobot makes the solo running experience more enjoyable by flying next to you when jogging, offering a coach mode to motivate you to run faster and further, and a "looking after" mode that is similar to jogging with a dog. The results are more enjoyable runs, furthering the many physical health benefits of exercise.