Computer games can aid with childhood obesity.

 (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Dekuwa

Scientists claim that playing computer games is one of the biggest causes of childhood obesity. By playing computer games all day teenagers are more likely snack on fatty foods and with the absence of exercise due to the computer games this fat is stored and builds up over time and can be very difficult to get rid of in the future. Overweight kids often suffer emotionally and mentally as they face ridicule and teasing about being "fat." Even more crucial, however, is the adverse effect on their health as kids carry excess weight to the point that it strains their joints and overburdens their internal organs and bodily functions. Therefore children are encouraged to get more physical exercise everyday, for at least 60 minutes.

Thanks to technology however there is a way where children can enjoy computer games and keep physically active. Nowadays not all computer games require sitting on the couch for hours upon hours. New technology such as the Wii, PlayStation Move and Xbox Kinect integrate both fun and fitness into games for people to enjoy.  Games such as Wii sports and Olympics require the user to use hand motions and gestures to control the game and all the time standing up and moving around and not just sitting on the couch using two thumbs. There are also games such as Dance Dance Revolution for the PlayStation Move that requires jumping and quick movements which are great aerobic exercises and help lose weight fast. Technologies like these can be cheaper than gym memberships and fulfil the same purpose.

How Brain-Computer Interfaces can Aid in Communication

University of Maryland Press Releases
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Technological advances are now allowing the brain to communicate directly with computers. This will have many very significant advances in the far future but one of the uses which we can expect to see reasonably soon is the use of computers to display works and sentences of patients who are unable to communicate in the traditional way.

Experiments done in Jacksonville Florida 2009 had very promising results as there were successfully able to display words on a computer monitor using just the brain as in interface. 

This will be a great help to people suffering from paralysis or other conditions such as Locked-In Syndrome, which is where the sufferer is completely conscious but has no control of almost all voluntary muscles. When this technology becomes available, it would once again allow them and others to communicate with the outside world again.

Interfaces which Encourage Physical Activity

laurencfisher
CC BY-SA 2.0

Interfaces such as those used with the wii and on the x-box kinect are now being used in nursing and retirement homes to encourage movement and physical activity in the elderly. 

This increase in physical activity has proven to increase the persons current health and life expectancy with minimum risk of injury as the activities are done inside and can be easily monitored by nurses or carers.

It also improves their quality of life by giving them a very social game which can be used by almost anyone such as their children or grandchildren.