Kickstarter

Bringing a Solution Right to Childhood Obesity

This exciting project is all about doing something about childhood obesity and not just talking about it. Your pledges will fund the initial production and distribution of Exergamer, an inexpensive device that can play an important role in stemming the rapid increase in childhood obesity.

Exergamer is completely designed and tested and is ready for children to engage their entire bodies in playing video games. This means overweight and obese children too. The reason for this is that Exergamer, by it's intuitive nature, readily adapts to any level of game play. Pretty much all children, regardless of their fitness level, can then effectively use Exergamer to play video games and progressively become more fit.

In addition, Exergamer weighs only a few ounce so it can be played virtually anywhere. It retails for less than $50 so pretty much anyone can own one. Furthermore, it plays any number of free or inexpensive games so the cost of ownership is essentially the price for Exergamer without the need to buy expensive games.

The success of this Kickstarter project will determine the level of initial production that will be funded. Most important, its success will guarantee the availability of Exergamer to the growing population of overweight and obese children in need of an inexpensive and compelling at-home fitness solution.  

Product Description

Exergamer is a unique and inexpensive fully-developed computer input device for video game playing that promises to improve the fitness and flexibility of growing children. It allows children at all fitness levels to control video games through exercise-related full-body movement.

A 3 lb. metal base unit named ExerBase is used to position Exergamer essentially anywhere, such as on carpeting or a rough floor surface. The following image is of an ExerBase with Exergamer attached.

Virtually anyone can experience the enjoyable diversion of playing free or inexpensive video games while engaging in intuitive full-body exercise and stretch routines.

Reducing Obesity

Most important, Exergamer has the potential to encourage and motivate children suffering from obesity by helping them to engage in and stay with a fitness regimen that will foster improved health. An important aspect of children using Exergamer is that they can engage in one of their favorite pastimes and inadvertently become more fit thus prompting weight loss.

Market Overview

The video gaming market has grown rapidly over the past decade and is expected to continue to do so. Unfortunately, most products in this arena are rather bulky, incredibly expensive to own and minimally oriented toward serious exercise.

In contrast, ExerGamer is tiny in comparison, comprehensive in its approach to fitness, works with all existing PC computers and will retail for less than the cost of many current-day video games – forget about video gaming systems.

Although many schools and recreational facilities are beginning to use exergaming equipment as a means to help to prompt children to exercise, this does not provide the needed at-home regimen that can readily be monitored by parents.

Current Status and Future

Essentially all Exergamer technical developmental work is complete. Funds raised will be focused upon its initial mass production and distribution to the masses that are in need of an inexpensive and effective at-home means to prompt children to stay fit.

In the event that funding exceeds the initial objective, further development will focus on improving its attraction to children, especially those in need of encouragement to become or remain fit. Areas of interest may include:

·                        Aesthetics improvements to current Exergamer

                         Additional features for improved fitness routines

·                        Wireless model

·                        TV adaptation

·                        Models for Apple computers and their other devices

                         Video game development exclusively for Exergamer

Exergamer Enhancement and Development

Electronic Design

The development of the micro-controller firmware for ExerGamer (i.e., coded instructions stored in memory), as well as the design and layout of the printed circuit board (PCB) was contracted-out to an electronics development company. The PCB and it's associated micro-code is fully tested at a production level.

Mechanical / Electromechanical Design

Extensive development work has been completed relative to the interrelation and interconnection of the parts and assemblies needed to ensure that the bodily motions of an ExerGamer user are properly interpreted by the Main Control unit before being fed to the computer.  The quality and reliability of sub-components and assemblages being designed into the product has been certified.  All development work has been completed in-house but subsequent development may involve outside contractors. In addition, required CE and FCC certifications have been sought after and approved for Exergamer.

Mechanical Elements and Enclosures

Plastic parts and assemblies for ExerGamer were prototyped under contract by a prototype development company. The actual production of the plastic sub-assemblies, final assembly and packaging of ExerGamer have been contracted separately.

Another company will provide the production level assembly and testing of the printed circuit board (PCB) and micro-code to be assembled into each Exergamer.

It is anticipated that any additional production development will be outsourced to the same companies.  Other vendors, already identified, are to provide sub-components such as connectors, cables, relays and other miscellaneous elements.

It is important to note that Exergamer is essentially a system wherein a user is tethered to the Exergamer in such a manner as to promote an exact and virtually instantaneous replication of bodily movements to be represented on a video game screen. This being the case, the Exergamer system includes the needed tethering assemblage to achieve this important relationship.  

MouseMapper

Mousemapper (logo below) is a fully-developed software application that is offered as a free add-on to Exergamer. This program allows users to play video games originally designed to only be played with a computer mouse and keyboard.

Development of the software code for the MouseMapper application was outsourced to a Software Engineering firm.  This company will be retained for additional ExerGamer software development needs.

Manufacturing

The development, pricing and expertise of current vendors has been overwhelmingly satisfactory. Exergamer LLC intends to continue to contract with these companies for plastic part production of ExerGamer, as well as final assembly, packaging, and bulk shipping.

All manufacturing and assembly processes have been thoroughly tested and proven to be capable of producing high-quality finished product at virtually any production level that demand dictates. Turnaround for the initial mass production, assembly and packaging is planned not to exceed 60 days from contractual agreement. Bulk shipping is to take about two weeks. Ultimate delivery of product to project supporters is expected to be within the 75 to 90-day time-frame. 

The start-up marketing strategy, after this project, will emphasize a direct-to-consumer electronic means. Early-stage packaging will be primarily corrugated cardboard boxing.  New, retail-grade packaging will be developed for conventional retail distribution.

A production-like test order of Exergamer was received and has undergone extensive technical testing, operational certification and field distribution, validation of use and feedback.

Given the nature of the manufacturing and market distribution requirements related to Exergamer, a minimum initial production order is a requirement for actual large-scale production and distribution.

Oh yes, along the way Exergamer also received a very nice endorsement...

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I have been aware of the development of Exergamer for some time and recognize that this tiny device could help to address that aspect of childhood obesity caused by the lack of physical activity. This is certainly a product every parent should be watching.

Donald Trump