Zoezi Park - A Game for Fall Prevention for Healthy Aging, Wellness and Balance - First Crowdfunding Initiative Launched to Address a $28B Public Health Problem
Falls are among the top killers of people over the age of 65 in the United States. Preventing falls and subsequent life-threatening injuries is a top priority of the Blue Marble Game Company.
Los Angeles, CA, June 04, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Blue Marble launches its first crowdfunding campaign to develop an interactive falls prevention video game called Zoezi Park, an initiative facilitated by the Alfred E. Mann Institute at the University of Southern California, Three Two One Productions, and When You Wish.
Using cameras and sensors to track movement, the video game creates a computer-generated avatar that mimics the player onscreen. The game then guides the player through activities to improve balance and physical strength while recording data of their progress. The data can be viewed by any healthcare professional with an internet connection.
Best of all, Zoezi Park can be easily used in senior centers, rehabilitation facilities, gyms, and most importantly, the comfort and safety of the player’s own home.
Zoezi Park has the potential of not only saving, but improving the lives of every parent, grandparent, spouse and friend who needs help improving balance or rehabilitating after suffering a fall. That means Zoezi Park has the potential of touching each and every one of our lives.
As a company, Blue Marble's history has primarily been developing games for service members and veterans who have experienced mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions. Their previous products were funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) and include Treasure of Bell Island and RESET, which are 'gamified' assessments and interventions for cognitive skills.
The National Institute on Aging supported the concept and funded the initial development of Zoezi Park. But due to the government’s budget sequestration, funding is no longer available. Because of this, Blue Marble is asking for public support, through crowdfunding, to assist them in getting this product developed and into the hands of senior citizens.
Falls are a public health problem, which for the most part, are preventable. Each day 10,000 baby boomers turn 65, with one out of three of them experiencing a fall each year. Medical costs from falls in 2010 were more than 28-billion dollars. That cost is expected to increase to 50-billion over the next 10 years. Each fall-related injury costs $48,000 on average. Knowing how to reduce the risk of falling is the first step toward this goal. The National Safety Council’s primary advice to seniors is to “Stay fit and flexible. Maintain your physical strength to improve your balance to prevent falling.” Zoezi Park can help seniors do this under the guidance of a health professional and even in the privacy and comfort of home.
Interview/Photo Opportunities/Contact
Media has the opportunity to conduct interviews with Sheryl Flynn, CEO of Blue Marble Game Company, with therapists who use games to rehabilitate seniors who experienced falls, and users of Blue Marble games such as veterans with PTSD and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries. Contact Sheryl Flynn, PhD, Blue Marble Game Co CEO, sheryl@bluemarblegameco.com, 213-537-0771
About Blue Marble Game Company
Blue Marble Rehab Inc. was founded by Sheryl Flynn, PT, PhD, whose expertise is in neuroscience and motor control. Sheryl and her strong team of clinicians, programmers and high-tech managers develop cost-affordable interactive digital-health-games that use a virtual “ecosystem” to help the health of patients. This ecosystem is grounded in evidence-based medicine and employs practices that positively impact healthcare outcomes, resiliency, wellness and quality of life. Their games entertain, engage, educate, and challenge physical and cognitive skills for people of all ages and abilities. With comprehensive game performance, data tracking, and analytics, their games do more than offer players rewarding entertainment; they also directly update medical professionals with their client’s valuable, accurate and detailed human performance metrics. Players can engage the games anywhere at any time using a mobile tablet.
About the Alfred E. Mann Institute at the University of Southern California
The Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering was established at the University of Southern California in 1998. Its mission is to help bridge the gap between biomedical innovation and the creation of commercially-successful medical products to improve and save lives.
About Three Two One Productions
Three Two One Productions is a company led by seasoned storytellers from film and television who create cutting edge business, bios, and legacy videos.
About When You Wish
When You Wish is a leading Internet “crowdfunding” company that combines payment processing and publishing tools to help entrepreneurs raise money online for their ideas or causes.
Using cameras and sensors to track movement, the video game creates a computer-generated avatar that mimics the player onscreen. The game then guides the player through activities to improve balance and physical strength while recording data of their progress. The data can be viewed by any healthcare professional with an internet connection.
Best of all, Zoezi Park can be easily used in senior centers, rehabilitation facilities, gyms, and most importantly, the comfort and safety of the player’s own home.
Zoezi Park has the potential of not only saving, but improving the lives of every parent, grandparent, spouse and friend who needs help improving balance or rehabilitating after suffering a fall. That means Zoezi Park has the potential of touching each and every one of our lives.
As a company, Blue Marble's history has primarily been developing games for service members and veterans who have experienced mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions. Their previous products were funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) and include Treasure of Bell Island and RESET, which are 'gamified' assessments and interventions for cognitive skills.
The National Institute on Aging supported the concept and funded the initial development of Zoezi Park. But due to the government’s budget sequestration, funding is no longer available. Because of this, Blue Marble is asking for public support, through crowdfunding, to assist them in getting this product developed and into the hands of senior citizens.
Falls are a public health problem, which for the most part, are preventable. Each day 10,000 baby boomers turn 65, with one out of three of them experiencing a fall each year. Medical costs from falls in 2010 were more than 28-billion dollars. That cost is expected to increase to 50-billion over the next 10 years. Each fall-related injury costs $48,000 on average. Knowing how to reduce the risk of falling is the first step toward this goal. The National Safety Council’s primary advice to seniors is to “Stay fit and flexible. Maintain your physical strength to improve your balance to prevent falling.” Zoezi Park can help seniors do this under the guidance of a health professional and even in the privacy and comfort of home.
Interview/Photo Opportunities/Contact
Media has the opportunity to conduct interviews with Sheryl Flynn, CEO of Blue Marble Game Company, with therapists who use games to rehabilitate seniors who experienced falls, and users of Blue Marble games such as veterans with PTSD and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries. Contact Sheryl Flynn, PhD, Blue Marble Game Co CEO, sheryl@bluemarblegameco.com, 213-537-0771
About Blue Marble Game Company
Blue Marble Rehab Inc. was founded by Sheryl Flynn, PT, PhD, whose expertise is in neuroscience and motor control. Sheryl and her strong team of clinicians, programmers and high-tech managers develop cost-affordable interactive digital-health-games that use a virtual “ecosystem” to help the health of patients. This ecosystem is grounded in evidence-based medicine and employs practices that positively impact healthcare outcomes, resiliency, wellness and quality of life. Their games entertain, engage, educate, and challenge physical and cognitive skills for people of all ages and abilities. With comprehensive game performance, data tracking, and analytics, their games do more than offer players rewarding entertainment; they also directly update medical professionals with their client’s valuable, accurate and detailed human performance metrics. Players can engage the games anywhere at any time using a mobile tablet.
About the Alfred E. Mann Institute at the University of Southern California
The Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering was established at the University of Southern California in 1998. Its mission is to help bridge the gap between biomedical innovation and the creation of commercially-successful medical products to improve and save lives.
About Three Two One Productions
Three Two One Productions is a company led by seasoned storytellers from film and television who create cutting edge business, bios, and legacy videos.
About When You Wish
When You Wish is a leading Internet “crowdfunding” company that combines payment processing and publishing tools to help entrepreneurs raise money online for their ideas or causes.
Contact
Alfred Mann Institute at the University of Southern California
Nathalie Gosset
213-821-1339
http://ami.usc.edu/
Nathalie Gosset
213-821-1339
http://ami.usc.edu/
Contact
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