ProjectProposal-AlanMcCreary
From CS 160 Fall 2008
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One-on-One Diet and Fitness Contest
Target User Group
The target users of this game are those who would like to change their diet and exercise habits to achieve particular fitness goals - increasing cardiovascular endurance, losing fat/weight, increasing muscle mass, or increasing physical strength. In particular, the game is intended for those who would like an extra source of motivation in achieving these goals. The users can be of any age group.
Problem Description
A large percentage of people in the United States (as well as in other countries) are overweight or obese, and many people have inactive lifestyles. Motivation is very important for anyone looking to lose weight or achieve other fitness-related goals, so a game that provides a constant source of motivation should help a person make a positive lifestyle change.
Problem Context and Forces
A major problem for people trying to lose weight or get in shape in this country is motivation. Television shows and advertisements as well as other media bombard us with images of people who are in great shape (or in many cases, are extremely skinny). In addition, there has been a steady influx of quick-fix diet fads and nutritional supplements that are claimed to bring about rapid weight loss or muscle gain. These place an emphasis on achieving results rapidly, whereas I believe there should be a greater emphasis on permanent lifestyle changes that include a consistent, long-term dedication to diet and exercise.
The people in the target user group may not be particularly skillful with computers, so it is important to create a game with a simple interface that still succeeds in providing constant, realistic motivation to the user. They have varying amounts of available time - some may live very busy lifestyles - so a game that is not time-consuming is preferred.
The solution I propose is somewhat similar to the Weight Watchers weight loss program, in which members are given financial and personal motivation through weekly meetings with other members. My solution is different in that it is more convenient (it is played on the computer and requires a much smaller time investment) and uses competition as the main source of motivation.
Solution Sketch
To achieve the goals of providing guidance on nutrition and exercise as well as providing constant motivation to the user, I propose a computer game in which a user, upon signing up, chooses another user (or has another user chosen automatically) who has a similar diet/fitness goal. The two users then compete in a long-term competition - the user who sticks more closely to his or her diet/exercise plan is rewarded a higher score.
After signing up, the user selects his or her goals, chooses an opponent to compete with, and is then given a diet and exercise regimen that is appropriate for the selected goal. Every day (or as often as possible), the user inputs the foods he has eaten that day, as well as information on each workout (duration, weights lifted, etc.).
The user can also keep track of his opponent's progress and compare it with his own.
Points will be rewarded to each user based on how closely the user has stuck to his program, as well as physical measures (body weight, weights lifted during exercise, and so on).
