I read too fast. Indeed, WF does not generate the avatar based on  
physiological characteristics, but it does link the two together, by  
tracking your BMI. Unfortunately, Microsoft's idea does seems a very  
plausible progression from that ...

On Dec 18, 2009, at 2:24 PM, Chantal Ritcey wrote:

> Really?  The Wii fit can access third party health records?  I was  
> using mine until my Wii broke, and it never asked me to log in with  
> any health numbers, card, or to hook up to blood-pressure cuffs or  
> anything.  Nor did it make my avatar based on my weight - I got to  
> choose what my avatar looked like.  But, as I said, my Wii is  
> broken, so perhaps the interface has changed since I last used it.
>
> Chantal
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  
> On Behalf Of Jean-Francois Blanchette
> Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 3:17 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Avatars linked to health info??
>
> They are millions of people already doing this through Wii Fit ...
>
> On Dec 18, 2009, at 1:41 PM, Chantal Ritcey wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As this is my first time posting, please allow me to introduce  
>> myself.
>> My name is
>> Chantal, and I'm fairly new to the field of RIM. I started working
>> last January as an Information Management Analyst, writing retention
>> schedules and records classification systems for several departments
>> of the Government of Alberta. I am also an MLIS student at the
>> University of Alberta, trying to juggle work and family commitments
>> and still find time to finish off my thesis. I found this  
>> listserve my
>> first week into my job, and have been consistently lurking ever  
>> since.
>>
>> Today, however, an article came across my desk that I thought was  
>> just
>> too interesting to keep to myself. Apparently, Microsoft has filed a
>> patent application to link gaming avatars to health information. The
>> abstract states:
>>
>> "An avatar generator for a virtual environment reflects a
>> physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of
>> reality into the capabilities or appearance. Thereby, many of the
>> incentives of the real world are replicated in a virtual environment.
>> Physiological data that reflect a degree of health of the real person
>> can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an  
>> amount
>> of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication. Thereby, people  
>> are
>> encouraged to exercise.
>> Physiological data that
>> reflect the health and perhaps also mood also improve social
>> interaction in virtual environments. People seeking to meet and  
>> become
>> acquainted with particular types of people are not thwarted by the
>> artificiality of avatars. The physiological data can be gleaned  
>> from a
>> third party health data collection repository, a healthcare smart
>> card, a real-time physiological sensor (e.g., blood pressure, heart
>> rate, blood glucose, peak flow, pedometer, etc.). "
>>
>> Can this be for real? http://bit.ly/5sUZ7x I was hoping to find
>> evidence that this is a hoax, but haven't been able to dredge  
>> anything
>> up yet. I have to say that this raises some additional concerns about
>> electronic health records...
>>
>> Chantal Ritcey
>> Senior Information Management Analyst
>> Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chantalritcey
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
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>>
>> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
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>
> --
> Jean-François Blanchette, Assistant Professeur Dept. of Information  
> Studies, UCLA http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/blanchette
>
> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
> Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance To  
> unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already  
> present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body  
> of the message.
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and  
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom  
> they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please  
> notify the system manager. This message contains confidential  
> information and is intended only for the individual named. If you  
> are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute  
> or copy this e-mail.
>
> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
> Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
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> present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body  
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--
Jean-François Blanchette, Assistant Professeur
Dept. of Information Studies, UCLA
http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/blanchette

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