In a city where affordable housing is scarce – currently London rent rises are so unchecked that there are calls to introduce “New York Style” rent controls – plans to construct a new neighbourhood on the site of London’s Olympic Park, could provide a welcome relief…

The ‘Chobham Manor’ project won’t just be a source of affordable housing – it’s also an interesting bit of social engineering. The site is surrounded on one side by the hip, hot and rich neighbourhoods and on the other, by the humdrum, rundown and poorer districts (are you thinking ‘Hunger Games?).

By building affordable housing between these two very different communities, the Olympic Park site could effectively provide a bridge between them that may support a rebirth of this part of London. But at what cost?

PinkeDSR Comments:

“Why do countries spend large amounts of money developing new venues, fields, accommodation etc, only to demolish part of it after the event? Isn’t there a way of constructing a long term strategy that better utilises the buildings and facilities that are erected for the games, without having to raze half of what has been built and starting again?

Is there another option? It will be interesting to see how the Olympics’ – and their host nations – develop during the next 20 years….”

What we once believed was only science-fiction, is now becoming reality within the sports world. It is predicted that in the future there will be spray-on clothing that repels water, 3D printing to tailor clothes and shoes to fit the weather on the day and who knows what else.

Technology has already advanced many sports over the years, including Swimming (LZR suits); Cycling (Carbon Fiber frames, Helmets); Sailing (Nano coatings to repel liquid); Diving and Boxing (iPod/over-head cameras that track performance and provide instant feedback) leading to a number of these sports now being contested only by those countries who can afford to ‘keep up with the Joneses’.

Some new examples include:

• 3D-Printed Customized Shoes Help Athletes Run Faster
• Cryotherapy
• Gravity-defying running
• Hypoxic chamber
• LZR Suits
• MiCoach

PinkeDSR Comments:

“Is this fair? Where will it end? Will it end? According to engineers, the ‘technological arms race in sport can deliver perhaps the difference between a gold and a silver medal – but not an unfair advantage.”

Unless you are from a less affluent country, of course. Dr Emily Ryall, senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Gloucester and vice-chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association, says “The Olympics is never going to be a fair competition. So much high-performance sport is driven by technology now, from sports nutrition to psychology to clothing and footwear,” she said.

There is no way that poorer countries can keep up. “It is not surprising that poorer countries do not compete in sports involving a lot of technology, such as cycling, sailing and rowing. The amount of investment that goes into elite athletes is phenomenal.”

What are YOUR thoughts on this? Do you know of any other innovative ideas that are helping our elite athletes to win their way to gold?

Field hockey has come a long way from being played on grassy fields, but the biggest news to hit the game was when London unveiled its’ BLUE and PINK surfaces for the 2012 Olympic Games…

50 years from now, London will be known as the blue and pink pitch Olympics – and let’s not forget the yellow ball. The eye catching field has captured the imagination and attention of the world, with the hockey field seen as the standout in every aerial shot of the Olympic Park.

But what about the evolution of other playing surfaces?

Traditionally sport has been played on natural grass surfaces. Natural grass sports surfaces were developed on open space sites set aside for recreation as towns and cities evolved. The nature of the sporting activity determined the requirements for the sports ground in relation to size and surface characteristics.

With the use of synthetic turf playing surfaces becoming more widespread in Australia and Internationally, the Department of Sport and Recreation has produced a publication ‘Natural Grass vs Synthetic Turf Decision Making Guide’. The purpose of this guide is to help organisations make an informed choice on surface type – natural grass v synthetic turf for sports grounds specifically football, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, soccer, rugby, tennis, and other relevant multipurpose facilities.

This guide provides an outline of the considerations that need to be taken into account. A detailed report ‘Natural Grass v Synthetic Turf Study’ accompanies this guide and provides extensive information on each of the key considerations. Both documents are available for download from the DSR website

Local Links:

• STI Sports

PinkeDSR Comments: “How much research is being done into creating affordable, low/no water fields for use in low socioeconomic/drought stricken regional areas? The ongoing improvement of sporting surfaces is great for increasing the speed of the game, reducing injuries etc, but what about focussing on these fields as a way of increasing the sustainability of sports and increasing participation levels?

By creating a low-cost and low-care surface, towns and communities that were previously unable to access these activities, could be provided with the same opportunities as those in more affluent or established communities.”

<

Below are a number some of the new, trendy and different styles of ‘pedometer’ that can be used not only to count steps, but also track your running, swimming, cycling and other activites whilst linking to your social media and tracking your progress….and they look GOOD.

These are great tools for everyone – from elite athletes through to those of us who just enjoy to participate in active recreation.  Why not try one out with your friends, family or sporting club and see what happens?

Thanks to Mashable, Springwise and other cool sites for finding this information.

The Shine

Small round disc that can be worn on your clothing, on your wrist or in your shoe and tracks your physical activity.

Small, trendy, disc-shaped fitness tracker that counts steps, swim strokes AND bike pedals! You can wear this device on your shoe, in your sports bra or anywhere you please…and wherever you wear it, it looks good.

Syncing this device is a breeze – just place it on your smartphone, and a sensor on the device automatically uploads all your data. Set your goals, follow your progress and share the infomration with your friends.

Created by Misfit Wearables.

The Fitbit Zip

The Fitbit has been one of the forerunners into technologically advanced pedometers – and it just keeps evolving.

The FitBit Zip and FitBit One are now equipped with Bluetooth and more social sharing features and runs on a battery that lasts from 4-6 months.

Make sure you check this one out.

Nike+ Fuel Band

The FuelBand tracks a persons fitness so that they can compare a game of basketball to a dance class, for example.   Nike believes this will provide more precise measurement than simply tracking steps, and allow it to account for the differences across various sports (the device also tracks steps, calories, and time, however).

FuelBand uses red, yellow, or green coloring to let users know how they’re doing toward their goal and helps to motivate people to eercie longer, stronger and harder.

The Fuel Band has integration with Twitter and Facebook, and users can upload their data directly to their PC.

Want more information or inspiration?  Then check out these great innovations:

• Srtiiv Play Smart Pedometer
• MovBand for Children
• Wandant Dog Pedometer
• LarkLife
• Calico

Thanks to Springwise for this great find!

“Created by Nike Mexico, the Subasta de Kilometros translates runners’ distances into currency in auction.

Runners can already get reward points for their exercise minutes through the Nexercise app, which gamifies physical activity. Now sportswear company Nike Mexico has introduced its own twist on this concept with the Subasta de Kilometros, which translates runners’ distances into currency in auction.

Participants must first download the Running+ app – which monitors the details of exercise, such as pace, distance and time – or buy one of the Nike+ training products, which track similar data. The Facebook app then gives users the chance to bid on the ‘Subasta de la Semana’ – the Auction of the Week – using the amount of kilometers they have tallied by using the app in the last seven days. Each auction has a suggested price tag in kilometers and a finishing date. Runners must achieve the minimum price tag to bid, and the bidder with the longest distance wins the product. Items available include Nike apparel from Nike+ equipment to footwear. The following video explains the concept in more detail:

http://youtu.be/KRIdLjs37n0 ”

The idea or rewarding people for physical activity is not a new one, but the evolution of technology is ensuring that the way activities are tracked and people are compensated is constantly changing.

All the Pink Pages will now be posted on this page, to make it easier for you to find the latest edition.

Let us know what you think – and don’t forget to refer your friends and colleagues to DSRPinkiesWorld!

June’s topic is – of course – the Olympic Games.

To start, you have portable ping-pong sets, which can be fastened onto any table for your playing pleasure. They look incredibly easy to set up, and save you the trouble of dealing with the awkward storage of a large table, as it can be played on any flat surface. Portable Ping Pong options are perfect for a weekend away, very compact for transportation and fast set up.

For those of you who inhabit postage stamp size apartments you’ll appreciate the value of space-saving innovations. So unless you are among the lucky few who boast voluminous digs, accommodating a ping pong table into your living quarters is probably more of a joke than a realistic venture. Enter the table tennis door, a fun, space-saving way to get some exercise. The door functions like a normal door, but also sports a flip-down inner panel upon which you and your closest pals can battle for the title of table tennis champion. Just attach the net, break out your paddles, and let the games begin! Is it still table tennis if you play it on a door?

Table Tennis can be a very competitive sport, but the Ping Pond Table ensures that heads stay level during recreational games. Housing a pond, complete with lily pads, in the center of the Table provides a tranquil aesthetic. Moreover, if you think it might compromise the competitive aspect of table tennis, it certainly adds an interesting component to the game with players having to be extra careful not to let the ball fall into the water.

Have you ever wanted to include a few more friends in a single game? Well table tennis just got a whole lot more interesting and crazy with the Quad Table Tennis Game, which is anything but similar to the classic game! For one, this insane contraption has four counters instead of a whole table. Each table is shaped like a guitar pick and has a hole in the middle. The objective? Try to put the ball into the hole of the opponent’s table to score a point. The major difficulty here is the angle of the counter, which will make the ball harder to catch.

After all that if you are not all ping ponged out, then you are probably looking for a bit of a challenge to test out your skills, well never fear: innovation is here. If your skills are up for it there are designers out there putting a new spin on things, challenging gamers and their ‘chop’.  Redesigning tables with corners, vertical sides or the ultimate round surface will certainly increase the level of difficulty from a somewhat easy game to a whole lot more interesting and no doubt more difficult one.

Finally for those tech heads out there looking for new high-tech ways to play, the techno geeks have not let you down, with the creation of several LED gaming tables. LED lights and touchpads are set into plain white tables to produce interactive games. Converting itself into a ping-pong machine, at the flick of a switch, it transforms into a competitive field of ping-pong, allowing you to rally at your table.

There are a couple of ways that human beings can power devices. One is to use physical force. For example pedaling or pushing to transfer energy through a mechanical system called a dynamo to power your gadgets. The second way is to use movement to create electricity, where the power is collected or routed to a device.

How many times have you needed just a few extra minutes on your cell phone and then the battery runs out? Well now, there is a gadget called the ‘Dyson Energy Bracelet’ offering you a thermoelectric effect to generate energy. The Bracelet converts the difference in temperature between your body and the environment you are in into energy for your cell phone.

Most people can be easily deterred from a leisurely pedal boat ride down the river. Of course, they are fun when you go down current, but there is always the dreaded return trip. Well imagine a pedal-electric hybrid designed boat. With this innovation, the pedals connect to a dynamo which means while pedaling downstream you are charging a battery that will assist your return trip.

Now there is the world’s first energy generating dance floor as part of their Sustainable Dance Club. Soon you will be generating energy while you are breaking out the moves on the dance floor and the walls will change color as the room heats up from the crowd’s body temperature. These are just a few examples of how Sustainable Dance Clubs will use the energy of their patrons to power the club.

Finally, what about a pub on wheels that moves from the pedal power of its patrons! Innovations like these are not only a fun novelty but also offer a peek at the possibilities of portable services. If bars and pubs can be mobile, add to this the growing consumer desire for convenience, and it may not be long before everything from restaurants to beauty counters have a moving option.

SETTING AN ATHLETE/COACH SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Laws in America are now being passed that prohibits teachers/coaches from contacting students and athletes via private social media.

 This means that Facebook, SMS and direct messaging is not allowed – however they can communicate via a public forum.  So, although social media is a great way to communicate information to members, sporting clubs should be careful.

 USAGymnastics Magazine has provided a number of simple tips for developing a social media policy for clubs.  These tips include:

•  Communication is public and used for specific purposes such as schedule changes and announcements
• Coaches should ensure parents are aware that they have access to their child’s online profile
• Policies need to be clearly outlined to team members AND staff
• Enforcement and consequences for violations of the policy must b discussed and transparent

Social media is here to stay – and it’s only going to get bigger.  Clubs need to educate staff, volunteers, athletes, supporters and parents about how to safely use and deal with this form of communication.

Local Links:

1. http://clubsonline.dsr.wa.gov.au/
2. www.wasportsfed.asn.au
3. www.dsr.wa.gov.au

PinkeDSR Comments: “Social media is a great tool for sport and recreation clubs to use – as long as they are aware of the pros and cons of the tool, ways of using it effectively and how to deal with any negative use of the tool by their staff, members, supporters or other.

The Department of Sport and Recreation in Western Australia is constantly looking at ways of improving the presence of clubs online – so make sure you check out the hot links above and see what amazing things are happening in the land of social media, around our state.”

‘AEROBIC’ VIDEO GAMES: THE NEXT INFOMERCIAL?  

Research has shown that playing active video games can positively affect the body shape of overweight children through an increase in aerobic capacity.

A controlled trial of the PlayStation EyeToy showed that there was a change in the Body Mass Index of the players after 24 weeks. 

Participants (children aged 10-14 years) were allowed to play as little, or as much active video games as they wanted.  These games included football, boxing, dancing and martial arts.

Results showed:

• Active video games play was sustained at higher levels than baseline at both 12 and 24 week measures
• Children were meeting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day
• Future trials should examine other mediators related to this type of intervention including attitudes or preference for physical activity, or changes in sedentary behaviour

PinkeDSR Comments:

“The question to ask is, will we next see these games being advertised as the ‘new ab-roller’?  Will morning TV shows offer games as the way to wash-board abs? Is this actually a BAD thing, as long as it motivates people to move?”

TRUE OR FALSE: OLDER PEOPLE AREN’T ACTIVE ONLINE?

FALSE! A recent report shows that the number of people aged 65+ has almost doubled between 2007 and 2011.

 COTA Victoria and Ellis Jones found that 85% of the Victorian over 55’s who answered the survey, are actively using the internet.  The number of users over 65 has increased from 29.8% to 56.7% in only four years, whilst those aged 50-64 has grown by 22.3% during the same period.

 The report also confirms that older people use the internet to stay in touch with their family and friends; to seek out help from government services and to get involved in conversations that they might not be able to access otherwise:

 Almost two-thirds of survey respondents admitted they were happy to leave comments and feedback online, with 71% saying that they felt ‘acknowledged’ because of this opportunity to engage with other people.

• The biggest barrier faced by older users is the lack of knowledge and understanding about the level of security on internet sites – although online banking and travel bookings are their main reason for using the internet!
• Although they are actively shopping and banking online, almost half (40%) also have Facebook profiles and 20% enjoy searching and watching videos on YouTube.  Far less are using Twitter and LinkedIn – but then these tools aren’t targeted at retirees.

A key finding of the report is that “Respondents believe having access to the internet makes them feel more informed, more engaged and more empowered – and they like the idea of governments engaging with them online” because of this!

Local Links:

1. Seniors Recreation Council of WA
2. COTA Victoria

PinkeDSR Comments: “Our population is ageing, and as this occurs our seniors groups consist of people who are increasingly savvy users of the internet and technology. 

It is important that the sport and recreation industry embraces this shift in demographics, and uses these tools to continue to support, encourage, motivate and engage people in sport and active recreation activities.”

EVERYBODY NEEDS GOOD (ONLINE) NEIGHBOURS

Nextdoor.com is an online meeting place that makes it easy for people to connect with their neighbours – even borderline recluses are welcome.

“There’s a common misreading that technology inevitably leads to the decline of the local community.  I don’t believe that. Technology can be harnessed to facilitate local interactions.” Professor Robert J. Sampson.

And so, Nextdoor.com was born.  According to the chief executive of Nextdoor, Nirav Tolia, as we get holder, the community that becomes most valuable to us is the one we live in, and so this site provides a ‘map’ of neighbours in your area who are members – creating another way of interacting and bonding.

• Nextdoor.com currently has more than 2,000 American households (each containing approximately 500-750 households)
• A house-by-house map of neighbours – although you can choose not to have your name attached
• A forum for posting items of interest, sharing recipes and events, classifieds for buying and selling or even giving things away; and a database of user-recommended local services
• New members must prove they actually live at their claimed address
• Pages are all private – only fellow members can see who else is online – and none of the information appears on search engine results
• Updates and posts can be viewed online, via email posts or through SMS
• The service is free, however they plan to enlist local businesses to give members special offers
• Nextdoor.com has created something Facebook no longer is: an online network defined by real life proximity.

Local Links

1. ActiveSmart

PinkeDSR Comments: “Creating community through the use of technology and online ‘social sites’ in the real world – what a challenge!  But it seems that we are slowly overcoming our fear of the unknown, the virtual world, and embracing the opportunities that it presents.

Online dating is seen as one of the preferred ways that people meet their life-partner – so why not create a space that brings neighbours together as well?

There is plenty of opportunity for sport and recreation to get on board here – whether it is through the Nextddor.com site OR in its own specially designed online world.”

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD 

3D fantasy worlds are giving young people the tools and confidence to deal with mental health issues.

A 3D fantasy game has been developed by the University of Auckland, to teach young people with mental health issues, skills to help build their confidence.

SPARX (Smart, Positive, Active & Realistic X-Factor thoughts) has gamified the real world to change mundane tasks and lessons into fun, interactive tasks – but it is the provision of health benefits that is ensuring gamification is here to stay (as proven by Cambridge Consultants T-Haler project). 

• Players choose their own ‘avatar’ which they manoeuvre through a number of ‘provinces’ that relate to various problems they may experience when dealing with mental health issues. 
• Examples include the Volcano Province which deals with disruptive emotions, whilst on other levels they fight GNATS (Gloomy Negative Automatic Thoughts).
• The pilot has been tested on 187 youth with vary degrees of depression.  Half of the participants were given typical treatment and the other half played the game.
• Although both groups experienced reduced anxiety levels, the game players experienced higher levels of remission rates.

Local Links:

1. Act Belong Commit
2. Beyond Blue
3. Nature Play WA

PinkeDSR Comments: “Gamification is a tool that can be used as a positive driver of physical activity.  Take geocaching for example.  Kids and adults can use their smart phones to get outside, do a worldwide treasure hunt and enjoy/explore the area – wherever they are.

There is also a large amount of research taking place that shows the use of exergaming (using consoles such as the Kinect and WiiFit) is a positive influencer of peoples involvement in physical activity and increases social interaction and mental alertness. 

This is definitely something that can be used successfully within the sport and recreation environment – what sort of ideas do you have for its use!?”

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT: WHEN THE TRAINS AREN’T RUNNING, IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T RUN!

London leads the way with organised group runs that operate at the end of each working day and follow popular bus and train routes.

Overcrowded public transport and increasing obesity issues – two factors which affect our quality of life, but could possibly be alleviated through the new, innovative and simple ‘group running’ idea Home Run.

We are constantly told that using public transport is of great benefit not only to our personal wellbeing, but also to the environment and so London has introduced guided group runs that allow people to get home powered by their own two legs.

Group guided runs offer a number of benefits including:

• Safety in numbers
• Guided and popular routes – most run along the same popular route that their bus or train may have taken anyway
• Support crew to carry your clothing and work bags – no more carrying heavy backpacks (cargo bicycles)
• Social interaction with other people – building new relationships, and
• Reduced congestion on public transport.

Local Links:

1. TravelSmart
2. Transperth Sardines

PinkeDSR Comments: “Western Australia is a great place for this type of idea – our climate, roads, scenery and love of sport and physical activity means that this is something that could work well – not only in the metro area, but also within regional towns.

How about speaking to your local government, workplace health coordinator or colleagues about getting something up and ‘running’ in your area?  Are there any programs or ideas that you think might work in your community/workplace?”

Want to work out at home but don’t think you have the space for equipment or maybe or even particularly want a big ugly exercise machine in your home? Home gym equipment is often found hidden in the corner of a bedroom or out in the garage because of its tasteless looks limiting its use. This is why there are new innovative design solutions coming out every day.

There are now stylish vertical wall planters that double as workout stations; providing a stunning piece of decor in addition to a convenient workout area that packs up and stows away when not in use. Some include pulley systems for strength training as well as a workout mat for floor exercises. With inventive designers making sculpture like the Vela Cycle Trainer is a stationary bike that will be displayed with pride and could easily be mistaken for an avant-garde sculpture.

Along a similar theme are groovy home fitness units that double as furniture. With a variety of multi-functional objects, such as cupboard and tables, intended for the interior as contemporary furniture and stretching your body at the same time.

Now there is even computerized rope-less jump rope. Great for those with low ceilings and tight spaces, the JumpSnap electronically tallies number of jumps and calories burned.

There are many innovative designs that are incorporating exercise and sitting. Designers are producing stools that are capable of a lot more than they first appear to be like the rocking, backless seat encouraging people to keep moving while engaging their core as they maintain their balance, it also comes with a pullout mat and specially designed cushions to assist you in getting a good workout in small spaces. Another new creation is the Out of Balance stool; with a rounded base, it teeters from side to side so when sitting on it you naturally engage your core muscles to keep the stool steady.

When you come home from work after a long day, you might be tempted to sprawl out and relax, there are now recliners that may coax you into having a much-needed stretch as well. Groovy lounges to kick back and relax but by simply turning them over you reveal a sinuous surface that enables a range of different physical exercises. Between repetitions of crunches, spine-twisting stretches and extended back arches, these seats won’t let you become a couch potato. You might want to make things a little more interactive. With this pod shaped fitness product fitted with mini light projectors at the bottom and display numbers on the surface you now can. The user has to touch the displayed number by maintaining balance, also features a multi-player mode that makes exercising more entertaining and competitive.

With so many convenient and stylish indoor options there are no excuses for putting on those ‘winter’ kilos.