(Rumour) Wii health pack - what the?

[Steve 3.2]

shams said:

Seriously though, you could collate *reasonable* information about someone's health pretty easily. It wouldn't diagnose illnesses, or do most things a "doctor" would - but in terms of general "health" (title of the game/app), I think it could do a pretty decent job.

Did Kinetic have a heart rate or pulse monitor? It would be pretty easy to add something to the Wiimote for this, and just plug it in.

...

I think this will not only sell through the roof (easy for kids to convince parents of a purchase - or the other way around?), but will sell a lot of systems. Another killer-app, in the Wii Sports category...?

Kinetic did not include a HRM.  It used the EyeToy to monitor the user's movement and provide feedback.

And I agree that the Wiimote's sensors plus additional input from the user could help a user monitor/track a very general level of physical fitness.  (You were able to do 30 jumping jacks in a minute today versus 15 a week ago.)  But I still don't think that type of information let's the system judge a person's health.  And I really don't see Nintendo sending the information to someone else to be evaluated.  The title of this product will probably change in the future; it would be better to call it Wii Fitness and exclude any reference to the word 'health'.

With all the 'exercise' one gets with Wii Sports, I'm not sure everyone will be keen on picking up this new title.  But it will give the Wii great press and will sell to those looking for something to help them along.

(For the record, I am a certified group fitness instructor (AFAA).  I'm not a doctor and do not have a medical background.  And I like to think I'm in decent physical shape. )