Virtual Fashion Technology

In a past post [ Part 3: Avatars for Retail Marketing? It’s Not Only Coming – it’s Here!]  I have mentioned that My Virtual Model [MVM] has developed a Weight Loss Simulator that is very popular with users. Current The MVM Weight Loss Simulator is part of the Levi Strauss Weight Loss Simulator for Jeans; Prevention, Weight Loss Simulator of Swimwear; Ladies Home Journal & Fittness Magazine, Weight Loss Simulator for Women. All of these Weight Loss applications can be accessed via this MVM Weight Loss link.

Jessica’s Weight Loss Page is a true testament to the positive influence that the use of avatars for weight loss have. Jessica lost 140 pounds and promotes the free Weight Loss Simulator that is available in Prevention Magazine. Make sure you visit Jessica’s Weight Loss Page to check out her Virtual Weight Loss Model. Here is a link to another great Weight Loss Personal Avatar on One More Byte. This user lost 80 pounds and used the MVM Weight Loss Avatar to help inspire her to continue!
 

According to Gregory Saumier-Finch from My Virtual Model, “The most popular use for products are for those that are hard to try-on instore, most notably swimwear and jeans.” The Lands Ends Swimwear section is an outstanding example of the MVM personal try on model concept. Simply locate the swimwear style you like and click on the “Try it On” link that is located by each individual product item. What a great tool! Here is a link to a posting by Mary Hayes Weier, titled “My Second Life as a Swimsuit Model.” Here is a MVM jeans try on link from Glamour., you can also try on the jeans at Lands End.

 Avatars are positively used to inspire weight loss but exercise? Is it possible? Well check out today’s NY Times ” Fitness for Every Body - O.K., Avatar, Work With Me,” article by By Seth Schiesel [05/15/ 2008]. The article has multiple reviews about Wii Fit Nintendo’s latest product targeting the home fitness market. According to Schiesel,

“Nintendo’s latest brainchild, Wii Fit, could send similar ripples through the home-fitness market. Scheduled to be released in North America next week, Wii Fit is not meant to replace a gym. But in a world of $3,000 elliptical machines and $150-an-hour personal trainers, it has at least a chance of becoming a global, affordable, mass-market interactive home-fitness system. (On its overseas debut last month, it became one of the fastest-selling games ever in Britain.)”

When I saw the release of the original Wii I wondered how long it would take Nintendo to figure out that this would present an exercise/physical movement option that is fun and enjoyable to many. The author provided the Wii Fit to an assorted group of product reviewers [ Multitasker, Sweat Hound, Fitness Professional and Yoga Master] and provides their detailed feedback and conclusions about using the product.

In a nutshell the Multitasker really liked it and thought it was like an interactive exercise game. The Sweat Hound who s a regular at the gym was quite impressed with it for those that cannot or do not want to go to the gym regularly. The fitness Professional - really liked it and concluded it would e a good tool for those that cannot make it to the gym.The fitness professional agreed with my instant deduction that this would be an excellent tool for seniors. Here is a link to an article [05/15/2008] by Mike Snider from USA Today titled , Wii finds home in retirement communites, medical centers.” that focuses on the senior market. The Yoga Master was not exceptionally impressed because yoga is a mind/body activity and the Wii Fit focuses on body. The Couch Potato’s concluded it was like a game with a big variety of activities, it encourages you to do more but nothing replaces good old fashioned motivation. The bottom line was that the overall reviews were very positive about this new Wii Fit that incorporates avatars into home exercise. Here is a link to the video on NY Times.

“The system costs $90, plus $250 for the basic Wii console. It uses a television and a sensitive “balance board” placed on the floor to present a few dozen activities, from push-ups to yoga, to more entertaining challenges like balance games and aerobic contests. Nintendo is not aiming Wii Fit at people with a serious exercise regimen. Rather, it is meant to appeal to the person busy with work and family who just wants to have fun getting a little toned at home.”

Anything that inspires us to move more is WELCOME!

Who is the creator of this innovative product? Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of iconic Nintendo mascot Mario. You can read about him in USA Today in an article titled,” Designer Miyamoto makes video games pulse with life, by Mike Snider [05/15/2008].

Link to another article in Time by Anita Hamilton titled, “Weighing Wii Fit: Serious Fun,” 05/14/2008.

 Here is a video of the Wii Fit on Good Morning America.

This review video is pretty good the user works with the Wii Fit.

Another Wii Fit video showing some of the exercises with narration.