Arookoo™ will keep me motivated to stay on my walking program? Tell me more …
Let’s face it. Walking can be boring, yet we all know that physical exercise not only helps maintain fitness, it makes us look and feel better and can also add years to our lives. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, walking for 20 to 40 minutes a day can increase your life span by five years. But, oh, it can be tedious. So, how much fun would it be if you could add another dimension to your walking regimen with a virtual application that has a GPS that knows your location, nearby landmarks to offer geographically-targeted rewards, and that keeps track of your steps? It’d be like walking with a personal trainer who doesn’t talk too much. Um, or at all. And then, wouldn’t it be great – especially for the rewards-driven among us – if you could collect points and earn badges? What if, for added motivation, you could create walking teams and challenge friends for the most steps? And, then, what if it were free?
Reader’s Digest Association (RDA), and Vivity Labs, a leading developer of lifestyle gaming experiences, just launched Arookoo™, which means to walk in Japanese. Arookoo is a one-of-a-kind iPhone app that does all of the above. I’ve just downloaded it and plan to give it a road test this afternoon, but I did a couple hundred steps just to earn my first star. I am rewards driven, indeed. Download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arookoo-walk-game.
In addition to the free app, there’s a paid app that, for $2.99, offers detailed health tracking such as calories burned, distance walked and even more options. (Arookoo uses the iPhone’s built-in motion sensors to count your steps. For best results, place the iPhone in your pants pocket while Arookoo is open. You can also use a belt clip or holster. If you place the iPhone in a purse or coat pocket, Arookoo may not be as accurate in counting your steps.) Plus, with a companion website AND Facebook game to continue to motivate you, there’s no excuse not to get your butt in gear.
The deets:
Arookoo on the Web is an extension of the iPhone app that takes you deeper with lifetime tracking for steps, distance, goals and calories plus fun team activities and more ways to connect with the Arookoo community for added motivation.
Arookoo on Facebook
Arookoo World Explorers social game on Facebook connects players to a travel-themed game that turns local explorers into world explorers. Walk around a virtual world to collect stars and discover tools and treasures hidden within the game. Connect your Arookoo iPhone app to the game and take steps in real life that equate to virtual power in the game. The idea is that, with this first of its kind, trans-media platform, you’ll be motivated to get up from the game and take steps in real life to earn points within the Facebook game.
Well, I’m off. Walking, walking. Come on. Do it with me …
Update: It’s brutally hot this afternoon. Nevertheless, even after a stint at the gym, which included half an hour on the treadmill, I decided to give Arookoo a serious go. As I was heading out the door, my Coton puppy, Sophie, gave me that look. (You know that look. The one that says, “Don’t go, or , if you must, take me with you.” So I did. Btw, check out Sophie’s Facebook page. I know. I know. But yeah, she has her own Facebook page – and she’s really funny, if I do say so myself.) I grabbed my S’well water bottle and headed out the door.
First challenge: The Arookoo app works as a pedometer and, as such, works best when it’s in a pocket near your hip. I was wearing yoga pants and a tee shirt. No pockets. But I tied a light hoodie around my hips and availed myself of its pockets. Challenge solved.
Second Challenge: This one came from my Arookoo app. Walk 1000 steps to be rewarded with a star. No problem. Sophie wanted to sniff every blade of grass in sight but I got her on track and we hit our stride just as my phone rang. I was concerned that it would preempt the app, but it didn’t. We kept walking.
Third Challenge: This one will be most appreciated by dog owners. So, yeah, Sophie decided to do her business on our walk and, while I was picking it up, I checked my phone. It said, “Don’t Stop.” Brilliant! Wonder if it knew why I stopped? The sun was so bright, it was a bit difficult to see the iPhone screen, but I didn’t notice any buttons that asked me to reset the program since I’d stopped. We kept walking. It was so hot and Sophie (and I) were starting to wither, so I cut our walk short and headed home. Checking the app at home, I’d finished another challenge! Love those little stars that indicate my progress. I am psyched. I’m hitting the streets again – as soon as the sun goes down.
Very cool app. Can’t wait to put it through its paces!
Cute. Love the wordplay! Enjoy the app!