BLONDIE DRUMMER TO LAUNCH RESEARCH ON DRUMMING IN MUSIC VIDEO GAMES

"Despite a global recession, sales of interactive video games remain high. As researchers we are interested in understanding why such games are so appealing and how they may be used to investigate specific research questions. We are particularly interested in examining the effects of playing Guitar Hero World Tour on child and adult obesity, autism, stroke patients, disengaged communities, and health and mental well-being in the workplace.

“We are also very excited about investigating the potential benefits of introducing interactive video games into the workplace. Offices around the UK could be transformed into ‘rock venues’, resulting in stress release and fun for the staff, and increased productivity for the business. We are also intrigued to monitor the number of individuals who progress from playing interactive drums kit controllers to full kits similar to those played by Clem.”

World leading brain imagery scientist, Professor Steve Williams from Kings College London, has been working closely with Dr Smith and stated: “Patients with suboptimal brain function such as autism, dyspraxia or stroke may really benefit from this technology. Planning and learning these motor skills in such an entertaining manner may well enhance cognitive flexibility and facilitate recovery from an insult.”

Ian McClellan, senior brand manager from Activision, added: “We hope this collaboration will show the benefits of drumming, either on Guitar Hero World Tour’s drum kit controller or a full kit or, and prove a physiological route between the two. We fully expect some of the next generation of drummers to have graduated from Guitar Hero World Tour – and hope this research project encourages more videogamers to progress to the real instruments.”

Dr. Steve Draper, co-founder of the CBCP project and a Principal Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Gloucestershire, concluded: “Our research has shown that accomplished pop and rock drummers do expend a large amount of energy during practice and performance, the difficulty maybe in how quickly the necessary skills and coordination may be acquired to allow someone to work at this level. Drumming video games are particularly exciting as they may provide an enjoyable and effective means to acquire the complex motor skills required to play on any drum kit.”

  Drumming Project

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