Health Games Research RFP is out...
Posted by Ben Sawyer on 09-01-15Click through for complete details or jump directly to: http://www.healthgamesresearch.org
Of interest to some here:
Health Games Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pioneer Portfolio, is proud to announce its 2009 Call for Proposals, issued January 15, 2009. Researchers from a wide variety of fields and experience levels are invited to propose studies to investigate game design principles that can be used to enhance the quality of future digital interactive health games and strengthen their impact on players' health behaviors and outcomes.
Applicants are encouraged to submit groundbreaking research ideas that will test behavioral health theories and other relevant theories of game design, learning, attitude change, and skill development when applied to digital interactive games intended to improve players' physical activity and/or self-care. Applicants must be U.S.-based non-profit organizations such as universities, medical centers, government agencies or other entities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).
During this round of funding, up to 15 research grants will be awarded, each totaling between $100,000 and $300,000. In all, Health Games Research will issue up to $2 million in grants this year. The grant period for each award will be one to two years.
Proposals will be due on April 8, 2009.
The full Call for Proposals is available at www.healthgamesresearch.org or you can call 888-635-7433 to request a paper copy.
Games for Health Conference 2009
Posted by Ben Sawyer on 09-01-06Games for Health Conference 2009
The Games for Health Project presents the Fifth Annual Games or Health Conference. Our best event yet promises to provide great insight to the growing worlds of exergaming/active games, health training games, disease management efforts, and much much more. Our conference platform provides attendees with great content, important networking opportunities, and a focus on providing opportunities to develop new projects and improve existing efforts.
Complete conference details follow...
Games for Health Program Overview
Our schedule will be available on March 1, 2009. You may see both the planned conference session schedule and last year's schedule until then. The overall program of events is as follows:
Games for Health Conference (June 11-12, 2009)
Our main event is the core Games for Health Conference. Featuring two-days of talks, more then 300 attendees and 40 sessions provided by an international array of over 50 speakers cutting across a wide range of activities in health and health care. Topics include exergaming, physical therapy, disease management, health behavior change, biofeedback, epidemiology, training, cognitive exercise, nutrition and health education.
To submit a session, panel, or roundtable for consideration for our program please visit our call for content.
See last year's schedule of events here.
Games Accessibility Day (June 10, 2009)
Making all games accessible to people with lifelong or temporary physical and/or cognitive disabilities is an important need for the videogame field in general. At the same time the ability to use games to directly help people with disabilities is an important output of the games for health field. Much of the research and development activity in the general field of games accessibility has important crossover benefits to the health field. Games Accessibility Day is an entire event devoted to talks, networking, and demos dedicated to making all games more accessible, and helping people with disabilities play their way to better health and wellness.
See last year's schedule of events here.
Virtual Worlds and Health Day (June 10, 2009)
Games for Health will feature a full day of content focused on the use of virtual world systems and health. Virtual worlds combine social systems with game-based interfaces and graphics to create entirely new synthetic spaces to train, practice, and visualize. Such systems hold great promise to health and healthcare through layering on of game-play or enabling pure simulation or new forms of social interaction.
See last year's schedule of events here.
Games for Health Receptions (June 11 & 12, 2009)
This year's Games for Health Conference features two receptions for attendees.
On June 11, our main reception will provide our biggest networking event and a showcase for exciting work in the games for health field.
On June 10 we will host a small reception for attendees of our pre-conference events and early arrivals for the Games for Health Conference.
IGDA Post-Mortem Reception & Meetup (June 9, 2009)
For more about Post-Mortem: Greater Boston's IGDA Chapter please visit: http://www.bostonpostmortem.org/
Exhibit & Trade Show Rooms (June 11-12, 2009)
Games for Health features two main rooms of exhibits including The Active Gaming Room sponsored by Humana. This year we expect exhibits from over 20 companies and organizations.
Poster Session (June 11-12, 2009)
A Poster Session of relevant projects and research will be a new addition to Games for Health this year. We plan to feature 6-12 posters during the entire program of Games for Health. To submit a poster for consideration please visit our call for content.
CONFERENCE PRICING
Games for Health has the following basic pricing for its events.
All Inclusive Pass:
$379.00 Through 02/14/2009
$479.00 Through 05/15/2009
$579.00 Through 06/05/2009
$749.00 Through 06/12/2009
Conference Only:
$299.00 Through 02/14/2009
$379.00 Through 05/15/2009
$479.00 Through 06/05/2009
$599.00 Through 06/12/2009
Pre-Conference Only:
$79.00 Through 02/14/2009
$99.00 Through 05/15/2009
$129.00 Through 06/05/2009
$199.00 Through 06/12/2009
STUDENT PRICING
Student pricing for the pre-conference event is the same as all other attendees. Student pricing for the conference is $200.00 and is available only until 5/15/2009. To attend as a student you must have been a undergrad, graduate, or Ph.D. student at an accredited 2 or 4 year college or university during the fall 2008 or spring 2009 semesters. Proof of student status must be provided via email to gfh2009@gamesforhealth.org. Proof may include a scanned valid student ID, transcript, bursar's receipt, or a letter on institution letterhead from an appropriate faculty member or institutional administrator. A direct email from a faculty advisor is also acceptable. Once student status is designated you will receive a discount code to use for your registration. Discounted student space is limited so please do not hesitate to register.
Registration Note: During our registration process you will be given the option to RSVP to two events on our program free of charge:
IGDA Post-Mortem Reception and Meetup
Games for Health Pre-Conference and Opening Reception
While there is no charge for attending these events we do ask you RSVP for them so we can plan accordingly for these events. Additionally, if you attend the IGDA Post-Mortem Reception and Meetup we recommend you also be a member of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). You may register to be an IGDA member on site at the event or prior to the event online at http://www.igda.org/join/ for $48.00
EXHIBIT TABLE AVAILABILITY
Our exhibit room space is available first to sponsor companies and organizations and then on a first-come, first-serve basis to exhibit table purchasers. Table space is available for $600.00 for for-profit companies and $350.00 for non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Space includes room for 1-2 PCs and literature plus table signage.
Table space is available during registration. Simply add a table space during checkout.
SPONSORSHIP OF GAMES FOR HEALTH
Games for Health is proud to offer excellent sponsorship opportunities. Through sponsorships we're able to keep pricing affordable, attract great attendees and speakers, and enable a promotional platform that reaches thousands of industry peers and millions of consumer households.
Download a complete sponsorship brochure and contact Beth Bryant at bbryant@dmill.com or 207.773.3700 for sponsorship sales assistance.
TRAVEL & HOTEL
HOTEL
Games for Health 2009 will take place at the Hyatt Harborside hotel in Boston, MA. The hotel is located adjacent to Boston's Logan Airport. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport to the hotel is provided by Hyatt. All guests overnighting at the conference are strongly recommended to stay at the Hyatt Harborside.
Rooms are available in our room block for $219/night starting on June 8 through June 15.
To register your room please contact:
Hyatt Harborside Hotel
www.hyattharborside.com
617.568.1234
Please request Games for Health Conference rate when making your reservation.
AIR TRAVEL
Air travel to Boston is most convenient via Boston's Logan Airport. The proximity of Logan Airport to the conference hotel means you avoid what often is a $30 charge each way between airports and the urban centers they serve. You are literally five minutes by cab or complimentary shuttle. Logan is served by almost all major airlines with a few important notes:
* The top two airlines with direct flights to Boston are JetBlue and Delta.
* Delta offers the Delta Shuttle Service between New York's La Guardia Airport and Boston's Logan Airport. The Shuttle offers a bit more leeway for arrival and departure times. Flights leave each way at 6:00am, 6:30am and then every hour on the half-hour until 7:30pm.
* For booking JetBlue we recommend checking first on their Web site at www.jetblue.com.
* Southwest Airlines serves the Boston area via airports based in Manchester, NH and Providence, RI. Both airports, traffic notwithstanding, are roughly 1 hour from the hotel by car.
To book an airline ticket we recommend Expedia.com, JetBlue.com, or Southwest.com.
TRAIN TRAVEL
Amtrak service to Boston is a great way to get to our conference. Acela Express and regular Metroliner service arrives from NY, DC, Philadelphia and other Northeast Corridor cities to Boston's South Station. From South Station you may get a taxi, water taxi or T service to the hotel. Costs for a Taxi to the Hyatt will be roughly $20.00 depending on surcharges and tip.
To book a ticket via Amtrak please visit www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
If you are coming in via commuter lines or Amtrak's Downeaster service to Boston's North Station please take a cab from North Station to the Hotel. The cost will be $20.00-$25.00 depending on surcharges and tip. You may also take the Green line to Government Center and transfer to Blue Line outbound to Airport stop. Phone hotel at 617-568-1234 for complimentary hotel shuttle pick-up.
GETTING TO THE HYATT HARBORSIDE
From the airport you may wait for a complimentary shuttle which is free of charge. For shuttle pick-up from airline terminal guests must call hotel. Courtesy Phones with direct line to hotel are located in Baggage Claim area or you may call 617.568.1234 from your mobile phone but please do not call until you've picked up your luggage!
After calling hotel, proceed to outside curb area for shuttle pick-up. Please remember to specify which airline you flew in on when speaking to hotel.
If you want to take a cab from your terminal an approximate cab fare will be $6.00-$8.00.
From downtown Boston/Cambridge a cab fare will be roughly $20-$35 depending on your distance, surcharges, and tip.
WATER TAXI
Water Taxi is a wonderful way to come to the hotel. The Water Taxi services drop off directly at a dock behind the hotel. NOTE: Water Taxis have checkered roofs. Call to schedule pick-up at 617-422-0392 or from the Call Box at the waiting area. The fare is $10.00 each way or $17.00 round trip. Children under 12 are free.
The Water Taxi service runs all year long Monday through Saturday: 7am-10pm. Specific pick-up times might be delayed by weather and demand.
BOSTON T SUBWAY
The T subway system is comprised of the Blue, Orange, Green, Red, and Silver Line. To get to hotel from subway system, take Blue or Silver line to Airport stops. If you take the Blue Line you may wait for the Water Transportation Bus (#66) which stops at the hotel or for complimentary shuttle phone hotel at 617-568-1234 to request shuttle pick-up.
Click here for a Boston T Map.
TRAVELING BY CAH
From North of Boston
I-93 South into Boston to Exit 24 (Callahan Tunnel/Logan Airport). Follow signs to Logan Airport via the Callahan Tunnel. Upon exiting the tunnel, stay to the right, continuing to follow airport signs. Bear right onto Harborside Drive exit. At the first set of lights take a left onto Harborside drive. Go through two (2) sets of lights and the Hyatt Harborside will be about ¼ mile up on your right.
OR
Route 1 and Route 1A. Follow signs to Logan Airport and take first right onto Harborside Drive (at car rental area) upon entering the Airport. Go through three (3) sets of lights and the Hyatt Harborside will be about ¼ mile up on your right.
From South of Boston
I-93 North into Boston to Exit 20 (Mass Pike/Route 90 East). Follow signs to Logan Airport via the Ted Williams Tunnel. When you start to see terminal signs, stay in the right hand lane. Get off at the exit that reads Hotel Drive/Harborside Drive/Car Rental Agencies. Take a right at lights onto Hotel drive. Go through blinking light. At traffic light take a left onto Harborside drive. The hotel will be ¼ of a mile on your right.
From West of Boston
Mass Pike (Route 90 East) to the Airport/Ted Williams Tunnel. Follow signs to Logan Airport via the Ted Williams Tunnel. When you start to see terminal signs, stay in the right hand lane. Get off at the exit that reads Hotel Drive/Harborside Drive/Car Rental Agencies. Take a right at lights onto Hotel drive. Go through blinking light. At traffic light take a left onto Harborside drive. The hotel will be ¼ of a mile on your right.
From East of Boston
Unless you're driving in from the Cape...hopefully you're wearing a swimsuit...
PARKING
Unlimited in/out privileges. Parking is an outdoor uncovered lot. Rates:
0-1 hour: $12.00
1-3 hours: $21.00
3-7 hours: $28.00
7-24 hours: $32.00
Overnight guest per night: $32
Valet Parking:
0-1 hours: $18.00
1-3 hours: $25.00
3-7 hours: $31.00
7-24 hours: $36.00
Overnight guest per night: $36