Digital games gain traction for improving health

Digital games are one of the latest tools being used to improve health outcomes, according to Carleen Hawn, co-founder and editor of Healthspottr.com. Virtual realities, computer simulations, and online play are among the games gaining traction, Hawn says, adding that health-related digital games have an "immense" potential for growth in the digital game market. According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the worldwide market for game hardware and software generated $42 billion in revenues in 2007 and will grow to an estimated $68 billion by 2012. Currently, digital health games generate an estimated $6.6 billion.