Nov 28 2011 3:00PM
An iPhone app which would block access to other devices if the user had not burned off enough calories during the day is the brainchild of Joseph Allison, a BSc (Hons) Applied Computing| student at UCS Bury St Edmunds|.
Joseph, 26 from Wyverstone in Suffolk, explained: “People who feel they don't exercise enough might be motivated to do more if they had an application designed to prevent them from using their Xbox 360, for example, if they haven't exercised enough throughout the day. After a certain amount of calories have been burned, the app would transfer a signal to activate an infra-red socket, allowing power to the electrical device."
Joseph is carrying out a research project as part of his degree, to investigate whether an iPhone application with this incentive would encourage people to exercise. The project is being supported by the WSC Education Opportunity Trust.
A cheque for £400 was presented to Joseph by trustees in November. The money will be used to help buy the specialist computing equipment hardware and software that Joseph will need to develop his project. Joseph is hoping for a career as a web designer or app developer.
All students and alumni of UCS are eligible to apply for support from the WSC Education Opportunity Trust, an independent charity founded in December 2008 with donations from former students and local employers.
Chair of the Trust Alan Gordon-Stables said: “The Trust aims to assist students to enhance their educational experience and overcome difficulties that may prevent them from achieving their full potential. These could range from buying textbooks, specialised tools and materials, or contributing towards the cost of a field course or voluntary service in the UK or overseas.”