Encouraging Real-World Exercise Through Online Rewards

Pedz

Personal Project

Idea worked on from 2006 to 2009

Pedz was designed to incentivize children to stay active by linking real-world exercise to an engaging virtual world. The more a child exercises, the more "health" their virtual pet gains, unlocking rewards and new abilities for their creature to play, grow, and interact with others online.

Summary

After developing several addictive online games, I wanted to create a game that encouraged children to balance screen time with real-world activity. The concept was inspired by the Tamagotchi craze of the late ’90s, where kids cared for digital pets, but with a modern twist that linked physical activity to virtual rewards.

Pedz used a wearable device that tracked children’s activity—such as steps—and converted those movements into “health points” for their online pet. The healthier the pet, the more opportunities the child had to unlock rewards, games, and interact with other Pedz in a vibrant online world similar to Club Penguin, but with a stronger emphasis on real-world activity.

The idea was to make staying active as fun and rewarding as playing online, helping children engage in physical fitness through a system that bridged their real and digital worlds.

Goals & Outcomes

The vision was ambitious: to create a fun, health-focused platform that would gamify exercise for children. While the concept gained positive feedback, it never made it past the presentation phase due to other life commitments (like welcoming a real-life child into the world).

In 2010, we tried to pitch Pedz to the Central Office of Information (COI) to align with the 2012 London Olympics, as it felt like the perfect opportunity to launch a product that encouraged kids to stay active. Unfortunately, the deal didn’t materialize.

However, the core concept remains relevant, and while the technology (like pedometers) has since evolved, with modern phones and smartwatches now tracking steps, the idea of blending physical exercise with online rewards could still be a powerful tool to promote fitness in children today.

My Roles

This was a personal passion project, inspired by watching children in a playground on South Today News, where they were manually recording their steps using pencils and graph paper. I thought there had to be a more engaging way to help kids stay fit.

I developed the initial concept, strategy, and presentation for Pedz, drawing on my experience with online games and behavioral psychology. The aim was to create a healthier balance between online gaming and physical activity for children, making exercise fun and rewarding through digital interaction. Though the project didn’t launch, it remains a concept close to my heart.

Vision & Strategy

95%

Wireframes

100%