Memphis Library Foundation and Memphis Public Libraries have teamed up with Baptist Memorial Health Care to unveil a free, virtual interactive fitness program, FitNexx.
This challenging, fun, and smart program features cardio and uses motion capture technology to track users’ performance. Earlier this month, Memphis Public Libraries unveiled this new program through which families can access Fitnexx’s home edition at no cost. Memphis Public Libraries also plans to release a kiosk system at the Raleigh and Whitehaven branches for visitors to use onsite. This interactive console will feature a 3-D camera and will provide results in real-time.
“The FitNexx program is an innovative, interactive and above all, accessible program for Memphis youth,” said Christine Weinreich, executive director of the Memphis Library Foundation, in the press release. “The unique software provides a fun conduit for children to get active and play along no matter what device they are using — tablet, smartphone or laptop.”
FitNexx Inc., created by local developers and entrepreneurs Tony Knox and Cadarrius McGlown, is a digital fitness software company. Obesity is a growing concern for Mid-South children especially during this digital era. This program aims to promote healthy lifestyle and physical activities using collaborative and connected games. These features will be a part of the Nexx Network, FitNexx’s digital network of activities for children. Through the Library, the users can access and connect with their friends and family FitNexx’s exercise programs from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Steps to access the FitNexx virtual programming:
- Users can create a free account to access the FitNexx program using a web browser on any device with a web camera. No app needs to be downloaded.
Once an account is created. users gain access to a variety of games, workouts and cardio sessions.
The motion capture technology turns the users’ body into a 3D image. The technology then uses various markers to track and analyze the workout sessions. Users can view their sesison’s results within minutes.
“Physical activity is a key part of a healthy lifestyle for all ages,” Knox said. “Our fitness technology allows for healthy competition, and better fitness results among children and their friends and families. We saw a lot of focus centered toward keeping the older population fit and connected, but not much for children.
“We aim to build an ecosystem that invites a child to explore fitness activities with any person in their life, whether a parent, grandparent, sibling or friend, in a fun, collaborative way. Our systems are designed to accommodate several different needs for players, including physical therapy at home, physical education at school, sports training or leisure competitions with friends. Each time a user plays, we learn more about how they move.”
Baptist Memorial Health Care — a longtime supporter of Memphis Public Libraries — granted $8,250 to the Memphis Library Foundation towards the research and development of the virtual FitNexx platform.
“Supporting FitNexx allows us to not only provide a useful tool to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our city’s youth, but it also allows us to advance health and science technology,” said Cynthia Bradford, long-term Memphis Public Library board member and community relations manager for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “Baptist is proud to support innovation, economic development and minority entrepreneurship in collaboration with Memphis Public Libraries.”
To learn more about Memphis Library Foundation visit memphislibraryfoundation.org.
To learn more about Baptist Memorial Healthcare, visit bmhgiving.org.
To learn more about FitNexx, visit fitnexxinc.com.