AUBURN - Alice Garhartt lined herself up, studied her position, swung her arm back and followed through. The ball cut across the lane and finished in the gutter before leaving all 10 pins standing on the other side.
Christopher Caskey / The Citizen
Alice Garhartt watches the video screen after trying a turn at Wii Bowling at the Edward T. Boyle Center in Auburn.
Alice Garhartt watches the video screen after trying a turn at Wii Bowling at the Edward T. Boyle Center in Auburn.
“I have to move over every time,” Garhartt said before shifting a couple lines to the right.
After swinging her arm back and following through for the second time, the ball struck and knocked over the entire pile of pins.
“That looks better,” she said.
Garhartt finished up with a score of 67. But this round wasn't rolled at the local lanes. It took place at the Edward T. Boyle Center.
A few weeks ago, center administrators bought a Nintendo Wii. The hope was that its residents - most of whom have never played a video game - would play and enjoy it.
Program Director Maggie Wells said last week that the game console has been a huge hit, especially the bowling program on the sports game. The state-of-the-art system allows its players to get some exercise while entertaining themselves, and it also serves as a social catalyst, she said.
Center residents have been rolling virtual frames with enthusiasm, and there could soon be a Wii bowling league, Wells said.
“The best part of it is hearing the laughter,” she said. “They have so much fun.”
The Wii combines traditional video game controls with motion sensors to allow its players to move while they play. The bowling game is controlled by swinging the hand-held device back and forth as if it was a real ball. The game also has baseball, tennis, golf and others that are controlled by realistic movements.
Wells said that the game's simplicity allows the residents to interact with technology that might otherwise intimidate them. She added that she hopes it could be a gateway to other games and activities that can provide brain stimulation.
“I think it's a myth that seniors would not have a good time with these things,” Wells said. “It's a way to exercise your brain.”
For Jeanne Cutillo, the game offers a challenge. Cutillo played in a bowling league more than 20 years ago, and one year she averaged 169, she said.
While playing the Wii last week, she repeatedly tried to best the high score of 132. For some reason, the ball kept hooking to the left just in front of the pins, leaving a few of them up.
“I think the floor is warped,” Cutillo joked.
Then she remembered a little technique. If she points her thumb toward a clock hanging on the wall with her thumb while she rolls, it straightens out her wrist, she said before picking up the spare.
“That's better,” Cutillo said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
After swinging her arm back and following through for the second time, the ball struck and knocked over the entire pile of pins.
“That looks better,” she said.
Garhartt finished up with a score of 67. But this round wasn't rolled at the local lanes. It took place at the Edward T. Boyle Center.
A few weeks ago, center administrators bought a Nintendo Wii. The hope was that its residents - most of whom have never played a video game - would play and enjoy it.
Program Director Maggie Wells said last week that the game console has been a huge hit, especially the bowling program on the sports game. The state-of-the-art system allows its players to get some exercise while entertaining themselves, and it also serves as a social catalyst, she said.
Center residents have been rolling virtual frames with enthusiasm, and there could soon be a Wii bowling league, Wells said.
“The best part of it is hearing the laughter,” she said. “They have so much fun.”
The Wii combines traditional video game controls with motion sensors to allow its players to move while they play. The bowling game is controlled by swinging the hand-held device back and forth as if it was a real ball. The game also has baseball, tennis, golf and others that are controlled by realistic movements.
Wells said that the game's simplicity allows the residents to interact with technology that might otherwise intimidate them. She added that she hopes it could be a gateway to other games and activities that can provide brain stimulation.
“I think it's a myth that seniors would not have a good time with these things,” Wells said. “It's a way to exercise your brain.”
For Jeanne Cutillo, the game offers a challenge. Cutillo played in a bowling league more than 20 years ago, and one year she averaged 169, she said.
While playing the Wii last week, she repeatedly tried to best the high score of 132. For some reason, the ball kept hooking to the left just in front of the pins, leaving a few of them up.
“I think the floor is warped,” Cutillo joked.
Then she remembered a little technique. If she points her thumb toward a clock hanging on the wall with her thumb while she rolls, it straightens out her wrist, she said before picking up the spare.
“That's better,” Cutillo said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
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