Active Hands

All I want for Christmas

The festive season is almost upon us, and for the second year running one of the hottest products on the market is the Nintendo Wii. Sales of the console went ballistic in 2007 with demand outstripping supply, creating panic among consumers that their purchase would not be ready for Christmas.

This year things have settled down a little but the demand for Wii shows no sign of abating, with worldwide sales set to reach 27.5 million by the end of the year. Observers have proclaimed Wii not just to be a gaming success but a cultural phenomenon, broadening the reach of games consoles to new audiences, from the very young to the elderly.

With more extensive body movement needed for the Wii than other consoles, issues of accessibility were always going to be different. Initial reaction seems to be positive, however, with reports of older users switching on to Wii Sports as a manageable form of exercise and Wii’s Wheel Art helping Cerebral Palsy sufferers express themselves through digital painting.

What about those whose problem is primarily their grip or hand function, though? For many games Wii remotes need to be held tightly in the hand, and whilst the wrist straps might stop any expensive breakages to TV equipment, they’re not much use to help people grip them in the first place.

That’s where Active Hands aids come in. Designed specifically to help the fist clench tightly around household objects, they’re ideal to help people with a whole range of conditions, from spinal injury to stroke, arthritis to MS, to join the Wii generation.

So if someone you know is dreaming of a Wii Christmas, browse our online shop to get them the perfect present, Active Hands gripping aids!

Rich Burley - November 2008

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