Using space innovatively

Should we come up with new ways of utilising spaces, in order to finally shift the dial on physical inactivity?

Sport and physical activity can have a hugely positive impact on society, from improving the physical and mental health of individuals to providing social connectedness within communities. An oft-quoted figure is that every pound invested in community sport and physical activity generates four pounds in social and other values. According to estimates, sport and physical activity delivers an annual contribution of £85.5bn to the UK economy.

Yet, that figure could be much higher. Sport England’s Active Lives reports – and their predecessors, the Active People Surveys – have shown that activity levels have remained stubbornly stagnant for decades. The proportion of people deemed inactive (those who fail to achieve 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week) currently sits at around 25%.

Physical inactivity isn’t a UK problem, however. A global report by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance compared 57 countries from six continents to assess global levels and trends in child and adolescent physical activity. It showed that children and adolescents around the world are not moving enough to promote healthy growth and development, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made matters worse. This is partly down to modern lifestyles – including increases in digital screen time, the growing urbanisation of communities and the rise in automation of previously manual tasks. A lot of money and effort has been spent on different types of participation programmes to get people more active. These often target particular groups of people who are at a disadvantage when it comes to opportunities to take part. Investments have also made in creating new – and improving existing – facilities. But if these efforts are having limited success. Sport England figures show a 1.3% increase in adult participation in the seven years between 2015-2022 – and the growth is nearly entire thanks to increases in active travel, cycling and walking. So, should we be looking at different types of facilities?

Could it be that changing societies need new ways of thinking when it comes to facilities? New ideas to encourage more people to be active? Perhaps the designs of spaces and facilities should be aimed, even more, at providing entirely new, equitable, accessible, inclusive, flexible, and attractive places?

SportsNation collected some examples of fresh, innovative ways of getting people active. They range from a clever use of new technology to a solution that removes screens and technology entirely.

Tech gets young people get hooked on table tennis, thanks to modern technology

Kenfig Table Tennis Club (KTTC) in Wales is using modern laser technology to help make the sport even more appealing to young people. The club, launched in 2022, has players from 10 years-old up to seniors, but the majority are aged over 60.

Thanks to Sport Wales’ Be Active Wales Fund – which uses National Lottery money - KTTC can now incorporate laser guided play into their sessions. Laser table tennis uses a three colour laser to project graphics and animation onto a table tennis table. It can be used as a training aid to direct the player and use graphics to show where to play the ball.

Simon Lau, Kenfig Table Tennis founder, said: “People have the impression that kids are stuck in their bedrooms, gaming on the phone or on a computer. I thought we could use this laser technology to introduce like a gaming scenario within actual sports.”

I thought we could use this laser technology to introduce a gaming-like scenario within actual sports

KTTC received £9,354 from Sport Wales for the project. As well as funding equipment, including a laser scanner and computer, the money has also been used to buy new table tennis tables.

SkillCourt combines visual, cognitive and motor skills

SkillCourt, which launched on the UK market earlier this year, has been designed to combine elements of visual, cognitive, and motor skills in order to create an effective – but fun – brain training system. Described as a “laser-based training and diagnostic tool”, the aim is to promote both motor and cognitive development in athletes and children – as well as patients in medical settings.

By programming games and building games, SkillCourt gets people moving by having them solve cognitive, visual and motor tasks in an engaged way using tech and gamification. It features several artificial intelligence (AI) and other types of sensors to precisely record the movement of people in space, allowing targeted exercises, tests and training options.

With flexible installation options, SkillCourt can occupy any area sized between 3m x 3m and 20x20m. It can also be installed on pretty much any type of surface.

“The brain is essential for interacting with the environment,” SkillCourt says. “Our solution can help develop a wide range of skills, from reaction times, power, agility and endurance to troubleshooting and decision-making. That’s why it not only gets people active, but can also help people to learn actions, from crossing the street safely to making the right decisions in sports.”

Our solution can help develop a wide range of skills, from reaction times, power, agility and endurance

Play Innovation’s target games

Play Innovation has created a selection of target games, designed to provide innovative, inclusive and educational physical activity opportunities. The games can fit to almost any existing rigid fence or wall and require a space of just 5m x 4m.

“The purpose behind our Target Games is to make a difference to people’s lives, promote key life skills and positive outcomes whilst having fun, without the use of electronics,” says Marco Boi, Play Innovation founder.

“The range includes games such as Street Snooker X, Crossbar King, Street Pool and Tennis Star games, which have all been created to enhance various essential life skills, from goal setting and concentration to strategic thinking.

“The games can be added to any MUGAs and other sports and play areas, transforming them to true multi-activity spaces.”

The games can be added to any MUGA and other sports and play areas, transforming them into true multi-activity spaces

One of the latest additions to the innovative games is the Corner Skills range. Corner Skills have been designed to maximise space in existing MUGAs or ball courts. Utilising available space – such as corners and other “dead spaces” within play areas and ballcourts – Corner Skills inspire children to be physically active and encourage them to use their imagination to create their own versions of how to play the games.

Lü interactive playground utilises tech to encourage physical activity and socialisation

Lü produces audio visual systems designed for active environments. Each system includes a projector, a movement detection camera and a light and sound module to create immersive, interactive spaces where children can get physically active while learning new skills.

There are three options, ranging from two permanent set ups – Lü Üno and Lü Düo – to the mobile Lü Möbil.

Each Lü system includes: l High definition 5,200 lumens encased laser projector allowing for a 12ft by 19ft giant projection. l Movement detection camera allowing interaction with the projection. l Multi-coloured LED lighting system with moving lights providing ambiance for Lü’s interactive content l Powerful 2,400 watts, dual speakers high quality sound system

l Microphone headset allowing to cast a voice on the sound system l Internal computer with device mirroring capacity

“The Lü transforms the room into a completely different world,” says Christoph Wulf, children’s sports coach at SC Bayer 05 Uerdingen – one of the clubs that uses the system.

“Children can become characters that they usually play at home. It really complements the sports lessons extremely well and the children who otherwise do not move much at all are the ones we can really engage with Lü.”

Children who otherwise do not move much at all are the ones we can really engage with Lü

CASE STUDY