Humana's Next Gamification Platform: Xbox Kinect

The health insurer has never been shy about leveraging new technologies for gamification, and finds synergy with Microsoft's active platform.

Gamification is the latest customer engagement technology buzzword (see our discussion with AXA Equitable's Connie O'Brien), but Humana has been in on the ground floor. The company has never been shy about using new platforms for engaging games around its health products and message (it released an iPhone game last year).

Today, the company announced a game using Microsoft's Xbox Kinect technology. The platform encourages people to use their entire body to control on-screen avatars — read: exercise.

Developed with well-known video game company Ubisoft, the Your Shape 2012 game tracks calories burned during play. It offers "a cutting-edge way to teach children habits that can help to prevent obesity, help seniors stay active and mobile, and give people of all ages tools for lowering their blood pressure – three ways people can significantly improve their health and quality of life,” Raja Rajamannar, Humana’s chief innovation and marketing officer, says in a statement. “Through this partnership, an interactive video game will help people achieve real results and better total health – all while having fun.”

Nathan Golia is senior editor of Insurance & Technology. He joined the publication in 2010 as associate editor and covers all aspects of the nexus between insurance and information technology, including mobility, distribution, core systems, customer interaction, and risk ... View Full Bio