Using the Internet to Motivate

Michael Pusateri is a 43-year-old senior vice president at the Disney- ABC Television Group, but he still doesn’t eat his vegetables. So in October he joined Health Month, an online game that allows him to compete against 16,000 other users in striving toward his goals—which include cycling 80 miles a week and going on a weekly date with his wife. When he made progress, he earned life points and raised his ranking. When he failed, he lost points but could ask other players to take pity and “heal” him by giving him virtual “fruit.” The game prepared him for his first triathlon.