It's always good to hear that, beyond being a way to only have a good time, videogames are being used for more important activities, such as raising awareness about topics, helping people lose weight, and to help people in various other medical fields out there. Today, word comes about how the Wii is being used to help people who have suffered from strokes.

From the article:

Sister Kenny has used other high-tech gear for rehab as part of its Advanced Rehabilitative Technologies program, which dates to 1995. With much of that equipment costing thousands of dollars, the $250 Wii was a relatively easy sell for the Sister Kenny Foundation, which paid for White's experiment.

The Wii makes rehab fun, motivating patients in their recovery, White said.

"It's just one more tool I have as a therapist," he said. "It's one more way to challenge Jerry."This has really perked him up," Gloria Pope agreed, as she watched her husband swing the Wii controller to and fro.

The Wii was released in November and became an instant sensation. The system's use of broader human movement to control video games rather than just button-pushing dexterity has made it a hit with people who have never played games before. But while the Wii was designed for entertainment purposes, increasingly it is being used in practical applications.

"We've seen reports of soldiers returning from Iraq using Wii as part of their rehab and a way to help them heal," said Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs. "We've heard directly from several cancer patients telling us the Wii is an integral part of their recovery and rehabilitation, and it makes a huge difference in their spirits. It's especially helpful when most of the people using it for these kinds of reasons can't get out of their homes easily."

Read the full article over at startribune.com