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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Judge backs Medford marijuana dispensary ban Crater Lake may soon have China connection Suspected Jackson County car thief arrested in Eugene on similar charges Medford kicks off summer with RecFest events Saturday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Suspected Jackson County car thief arrested in Eugene on similar charges Forgery, identity theft charges brought against suspect who fought with police Ashland police hope to crack down on rowdies Peavine Creek Fire fully lined Politics and Elections Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Education Appeals court rules against Central Point schools on bus outsourcing Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Environment Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) State News Forecast for 2015 predicts busy wildfire season Cheers and protest signs greet President Obama in Oregon Oregon Senate OKs bill banning 'conversion therapy' Police: Welsh man traveled to Oregon to have sex with girl Josephine County commissioners pass drought resolution, despite protests Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Helen Nadine Sankey Dickie Miles Hayes Nita Day Layne Alan Battenfield Gene Fredric Wolf Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Crater's Oshiro takes girls district lead Oregon clinches share of Pac-12 title Four tied for lead at Players Challengers hire Martinez as girls coach Ex-Panthers Baldovino, Owirka earn honors Varsity 541 College Sports Oregon clinches share of Pac-12 title Ex-Panthers Baldovino, Owirka earn honors In the zone Ducks' Keys chases fourth Pac-12 crown Ducks bring in transfer from Villanova Pro Sports Four tied for lead at Players Many happy returns for Singler Rockets survive Clippers, even series Singler open to remaining in OKC Harper's three homers, five RBIs lift Nationals Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Social media expert to address Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon Rogue Valley Mall filling out with new stores, expansions and moves Haggen prepares to replace Safeway in Ashland on Sunday Single-family home sales take off Blog: Feeling like a few days in Italy? Medford/Jackson County Chamber has trip planned just for you Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? Letters to the Editor, May 8 Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Dianne Williamson: Let’s end the marathon bomber saga Our View: Cheers and jeers Editorials Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Our View: Oregon's full of givers, and can use more Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 7 Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Letters to the Editor, May 4 Columns Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center George Will: A patrician blacksmith for president? Dana Milbank: Huckabee's ill-fated quest Kathleen Parker: Matters of perception Michael Gerson: The intricate knot of urban poverty Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Fishing Report: Friday, May 8 Looking Up: Once in a while a star blows up Local bass fisher eyes return to collegiate championships Get Out: Friday, May 8 Food Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Eat your greens (tea, that is) Season Stepp: Make some cheesecake mousse-filled strawberries Page H. Onorato: Baked potato soup is comfort in a bowl Page H. Onorato: Grandma Jane comes a-calling Home and Garden Breathe easier with whole-house air purification Dear Monty: Water rights of property owners Paul Rogers: ‘Living’ mulches a healthy alternative to bark Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Health Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Search on for new medical provider for Butte Falls, Prospect clinics Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers The ring’s the thing Chic brides are choosing a range of complementary colors for their celebration Registries: ‘Year of the groom’ Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Community Events Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Dining Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 8 ... Local bass fisher eyes return to collegiate championships ... Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 8 ... Local bass fisher eyes return to collegiate championships ... EDUCATION Work your body to save your braaaaains SOU students, alumni working on zombie-based fitness app Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 11:01 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 11:01 PM » Social News Which would you rather have for a personal trainer: A well-toned fitness enthusiast or a zombie apocalypse? Southern Oregon University student Christopher Applegate is working on a capstone project that utilizes the latter, specifically with "Zompocalypse Fitness," a unique fitness app that takes a page or two from a George Romero movie. it's basically a hybrid of a workout trainer and serial zombie story where a group of survivors fights to stay alive. “It’s like when you pick up a good book. You fall in love with a character. You get into it and you can’t put it down,” Applegate, 41, says. “We’re absolutely counting on that for motivation.” Patient zero Applegate's idea for the app started with an assignment in one of his digital media classes at SOU, where he was tasked with designing an iPad app. A fitness enthusiast who fights wildland fires during the summer, he says he gets "kind of bored" with the usual workout regimens. The night before class, he thought of an idea for how to change that oft-mundane grind. “I was thinking about zombies, watching ‘Walking Dead,’ " Applegate says. "At the same time, I was thinking, 'I should go work out before class tomorrow.' It just kind of came to me." The idea was to turn a zombie story into a series of workout routines. Project artist and SOU alum Chris LaGasse, 35, says the 18-episode story will follow a character through a journey that starts in Ashland and heads north. App users are thrust into the middle of the tale and experience it as it happens through the workouts. "It's a really kind of action-packed, really interesting, character-driven kind of story," LaGasse says. "Along the way you're running into all these different zombie situations." In one scene, the character has to escape from zombies by heading to a body of water and swimming for a certain amount of time, as zombies can't swim. In another, the character has to run a certain amount of time to escape a closing horde. With each challenge completed, another chunk of story unlocks. "You are actually having to feel what the characters are going through on a physical level," Applegate says. Pandemic In preparation for his class presentation, Applegate designed the first few pages of an interface and included some elaborate exercise routines. It went well, he says, with several classmates saying they would use such an app. So Applegate kept at it, and the app continued to take shape over the summer.  “The more I kind of honed it and polished it up, it was like, 'You know what? I can do this. I’m going to do this. This can happen.' " As a zombie plague is apt to do, Applegate's idea spread. Students from other SOU departments — theater, computer science, emerging media and digital arts, and athletics — got involved. "I was thinking, 'Man, this is the only thing that could get me to work out,' " LaGasse says with a chuckle. "I just thought the idea was really great." Months later, the team project has become an intricate balance of storytelling, programming and health. "Everything has its own little challenges," says SOU student Jeoffery Puglisi, 29. Applegate says he hopes to make "Zompocalypse Fitness" live for iOS and Android operating systems by Halloween. Until then, the team soldiers on, one sweat-inducing undead attack at a time. "It's really moving, and a lot of that has to do with Christopher," LaGasse says. "He's just really motivated and always keeping us motivated. All the pieces are coming together."  For more information, see www.zompocalypsefit.com . Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 15, 2015 at 11:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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