STUDIES SHOW VIDEO GAMES EASE PHYSICAL, MENTAL PAIN
Two new studies find that the engrossing virtual worlds and visual puzzles found in video games significantly lessen individuals' physical pain or mental stress.
Research funded by the National Institutes of Health and presented at the American Pain Society's annual scientific meeting found that playing video games does more than just distract people from physical pain. By engaging other senses, such as sight and touch, game play reduces signals in areas of the brain that are associated with pain. This is particularly true for games that are motion-controlled or feature 3-D worlds, which offer a more fully engaging experience. In a test conducted with burn victims, researchers found that playing video games reduced patients' reported pain ratings by 30 to 50 percent.
Another study conducted by researchers at Oxford University and published in Public Library of Science found that visual puzzles, such as the classic video game Tetris, could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Following exposure to video clips, participants recorded how often they experienced flashbacks from the film. Those who played Tetris experienced fewer nightmares and painful flashbacks than participants who played a trivia game or did nothing. The study suggests that games challenging a player's visuospatial skills may offer a cognitive treatment against the development of PTSD.
As professional sciences continue to explore the potential that complex virtual worlds and focused virtual interaction offer, we will likely continue to see more examples that reflect the beneficial effects of video games on medical treatment.
U.S. AIR FORCE TAPS ADVANCED
GAME TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD SUPERCOMPUTER
In recent years, the computer and video game industry's technology has adapted beyond entertainment. Recently, the military took steps to employ the technology for computing and analysis.
On December 1, 2010, the U.S. Air Force unveiled the "Condor Cluster," a supercomputer made of more than 1,700 processors taken from PlayStation 3 video game consoles, and designed by military scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, New York.
Richard Linderman, a senior scientist in the advanced computing laboratory at AFRL, conceived the concept for the Condor Cluster. Linderman recognized the cutting-edge nature of the computer and video game industry's powerful yet affordable microprocessors, and challenged his colleagues to develop a military application.
By effectively adapting the technology that created some of the most realistic and visually stunning games, the Condor Cluster calculates an impressive 500 trillion operations per second. This is the fastest interactive computer currently in use at the Department of Defense (DoD).
According to Air Force officials, the Condor Cluster is 10 to 20 times less expensive than similar supercomputers used by the U.S. government. Officials also said it consumes less than one-tenth the amount of energy, making it a "green" supercomputer.
The new system will be freely available to all DoD users on a shared basis. With a diverse set of capabilities, the initial projects scheduled for the Condor Cluster include analyzing high-resolution imagery captured by satellites, artificial intelligence research, radar and image enhancement, and pattern recognition research.
The use of computer and video game technology has already expanded into the fields of education and healthcare, and the Condor Cluster is another example of the innovative possibilities and broad applications of computer and video game technology.
READY FOR ANYTHING: GAMES TEACH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Quick reactions and smart decision making are just a few of the skills that players often need to succeed in computer and video games. These same skills are breaking new ground in games that teach children how to react well in the face of natural disasters.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) recently launched a new online game to help teach schoolchildren about emergency preparedness and earthquake safety. In The Day The Earth Shook, players must help a brother and sister put together a disaster preparedness kit, and identify areas of their house that would be safe or unsafe in the event of an earthquake. IEMA officials note that while the game focuses on earthquake safety, they believe it will also help students understand the importance of having emergency supplies at home and being prepared for all types of disasters.
The Day The Earth Shook was commissioned by IEMA and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, and developed through a collaborative effort by the Electronic Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois. The project was funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), located within U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is part of a broader, yearlong IEMA initiative.
Another FEMA-supported game, Disaster Hero, is currently in development. The American College of Emergency Physicians and Legacy Interactive are collaborating to create the online game, scheduled for release in 2011. Players will learn about the kinds of disasters that might occur in their geographic region or state by becoming a "Disaster Hero" and helping families prepare for various emergencies.
FEMA has also developed a number of its own interactive online games for children as part of its national "Ready" campaign. In addition to informational materials and checklists, FEMA's "Ready Kids" website includes games such as Pack It Up and Hidden Treasures, which teach children about what supplies should be included in a preparedness kit and what household items may be useful in an emergency. The "FEMA For Kids" website also features a series of interactive games and puzzles to help kids learn about weather events.
Computer and video games offer a way for children and their families to learn about an important, and sometimes frightening, topic in a way that is fun and engaging. |
