Fighting the animated powers of evil may be a reward unto itself for some gamers, but it can’t hold a candle to finding a cure for cancer. A new game from scientists at the University of Washington, however, aims to tap gamers’ brain power to make medical discoveries, with the potential even to win the Nobel Prize. The game, Foldit, focuses on protein strands and the distinct structural folds that set them apart. Those folds are widely considered the key to finding cures for many of the world’s diseases.
I've read about the idea of using gamers (humans, after all) to solve problems computers are not good at before (Google indexing pictures). But this is an absolutely great idea. And even I am no longer at a gamer's age, I will definitely have a go at it. I like to think of myself as good in 3-D problems -- it was my favourite high-school subject.
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Winners of New Video Game Could Score Nobel Prize
Posted by: Katherine Noyes May 16, 2008 08:30 AMFighting the animated powers of evil may be a reward unto itself for some gamers, but it can’t hold a candle to finding a cure for cancer. A new game from scientists at the University of Washington, however, aims to tap gamers’ brain power to make medical discoveries, with the potential even to win the Nobel Prize. The game, Foldit, focuses on protein strands and the distinct structural folds that set them apart. Those folds are widely considered the key to finding cures for many of the world’s diseases.