Play Games for Science
By Peter LloydI remember lending computer processor time over the Internet so that scientists could use my computer to solve problems that I suspect only they were qualified to work on. The processor-sharing system waited for my computer to pause for a time, then lent my processor. Thousand of other such donors offered time as well, giving important scientific efforts lots of free processing power.
Now a couple of groups have taken the next step in crowdsourcing for science. Eyewire and Foldit have begun to crowdsource not just processors but people by converting scientific problem solving into games.
Foldit
This animated computer game lets anyone contribute to important scientific research by folding proteins. Players compete to find the best solutions to currently unsolved scientific folding challenges—problems that computers cannot solve alone. And it’s fun!
More advanced players cans use coding tools to write protein-folding algorithms, which the game will then automatically execute when called for. Players share and edit each other’s algorithms, and the best versions evolve in the crowdsourcing process.
Most intriguing of all, players can actually design new proteins. Scientist then test the new designs in the laboratory. In this way, volunteer players give professional scientists more time to the higher-order work.
Eyewire
The crowd is also pitching in with the tedious task of mapping the human brain. The Eyewire game involves finding and filling in neural pathways in a 3D grid. Once players master the necessary skills, they can begin to map actual uncharted neurons.
I’m starting to chalk up some good scores with this game. It’s not easy, but it’s as much fun as computer chess, plus it gives the satisfaction of actually winning a game that might actually serve people well some day.
What’s Next?
Right now, I image that a small group of highly motivated, intelligent people with a love for science and technical challenges are doing a lot of good work. But just imagine where this idea could go.
What if video game makers would link up with these kinds of scientific challenges and embed a game stage that required players to solve part of a scientific puzzle. What if they gave away sample games to school science classes or sold them at a discount to anyone who agreed to work on science in between game levels? Complete a level, then work for a time on science project in order to go to next level.
What if game makes helped scientists by making the configuration of a problem as visually attractive as a commercial game? Players wouldn’t even have to know they were doing science.
I think this marriage of science and gaming has great possibilities for both science and the game industry.
Songwriter, author, ghostwriter, copywriter, and content provider Peter Lloyd syndicates Right Brain Workouts and blogs for businesses including CoachQuest.
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