Gamers are doing their part

by Jon Sullivan - 2020-04-08 - Gaming

<<<<< previous blog         next blog >>>>>

Computers are not as good as video game players at some tasks. Apparently.....

I think I've mentioned in the past that since high school I've had my great science fiction novel bouncing around in my brain. No strong desire to actually write it, just bouncing around. One of the plot lines involves an alien race coming to Earth and benevolently using hundreds of millions of people to do pattern matching that would take computers way longer.

The aliens have everyone spend hours basically playing Bejeweled all day. As in, that's their job. And in return they provide those willing to do the work with everything they could need or want. Basically an egalitarian socialist utopia.

But one of the things I always get stuck on is that the "gamers faster than computers" idea just seemed implausible. And what would it even look like? How would I describe what science/math was going on? Well......... Not only is it realistic, but scientists are now using the idea for real. Although you only earn in-game items rather than utopia.....

"Playing this game will help the scientists spot computer errors in their sequences, helping scientists compare the data and learn more about the human gut, and the data will ultimately be used to combat various diseases." Check it out :

Since I've been spending my virus lockdown time playing Borderlands 3, I jumped into the game and looked for the virtual arcade machine as soon as I heard of it. The game is really simplistic and not challenging. But it is EXACTLY the sci-fi novel game I've been imagining for decades. Like... exactly..... it's weird.

And I must say, going into a video game and having Mayim Bialik introduce me to a game within the game is the best nerd thing I've run across in awhile. Insanely awesome.

<<<<< previous blog         next blog >>>>>
News
Eugene weather
52.21 degrees F, Mist (mist)
Min: 50.25 ,Max: 52.86 ,Humidity: 91, Wind: 12.66
Eugene, OR - Best Restaurants
Eugene, OR - Things to do
Eugene, OR - Fish reports
Oregon road conditions
Recent Posts
- The Hobbit Aesthetic
    I am not by nature a camping sort of person. I am a cozy Hobbit hole sort. So camping needs to be less nature and more portable comfort.
- The voice
    For the last few years I've been constantly happy. Mostly.
- Part 3
    The last two posts were about losing my religion and focusing on love and joy. Perhaps there is an even crazier third way.
- Stewing
    Often my posts here are less for faithful readers, and more for me to just figure shit out. That was yesterday's post. I'm still figuring....
- Lost truth
    I used to be 100% invested in a system of belief that perfectly explained life the universe and everything. I now find it very much lacking.
- TG prep 2024
    Only three months till Thanksgiving. Time to start working on test recipes. Let the circus of cooking begin.
- Summer of love
    When I moved to Oregon I discovered a band I've come to love. They do a three day music festival every year. I was there last weekend.
Food I Cooked
Old School Blogroll
kottke.org
Home of fine hypertext products.
MetaFilter
A community weblog.
A Chicken Is Not Pillage
You forgot his exclamation point! It defines him. He put it there for a reason, to show how in! your! face! he is.
jessamyn.com
abada abada - twenty years of jessamyn
Matt Haughey
A Whole Lotta Nothing
dooce
Heater, Mother Of Lance
Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
Some Bits
Nelson's weblog
Everlasting Blort
proud member of the reality-based community
Whatever
This machine mocks fascists
Scripting News
It's even worse than it appears.
Flutterby
Short attention spans in a world full of flowers
mimi smartypants
Seriously, though: what's with the penguins?
Montreal City Weblog
Stupid Evil Bastard
What the fuck is wrong with you people?
Idle Words
brevity is for the weak
Making Light
Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate.
wilwheaton.net
50,000 Monkeys at 50,000 Typewriters Can't Be Wrong
Justin Hall
Growing & breaking down since 1994
Mike the Mad Biologist
Helping idiots who desperately need my assistance by calling them fucking morons since 2004
jwz
MSSV
AKMA’s Random Thoughts
Ruminations about hermeneutics, theology, theory, politics, ecclesiastical life… and exercise.
things magazine
An occasional weblog about objects, collections and discoveries
Miscellaneous Heathen
Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.
kimberussell.com
where it's always Virgo Season
Cockeyed
Recent Trips
Getting it ready for you.