Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[US Navy: Gamers '10 to 20%' better at fighting terror]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/us-navy-gamers-10-to-20-better-at-fighting-terror/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/us-navy-gamers-10-to-20-better-at-fighting-terror/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/us-navy-gamers-10-to-20-better-at-fighting-terror/#comments
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The Office of Naval Research is currently conducting research in video game training that it says has "surprising" results in regards to military personnel reaction time and adaptability in the fight against terror. According to an article available on the Department of Defense's official website, doctor of educational psychology and program officer Ray Perez said the research has discovered that video game players perform "10 to 20 percent higher in terms of perceptual and cognitive ability" than non-gamers.

Citing a need for soldiers to be "agile problem solvers" and "agile thinkers," Perez notes that video game training can help field adaptability and the "cognitive advances" derived from the training can last up to two and a half years.

"We know that video games can increase perceptual abilities and short-term memory," Perez said, adding games allow players to focus longer and expand the field of vision compared to non-gamers. If it means the brave men and women serving have a better chance of coming home, we're all for it.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqUS Navy: Gamers '10 to 20%' better at fighting terror originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armydepartment-of-defensemilitaryoffice-of-naval-researchsoldiersunited-states-militaryvideogame-researchWed, 27 Jan 2010 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[US Dept. of Defense splashing out on anti-smoking game for soldiers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/us-dept-of-defense-splashing-out-on-anti-smoking-game-for-soldi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/us-dept-of-defense-splashing-out-on-anti-smoking-game-for-soldi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/us-dept-of-defense-splashing-out-on-anti-smoking-game-for-soldi/#commentsWe can think of a ton of better ways the US Department of Defense could spend the nearly $4 million it's investing in an anti-smoking game for soldiers. For instance: a bonfire; a rocket ship to the sun; or even a ton of Nintendo DS systems and the already-in-existence Easyway to Stop Smoking game. Instead, Alexander Prokhorov of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center will be taking the reins on the project, in tandem with Radiant Creative, and creating something akin to his past work with the company, Escape With Your Life (an anti-smoking game targeted towards "at-risk youth").

Meant to teach players the dangers of cigarette smoking, the game will share many similarities with the developers' previous work, including a "standard-looking video game kiosk" presentation and a "depth of knowledge" education program meant to encourage soldiers to quit tobacco for good. Apparently, the game will also take around the same development time as most modern, AAA, console games, as Prokhorov's positing playtests for 2011 and a full release by 2013.

[Via GameBizBlog]

JoystiqUS Dept. of Defense splashing out on anti-smoking game for soldiers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-prokhorovcigarettesdepartment-of-defenseeasyway-to-stop-smokingescape-with-your-lifemd-anderson-cancer-centerradiant-creativesmokingMon, 20 Apr 2009 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Injured soldiers play Wii to test for potential brain trauma]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/injured-soldiers-play-wii-to-test-for-potential-brain-trauma/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/injured-soldiers-play-wii-to-test-for-potential-brain-trauma/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/injured-soldiers-play-wii-to-test-for-potential-brain-trauma/#comments
The Department of Defense is launching the Nintendo Wii as a weapon against head injuries, according to the Huffington Post. At Fort Campbell's newly opened brain injury center, soldiers are being put through a "battery of tests" to measure different cognitive functions before and after deployment -- specifically in cases of potential traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The tests include a driving simulator to measure reaction to environment change, visual testing to determine accuracy and speed and coordination tests using the Nintendo Wii. Once a soldier's individual deficiencies are discovered, a therapy program is designed to "help retrain the brain" in those specific areas. Since opening in September, Fort Campbell's brain injury center has screened about 400 soldiers for TBI and is currently treating about 60 cases.

[Via Fidgit. Image credit: SignOnSanDiego.com]

JoystiqInjured soldiers play Wii to test for potential brain trauma originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brain-injurydepartment-of-defensehead-injuryhealthmedicalsoldierstestingMon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST