research
In Real Life

Metal Gear Is Coming To Life. Again.

In Metal Gear Solid IV, Snake has a little robot companion called the Metal Gear Mk. II. And one day, you might have one of your own.

November 10, 2011
In Real Life

Million-Dollar Grant Seeks To Spark Young Gamers’ Interest In Science

The National Science Foundation is funding a project at N.C. State University [pictured above] to develop a video game that helps improve computer science knowledge retention in middle school kids.

October 21, 2011
News

A Secret To Fighting Parkinson’s Disease? Play A Video Game

Video games might be the key to fighting off some of the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, according to research results released this week.

September 21, 2011
News

Science Finds People Can’t Tell The Video Game World From The Real World

Research carried out by Nottingham Trent University, and which is soon to be published in the International Journal of Cyber Behaviour, Psychology and Learning, says that hardcore video gamers are having trouble distinguishing the real world from the virtual one.

September 12, 2011
News

Kinect Keeps An Eye On Grandma Without Invading Her Privacy

Because of the way its camera depicts what it sees, Kinect is being used by researchers to monitor elderly patients for their risk of a fall while still respecting their privacy. The device is helping the University of Missouri’s independent living community predict health risks 10 to 14 days before their most serious symptoms manifest.

August 31, 2011
News

It’s Video Game Competition, Not Violence, That Sparks Aggression

Do violent video games cause aggressive behaviour? According to a recent report published in the journal Psychology of Violence, the competitive aspect of gaming is more likely to generate aggro than mere violence. All this from a bunch of university students, some video games, and some hot sauce. Science is an amazing thing.

July 21, 2011
In Real Life

The Uncanny Valley Is Now Scientific Fact

The notion of the “Uncanny Valley”, where artificial people are more disturbing the closer they come to “reality”, has been around for ages. But now, thanks to a research team in San Diego, it’s bonafide science.

July 19, 2011
News

Science Is Teaching Kinect To Use A Lightsabre

A team of researchers at Stanford University are living the dream: they’ve used Kinect and a robot arm not to cure disease or solve the energy crisis, but to build something for lightsabre practice.

July 14, 2011
News

Computer Learns To Play Civilization By Reading The Instruction Manual

Starting from nothing, a computer taught itself to read the instruction manual for Civilization and saw its rate of victory jump from 46 per cent to 79 per cent.

July 6, 2011
News

Researchers Are Using Achievements To Read Your Mind

World of Warcraft players be wary. Big Brother may be watching. Game developers may start paying closer attention to your gameplay in order to predict your next move.

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