Game Project

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In our modern society that stresses a healthy lifestyle, many people are neglecting the most important part of the body.... the brain.
Cognitive Games

OVERVIEW

The Cognitive Games project is a collaboration between game/media designers in Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media and content experts in Epidemiology, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Michigan State University. The goal is to create a series of web-based computer games designed to exercise various cognitive functions (attention, memory, language, visual/spatial functions, executive functions) for individuals hoping to preserve neurocognitive functions as they move from middle to late adulthood. The initial target audience is post-WWII baby boomers (born approx. 1945-1960.) The games are designed around thematic domains of interest to the users and require approximately 5-10 minutes to play. A coaching and assessment tool will track users performance across the games and make recommendations to the user, serving as a "personal cognitive trainer."

Research will be conducted on a subset of the subscribers to evaluate the service, using a longitudinal approach, to see if it aids in preserving cognitive functions over time.

CREATIVE MERIT

Peer Reviewed Awards:

  • Future Game Impact and Application award for Cognitive Games (first place), Future Play 2005 International Conference on the Future of Game Design and Technology in East Lansing, MI, October 14, 2005.

Peer Reviewed Exhibitions:

  • Winn, Brian, Chandler, JJ, Caywood, Jillian, Messer, Mandy, Banyas, Patti, Tye, Jason. Cognitive Games. Exhibited at Future Play 2005 International Conference on the Future of Game Design and Technology in East Lansing, MI, October 14, 2005. (Won first place in best future game impacts and applications award.)

SCHOLARLY CONTRIBUTIONS

Invited Presentation:

  • Winn, B. Games to Improve the Mind and Body. Games for Health Conference. Madison, WI. September 17, 2004.

FUNDING

  • Startup funding has been provided by the Department of Epidemiology.
  • We are currently seeking external funding for ongoing development and research.

ROLE

I served as co-principal investigator on the project with Jim Anthony, Chair of Epidemiology. I am also the lead game designer and lead programmer on the project, managing a team of student artists, designers, and programmers.

VIEW THE WORK

This project is currently in development and not yet viewable.