Tom Chatfield: 7 ways video games engage the brain

http://www.ted.com As we bring gameplay into more aspects of our lives (from socializing to exercising), Tom Chatfield talks about one compelling aspect of videogaming: its measurability. Parceling out rewards at carefully calibrated percentages, games collect reams of data about what humans truly find rewarding, and precisely how hard we're willing to work for a win.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[disxassociative]

what server are you on??

[TheGallows32]

i can hear his tongue moving

[masterman229]

While I do credit games for a portion of my vocabulary and trivial knowledge, there are very little games that actually TEACH you what you need to learn in school after around a third grade level.

[Chris Bargh]

Could also be because his mic is too close to his mouth.

[bandetx]

Thats a tauren on the dragonhawk not an orc. Noob.

[Lalo Dominguez]

no lol

[michelle a]

love these TED videos as video games should count as actual school credits towards graduation as there is history, math, strategy, communication skills, teamwork etc.

[Paul Staker]

The power of games compels you!

[trpyman]

Pie craft :)

[cybercobra2]

no the system still very much aplies to minecraft. its modeled differently but its still the same system. for example if you kill a mob you know it will always drop loot (exp, arrows, pork, etc) but there is a small chance for some of them of you getting something special. a enchanted item. or how about the idea of short term and long term rewards. in the short term you are gathering iron ore and coal or building a wall. in the long term you are creating a castle. or a underground base.

[Adam Caith]

You just equated video games with cigarettes ???

You just went full retard.

[Steph Gray]

That's usually a sign someone is thirsty...