An unbeatable computer game

Researchers have come up with an idea to design a computer game that knows a player's move about two seconds before the move is made. Using measurements of players' skin conductance, the computer's sensors can tell when a player is about to press a button.

The game, called YetiSports part 8: JungleSwing, is available for anyone to play at yetisports.org (free registration is required). Although the appropriate hardware is required for biofeedback sensors, the rules of the game can still be seen: an ape-like Yeti tries to climb a tree by swinging from branch to branch. A player must click the mouse at the correct moment for Yeti to swing to the next branch; if not, Yeti falls to the ground.

Researchers had subjects test the game, taking measurements of the subjects' heart rates, skin conductance, and electrical activity in the brain. The scientists were surprised to find that skin conductance by itself was sufficient to predict a jump two seconds in advance.

Source: yetisports.orgAdded: 28 September 2007