Healer games
So far we have heard of educationalists
using computer games as new
mechanisms to help students learn. Now
it is for games to help in healing. A Blue
Bell based fi rm, CyberLearning Technology,
has developed some game applications
called Smart Brain Games System. These
are primarily targeted towards people
suffering from brain injuries and learning
disabilities. Replicating the technology used
by NASA, these games use neurofeedback
to assess the progress of the treatment.
Neurofeedback is a form of conditioning
that rewards people for producing specifi c
brain waves such as those that appear when
a person is relaxed or paying attention. As
part of the treatment, the patient is made
to wear a helmet with built-in sensors that
measure the brain waves, which are then
relayed to a neuro-feedback system that
affects the game controller. For example,
in a car racing game if the patient shows
some progress, the neuro-feedback system
sends a signal to the controller, which allows
him or her to accelerate and steer faster.
CyberLearning mostly uses car racing games
that can be played on the PlayStation 1 and
2 and the Xbox.
The therapy cost ranges from $2000
to $2500. The treatment costs are high;
also neurofeedback is not covered by
medical insurance and hence using it to
heal problems like autism is facing its
challenges.
Most practitioners prefer prescribing
medicines but some are of the opinion that
this therapy of using games to heal needs
supervised training before they can be really
successful. In fact, using computer games
as a method of healing can’t be taken lightly
because if not exercised properly, it can
cause a great deal of anxiety and irritation.
But practitioners have reasons to rejoice as
case studies have shown positive results.
Nine-year-old Ethan Meyers, who faced a
near-fatal car accident, woke up after nine
months of coma and was declared a lost
case by the doctors. Meyers himself claims
that two years of neurofeedback training
has given him the opportunity to be at par
with his friends. Today he is capable of fully
opening his right hand which paralysis had
curled closed completely.
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