Book by UC Merced professor explains how video games can help cancer research

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- A publication released connected Tuesday by a UC Merced prof talks astir however video games could beryllium utilized to assistance accelerate crab probe and assistance successful the conflict against the deadly disease.

"My woman got crab backmost successful 2013, and I felt beauteous helpless astir it," said Jeff Yoshimi, a prof of Cognitive Science and Philosophy. "I was like, 'What tin I do? How tin I contribute?"

That's erstwhile an thought came to Yoshimi. He thought of a unsocial combo: What if the encephalon powerfulness and vigor we usage successful playing video games tin besides beryllium directed toward uncovering a solution for cancer?

"There are millions of radical each day, each the clip playing video games. It's similar this immense reserve problem-solving power," said Yoshimi. "But they're playing games to bash things similar 'How bash I hijack a car successful Grand Theft Auto?' What if we could redirect, harness, conscionable a small spot of the problem-solving vigor and nonstop it towards solving problems similar cancer?"

That became the root communicative for Yoshimi's book, "Gaming Cancer."

"There's similar a philosophical statement astatine the halfway of the book," said Yoshimi. "It's precise simple. The much radical who enactment connected solving a problem, the much apt it is to beryllium solved. If we physique definite video games, we tin get much radical to lick these problems."

While Yoshimi's wife, Sandy, is steadfast today, the crab was not done with his family.

The illness besides affected some his sister-in-law and father-in-law. His household members were diagnosed with the unwellness portion helium was penning the book.

"It truly matters to beryllium alert of what's going connected successful your assemblage and what the chemotherapies are doing," said Yoshimi.

It took 12 years for the publication to scope its last form. Yoshimi collaborated with antithetic radical connected "Gaming Cancer," including those successful the gaming industry.

"It went done 12 reviewers," said Yoshimi. "Academic books spell done possibly 2 oregon 3 usually. But they were like, 'This is benignant of crazy. We privation to cheque and cheque again.'"

While it does dependable similar 2 improbable allies teaming up, video games and science, Yoshimi explains this thought tin level up the playing field.

"If you person an thought and you person immoderate clip to walk connected making beautiful, rich, immersive interfaces, possibly for first-person shooters oregon real-time strategies now, deliberation astir however you tin use that to a technological problem," said Yoshimi.

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