Online Gamers Crack AIDS Enzyme Puzzle

[Lejuan]

I wish I was smart enough to understand all of this, but it sounds awesome:

https://www.theage.com.au/digital-l...-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-20110919-1kgq2.html

 

[Something Sexy]

That is pretty cool and could have so many other uses. If someone can figure out a way to turn any type of real world problem into a game, someone is gonna figure it out.

 

[karamazov80]

I saw that program showcased on PBS awhile back. Brilliant idea.

 

[Shropt]

So what did the gamers actually do? Is this like the other folding programs where they just use the combined CPU or did the gamers actually do something?

 

[Something Sexy]

To me, it sounds like they created a program that turned the problem into a game and then the gamers figured it out. At least that is what I got out of reading it.

 

[user 1190]

To me, it sounds like they created a program that turned the problem into a game and then the gamers figured it out. At least that is what I got out of reading it.

Yeah they created a game that allows gamers to help solve real life puzzles/problems. This is just one for the puzzles created.

 

[Lejuan]

This link talks about how the game has gamers 'decode' or 'unravel' complex protein structures so scientists can then develop drugs to most effectively target these proteins. Like I said, I'm not too smart on things like this, but it sounds to me like the gamers help translate 3D structures from 2D images.

So the proteins/amino acids are photographed or otherwise illustrated, and they look like spaghetti. Gamers then take this image and work out what the 3D structure might be like, and once scientists know this they can develop drugs that 'plug into' that structure and make treatment of various diseases possible.

To my basic understanding it sounds very exciting, and could open the door to a whole bunch of problems that can be tackled via co-operative and competitive gaming.

 

[The Craw]

Sweet!!

D&D Nerds...............1

Medical Nerds..........0

 

[Shropt]

I think the article may be giving the gamers too much credit. Can you create a puzzle for a game that you don't know the answer to?

I think this is simply one of those folding programs where they use the CPU power of your system to essentially create a super computer.

 

[karamazov80]

No, the gamers actually have to use their own ingenuity and intuition to try to solve those puzzles in a more efficient way than computers could do alone, though the hope is that the findings here can eventually be fed back into automated computer programs:

We’re collecting data to find out if humans' pattern-recognition and puzzle-solving abilities make them more efficient than existing computer programs at pattern-folding tasks. If this turns out to be true, we can then teach human strategies to computers and fold proteins faster than ever!

https://fold.it/portal/info/science

 

[intothevoid]

Very very cool

I also understood this to be a lot more involved than just using the computing power of consoles to make a supercomputer.

 

[Shropt]

Very very cool

I also understood this to be a lot more involved than just using the computing power of consoles to make a supercomputer.

Yeah, that is cool.

 

[fuzzylojiks]

Very interesting, makes sense since many gamers are some of the best puzzle solvers combined with a great spacial awareness as many games are in 3D.

Now all the drug companies need to do is set this up as an online game and they are set.

I think gamers have a unique skillset that could be used for many things including testing of experimental aircraft, unique architectural problems etc.

 

[316what]

This sounds like Episode 1 of Stargate: Universe.