SuperBetter
I don't know how many of you are familiar with Jane McGonigal or her SuperBetter game, but I was hospitalized last week with a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis due to the PICC line in my arm, and when my friend sent me a video about Jane, it made me feel better.
This is the video that gives a short explanation about SuperBetter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZztLac0Q1EI
And this is the blog post that gives more info: http://blog.avantgame.com/2009/09/super-better-or-how-to-turn-recovery.html
Basically, it turns the struggle against a chronic illness or injury into a multi-player adventure game. The NIH is running clinical trials right now to measure the game's effectiveness as a treatment for mild traumatic brain injury, and there's some anecdotal evidence that it works. I thought I would share this here -- I've been a lifelong gamer, so this idea excites me, but I thought maybe it could be of interest to some of you too.
I'm also starting my own SuperBetter game - my Crohn's has been under control, but something screwy is happening with my immune system and I've just had infection after infection after infection for the last 2 years. Like crazy weird and serious infections, not just colds and sinus infections. For a year, I've been fighting a persistent case of osteomyelitis in my jaw, which has required 3 surgeries so far, IV antibiotics, and probably another surgery in a couple weeks. I kinda hit emotional rock bottom with all this, and this game gives me some measure of hope. If you're interested in reading about the experience, I'm blogging it at http://www.worldofhealthcraft.blogspot.com.
Anyway, I just thought this was a really awesome idea, and wanted to share it. :)
(xposted to curecrohns and autoimmune)
This is the video that gives a short explanation about SuperBetter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZztLac0Q1EI
And this is the blog post that gives more info: http://blog.avantgame.com/2009/09/super-better-or-how-to-turn-recovery.html
Basically, it turns the struggle against a chronic illness or injury into a multi-player adventure game. The NIH is running clinical trials right now to measure the game's effectiveness as a treatment for mild traumatic brain injury, and there's some anecdotal evidence that it works. I thought I would share this here -- I've been a lifelong gamer, so this idea excites me, but I thought maybe it could be of interest to some of you too.
I'm also starting my own SuperBetter game - my Crohn's has been under control, but something screwy is happening with my immune system and I've just had infection after infection after infection for the last 2 years. Like crazy weird and serious infections, not just colds and sinus infections. For a year, I've been fighting a persistent case of osteomyelitis in my jaw, which has required 3 surgeries so far, IV antibiotics, and probably another surgery in a couple weeks. I kinda hit emotional rock bottom with all this, and this game gives me some measure of hope. If you're interested in reading about the experience, I'm blogging it at http://www.worldofhealthcraft.blogspot.com.
Anyway, I just thought this was a really awesome idea, and wanted to share it. :)
(xposted to curecrohns and autoimmune)