Gaming Technology in the Real World

Tom Cruise was my first thought when Microsoft announced Project Natal.

Motion sensing technology? For your whole body? Of course I wanted one of the computers Tom used in Minority Report, which he manipulated with his hands, a kind of futuristic touch screen on steroids.

All hopeful imaginings aside, though, real-world applications of gaming technology aren’t so far-fetched. In fact, next-gen consoles have already exerted their power on other parts of our culture, and we’ll only see more of their influence in years to come, whether it’s a Minority Report screen powered by Natal technology or otherwise.

Disney World on the DS

The next time you visit Disney World, a Nintendo handheld could become your best friend.

Called the “Disney Magic Connection,” this idea allows attendees to rent modified Nintendo DS Lites while visiting Disney World. The little handhelds sport an interactive map, the ability to reserve FastPass tickets and the quickest routes to every ride, as well as how long the lines are.

But why stop with Disney World? What about art galleries, train stations or airports? The everyday uses are endless, and DS’s are already put to such use in some Japanese museums, acting as interactive tour guides. Now that Nintendo has captured a whole slew of casual gamers, the plan is to branch out into more practical areas beyond your daily shoot’em up or beat’em up titles.

Whoever said video games weren’t useful?

Modeling Human Biology

Using the powerful Graphic Processing Units (GPU’s) behind video games, we can now see 3D models of the immune system battling tuberculosis, which is almost as exciting as seeing Kratos tear apart mythological beasts.

Researchers at Michigan Technological University are aiming to illustrate various models like this one using game technology. But without gamers to drive that technology forward throughout all the industry’s years, this never would’ve happened. So pat yourselves on the back. You’ve contributed to science.

It’s nearly impossible to get hold of a multimillion dollar supercomputer these days, and GPU’s do an even better job running these models than their gigantic counterparts. That means yes, playing your PC games really is that hardcore.

The PS3 Supercomputer

Folks at Stanford University have (miraculously) put the PS3 to good use, and yes, it’s more than a glorified paperweight.

If you own a PS3, you’ve probably seen the Folding@home (FAH) icon on your main menu and know all about it. But for all the non-PS3 owners among us, FAH is, in a rather big nutshell, a project that uses a massive network of PS3’s to study the folding of proteins.

Whenever the PS3 is idle, it performs lightning fast calculations, sending the info via Internet back to Stanford University. With hundreds of thousands of PS3’s contributing to the research, the computing power easily exceeds that of a supercomputer.

Sound nifty? It is, as this research could potentially lead to cures for Alzheimer’s Disease and certain types of cancer.

Final Thoughts

Given that people have already applied gaming technology in other areas, it’s reasonable to assume the technology of Project Natal or the Wii will find its way into public use. In reality, those Minority Report touch screens might not be far off.

Video games also have lots of educational applications, from medicine to the military. Just know that there are far too many to mention here.

In all, it looks like a bright future for video game tech.