So Very Dark

Yet again, I stolen someone else’s journal entry because I found it interesting.  This one comes courtesy of serio555, a very talented anime-style artist I watch on DA, who also happens to be a scientist.

“Supercomputing on a Shoestring?

Supercomputers are pretty useful – they spend their life humming away, consuming more energy than a small african country while they do calculations far too complex for inherently lazy humans (hey, we’re built to be efficient – i.e we’re lazy).

But supercomputers aren’t cheap, and as such the budget-conscious scientists (as if there’s any other kind) has now come up with an interesting alternative – videogame consoles. That’s right, the PS3 or Wii may now help cure not only boredom and loneliness, but also cancer and parkinsons.

It turns out that game consoles are really suited for computational modeling because the same kind of processing prowess and techniques used to render your 3-dimensional babe or stud down to every last freckle, wart, or butthair (OK, so we’re yet to see videogame character with butthairs, but you never know) is also applicable to simulating, say, the interaction between electrons.

One scientist is apparently stringing together 16 PS3s to model gravitational waves, and the other guys who pioneered this research field is now moving on to using NVidia graphic cards. There’s also another dude that’s using the Wii’s motion sensitive controller to monitor patients recovering from heart attacks or stroke. Real life usage of Guitar Hero skillz, however, are still yet to be investigated or published.

But the usage of videogame console, coupled with the inherent nerdiness or geekiness that exist in a lot of scientists, makes an interesting “what if”. What if we start using video games to train future scientists and doctors? They already found that students who are good at the Wii have better dexterity and thus makes better surgeons.

For example, a cross between medical school and Pokemon:

“You encounter colon cancer”
You: *consults Cancedex*
Cancedex: *in a robotic, machine voice*” Colon cancer: a type of cancer that resides in one’s large intestine. Attacks with inflammation, block, and perforation. It can also make your ass bleeds”
You: “Very well. 4-beta-hydroxybutyric anhydride! I CHOOSE YOU!!”

Okay, so that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue too well (plus, I made up that chemical so it won’t kill anything – other than possibly yourself), but I think the concept can be applied to a lot of situations.

Doctor: “So, what do we have here?”
Nurse: “blocked arteries, and possibly lung cancer”
Doctor: “Stats?”
Nurse: “Coronary heart disease 160 HP, 90 AP, and 70 DP. The lung cancer has 300 HP, 50 AP, and 100 DP. Should I start treatment with *****?”
Doctor: “No good. this guy’s a smoker, which gives +50 defense and +20 speed to both cancer-types and heart attacks. He’ll be dead in less than 3 turns if we don’t operate. Give me my +10 ‘Scalpel of Ultimate L33tness’!”

Doctor: “Oh, and don’t forget my coat, make sure it’s the one with the +20 antibacterial and +30 anti-crease.”

“

Since resolutions so often fail, I decided to make mine something minorly important and see if I could keep them, then maybe try something a little more worthwhile next year.

My resolutions were:

Keep at least stud earrings in my ears so that the holes don’t get halfway closed and cause me difficulties when DO try to put in earrings.

When I wear makeup, wash my face throughly and moisturize before going to bed.

It is currently mid-February, a month and a half past the new year.

I have two empty holes at the bottom of my ears and I am wearing yesterday’s makeup.

Good think I didn’t resolve not to loose a limb!