Sea Hero Quest

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Sea Hero Quest cover

Sea Hero Quest is a mobile game developed as a novel approach to scientific research, specifically targeting the understanding of human navigation and spatial memory. The game was designed to help researchers understand how people navigate space, which is a key component in diagnosing and understanding neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. By playing the game, users contribute data that can be used by scientists to gain insights into the cognitive markers of navigational skills and how these may correlate with genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's.

Development and Purpose

The game was developed through a collaboration between Deutsche Telekom, scientists from University College London and the University of East Anglia, and game developers at Glitchers. Launched in May 2016, Sea Hero Quest was designed not only to be entertaining but also to contribute to important scientific research. The developers aimed to create a global benchmark for human spatial navigation, a critical aspect of cognitive health.

Gameplay

In Sea Hero Quest, players take on the role of a sea explorer navigating a boat through various mazes and challenges. The game consists of several levels, each designed to test different aspects of navigational skills and spatial memory. Players are tasked with finding checkpoints, memorizing maps, and navigating through mazes, all while racing against the clock. The data collected from players' gameplay is anonymized and used for scientific research to better understand navigational skills and spatial orientation.

Scientific Impact

The data collected from Sea Hero Quest has been invaluable for researchers studying the human brain's navigation capabilities. Within its first year, the game was played by over 4 million people, providing a dataset vastly larger than what traditional research methods could achieve. This large dataset allows scientists to analyze navigational abilities across different ages, genders, and countries, offering insights into how these abilities decline with age or differ across populations.

One significant finding from the game's data is the identification of navigational strategies and how they vary among individuals. This research has implications for early diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, as changes in navigational skills can be an early indicator of cognitive decline.

Conclusion

Sea Hero Quest represents a pioneering approach to scientific research, leveraging the widespread appeal of mobile gaming to gather data on a scale previously unattainable. Its success demonstrates the potential of using games for scientific research, particularly in the field of cognitive science and neurodegenerative diseases. By participating in the game, players contribute to a growing body of research that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease.