[GDN] Does Word Wanderer help someone learn and how?

[SA] Word Wanderer incorporates elements found in our own scientifically validated software programs: The Brain Fitness Program, InSight and DriveSharp.  We do not make any hard claims around the benefits in our online game offerings, as doing so would require expensive and rigorous clinical testing.  We’re very careful about making efficacy claims.  We suspect, however, that because Word Wanderer is built to adapt to your own personal threshold, repeat usage will result in an improvement at the task. You might compare the process to lifting weights. Imagine that you begin to lift ten-pound weights. At first, it seems difficult, or even impossible. But after a week or two, your arms grow stronger and lifting the weights becomes easier. Soon, it’s no trouble at all. At that point, you have to switch to heavier weights to build even stronger muscles. Similarly, in Word Wanderer you start with just 4 letter tiles. As your brain gets better at the task, you are challenged with additional letter tiles; at the highest level you must use 7 letters before time runs out.

[GDN] Is Word Wanderer really just a marketing tool to get people to buy into your memory enhancing software which costs upwards of $130?

[SA] Word Wanderer introduces people to Posit Science as well as to brain fitness as a new and emerging category. Our technology has been tested in over 30 clinical studies from institutions like the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins and shown a range of benefits from improved memory to lowered health care costs. Age related memory loss has unfortunately become an accepted part of life and we want to show people that when they engage in the right kinds of exercise the brain can maintain and even improve regardless of age!

[GDN] If not, then what is the real point of the game?

[SA] The point of the game is to have fun, learn something about brain health and consider how you plan to maintain or even improve your cognitive functions as you grow older.  Who doesn’t want to think faster, focus better or remember more?

GDN would like to thank Steven and everyone at Posit Science for their time. We look forward to further fun brain fitness games. This has been a recent trend in games only recently eclipsed by the music genre, but to date there are more than a dozen titles on major platforms that are aimed at helping you train your mind or body...and even your golf swing. Games are obviously a good teaching media and this trend is sure to continue as capabilities increase and the level of immersion in virtual worlds continues to expand.