Game with a Purpose

Imagine if someone invented a computer game with all the time-sucking appeal of Tetris and none of the guilt. David Salesin, PhD ’91, a computer scientist at the University of Washington, and his colleagues have done just that. The cross-platform game, called Foldit, presents players with cartoon squiggles that represent proteins, the cellular workhorses that make life possible. The goal is to pull, twist, shake and wiggle the proteins into their optimal configuration. Individuals and teams rack up points for being the fastest and most efficient folders. The notion of tapping into people’s collective intelligence to solve difficult problems in science isn’t new. Humans tend to be far better than computers at solving visual puzzles, and the competitive aspect of the game is a strong motivator. Eventually, Salesin and his team plan to add the ability to design brand new proteins to the game. So while you’re whiling away the workday, you could be helping design a cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s or HIV.