Online gamers help analyse big-data science
Software games are intentionally fun. Not surprisingly, applying gaming principles to other activities such as education or training makes these fun too. The introduction of a gaming element makes participants want to be involved. One such activity is science. Gamer participation can assist scientists with complex analyses, sometimes being a necessary step towards fully automated analyses. Gaming also helps amplify public interest in science. Science tasks are usually embedded as minigames within a larger game world. Many involved in science and the gaming industry, plus the EU, recognise the potential for greater involvement of citizen science gamers. The EU-funded GAPARS project examined this crossover, how it might be better utilised, and the motivations of gamers and scientists. Researchers also developed guidelines and software tools that help make the partnership possible. The project demonstrated the potential of citizen science gamers contributing to science in this way. The gaming concept is applicable to many scientific problems, and GAPARS has been involved with several, including the Human Protein Atlas.
Searching for planets
GAPARS’ flagship small-scale experiment was Project Discovery Exoplanets. Exoplanets are those that orbit other stars. One method for detecting exoplanets involves noting tiny, regular changes to the stars’ brightness as planets pass in front of them. GAPARS researchers created a minigame for the Eve Online multiplayer role-playing world, whereby players identify and mark the dips in brightness. To date, online gamers have analysed 250 million possible signatures of exoplanets. The small-scale experiment became one of the most successful citizen science projects. “We are honoured that Emeritus Professor Michel Mayor, co-recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize for physics for the first discovery of an exoplanet, agreed to be part of our project,” says project coordinator Bernard Revaz. “I think the fact that a Nobel Laureate finds this project worthwhile sends a strong message to the gaming community.” However, not all scientific applications are suitable. Project researchers identified several criteria for achieving a good match.
Guidelines for science gaming
Firstly, the gaming task should have some beneficial real-world application. Tasks should also be seamlessly integrated into existing major video games, matching the game’s storyline and mechanics without breaking immersion. Researchers also determined that the task should take a consistent length of time to solve. Finally, gaming tasks are suited to very large scientific data sets requiring many repetitions. The project has received several awards from industry and academia. “We are proud that many people in the gaming industry know about our work and gave us positive feedback,” says Revaz. In addition to acknowledging the project’s achievements, the gaming industry has also challenged GAPARS to incorporate citizen science gaming into games of general appeal. Next, the project will further collaborate with its non-funded partners – McGill University (Canada) and Gearbox Software (United States) – to continue development of healthcare applications. Patients will share their personal information with large research projects. GAPARS developed the mandatory data privacy modules but also tools that help participants see how their information is used within the research project. Patients will feel they are contributing to a larger research issue, while also receiving high-quality education content. Thanks to GAPARS, citizen science gaming may have come of age. More applications will certainly follow, to the benefit of science and gaming.
Keywords
GAPARS, gaming, science, exoplanet, online gamers, citizen science, Human Protein Atlas, Project Discovery Exoplanets