“e-Games” is my spur-of-the-moment expression. Perhaps “video game” is what was really meant. Anyway, I found a set of fun cognitive games at Lumosity, a site developed by San Francisco-based Lumos Labs, to sharpen your cognitive skills.
Flash-based games like Monster Garden flash images of childish monsters on the screen, after which you create a path for the little girl to follow to a garden plant. Then there’s Word Bubbles, a game in which you must create as many real words as you can think of that begin with a given 3-letter combination, while a buzzer ticks down to zero.
Each of the games at Lumosity exercise one or more cognitive abilities simultaneously. The system keeps score during the game, and calculates a Brain Performance Index (BPI) score. As you improve with each game, the games become gradually more challenging. The system keeps track of your progress over multiple sessions using charts to help you see your own mental improvement over time.
Lumosity’s program begins with the basic course, a set of games that exercise each cognitive skill in the system. After completing the basics, you can sign up for any of the advanced courses, such as Speed Boost, Memory Boost, Basic Training: High School Version (with SAT/ACT prep exercises), and Advanced Attention Training (currently in development, targeting symptoms of ADD).
At first glance, Lumosity’s site is simple to navigate and friendly for any user. Users sign up for monthly or annual membership, but there is a 7-day free trial.
Overall, the games are fun, engaging, and inspirational for any e-learning developer.
