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The case for getting grandma to play World of Warcraft

The online video game World of Warcraft is in the news again, this time for its potential to help boost certain cognitive skills--specifically spatial ability and focused attention--in older adults.

Researchers at North Carolina State University's Gains Through Gaming Lab tested the cognitive functions of 39 60- to 77-year-olds and then broke the study's participants into an experimental group, which played the MMORPG for 14 hours over a two-week period, and a control group, which did not play WoW at all.

It turns out that the adults who played WoW for two weeks improved their baseline scores, with … Read more

Green rating agencies fall short, report says

When it comes to grading companies on their sustainability, some leading organizations fall short as far as transparency and methodology. That's according to a white paper released this week by SustainAbility.com, an organization that is both a think tank and a consulting firm for corporations looking to improve green standings and sustainability practices.

SustainAbility.com issued a video Tuesday along with its report discussing how 21 of the leading eco-ratings organizations it investigated based on 13 criteria (see chart) appeared to be insufficiently evaluating the companies they target. Its partners include the United Nations Environment Programme and the … Read more

Questionable psychic test

MB Psychic Color Test allows users to test and develop their psychic abilities by trying to predict which color the program has selected from a group of colored rectangles. If ones assumes that psychic abilities do exist, we suppose that this program could be a useful tool, although it's hard to gauge whether the program actually works the way the publisher says it does.

The interface is simple, though cluttered with ads for the publisher, Mystic Board. Users select from beginner, intermediate, or expert levels, with the number of color choices increasing with the difficulty. The program displays a … Read more

Discover psychic powers

MB Psychic Test Software is a fun way for users to see if they have psychic abilities. While it takes a little time to understand, users will soon master this testing software.

The program's interface is initially a confusing collection of radio buttons and a single sharp image of an astrological card. Since the program gives you no direction and the Help file is fairly unhelpful, users need to experiment to get a taste for the program. Luckily, the Psychic Test Software soon proves to be a simple way to try your hand at predicting the future and should … Read more