When game designer Jane McGonigal found herself bedridden and suicidal following a severe concussion, she had a fascinating idea for how to get better. She dove into the scientific research and created the healing game, SuperBetter. In this moving talk, McGonigal explains how a game can boost resilience — and promises to add 7.5 minutes to your life.
I just watched this talk and immediately wanted to share it with everyone here. It is good one. Jane does not get to the part about her brain injury until about halfway through but watch the whole talk. It is only 19 minutes long.
The game she created is SuperBetter. Right after you sign up, the game has you do the four exercises she has everyone do in the talk. Then it gets into setting up the game. There are “Power Packs” which “jumpstarts your game with quests, Bad Guys, and power-ups designed specifically for your challenge.”
I love the list of Bad Guys for the challenge of healing from a TBI! It includes things like Balance Problems, Sensitivity to Light, Sensitivity to Noise, etc.
Check out SuperBetter and let me know what you think by commenting here.
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I am Emerson Jane Browne. I write about Brains, Apps, & Productivity, and many other aspects of Life. I speak to TBI support groups, speak and teach workshops at tech, music, and writer conferences. I consult with organizations on strategic planning and building a strong community.
