For decades, I designed many video games, and even dozens of slot machines. Recognizably both being linked to our model of addiction, and there is good reason, we try to make them addicting. But is this an insight into how we learn in the first place?
It didn’t happen in a lab, it happened in an arcade. The original arcade video games were the ‘first contact’ between humans and machine learning on a mass scale.
There is a pattern to twitch games, i.e. Action, Driving/flying or Racing, Shooter & FPS games, and, we also know games fall into two basic categories: Active or Passive.
Do you go out and explore (passive), or do you need to constantly defend yourself (active)?
Almost all arcade games fall into these categories and are clearly active (we make money when you want to learn or experience more). You have n seconds to both understand the rules, and to survive (the ‘push’). as time is money, that forces us (game designers) to find the absolute fastest loop possible, while meeting your requirements. One might think that would be for you to have fun. But, while that is ‘nice,’ all we care about is that you are engaged, and want more of whatever is happening. Facebook is a game, and usually, it is not fun, but wow, are people addicted to that bottomless loop (‘deathscrolling’)†.
You’re given an intense problem, but you are also given several chances to fail, and then … a rest period. During that period (which might be as little as 3 seconds, but usually more like 10 seconds) while the game resets, your mind is replaying what just happened. It is focused | unrelenting | ‘learning.’ For slot machines, 8 seconds is a nice frequency for this ‘loop and bet.’
‘What is the best frequency for sex? About 2hz’ — annon
At first, it might be simply the act of learning (controlling) the avatar or vehicle in the first place (e.g. Pole Position).
The hook (or addiction) happens because every time you learn how to deal with a given problem, you’re presented with a new problem (carefully metered out). At the start, your reward is the instant feedback loop of learning. Over time this will calm to a reward of simply a high score for not making mistakes (its own form of addiction, you OCD ‘A+ seekers’ out there).
We humans like to think we learn when we consciously make a connection. But that… is the anomaly.
That is the coincidence of being mindful of what you are doing at the same time your brain does its banal job of building itself— normally hidden from you. The two do not have to happen at the same time, or even near the same time for ‘learning’ to happen. you just need to soak in your own mental juices.
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. — Jung
More so, one does not need to stand witness (be mindful or conscious of the connection) at all to have made the connection.
All that matters is that the brain itself ‘conclude’ something is worthy, and strengthen the right neurons, thus storage of a process, or memory. ‘Retrieval’ is also an act of storage, the more you pull the same box off the shelf, the easier it gets, and the stronger the neurons/connections become (and even those around it, or connected to it). Almost like the brain moves the box lower, easier to access.
This frees you up to solve something else.
Ah, you’re bored? One moment, we will find someone to try to kill you in T minus 3,2,1…
We humans are not just lazy, our brain is designed to be lazy. Or said in the more formal way ‘conservation of energy.’ It needs to be lazy.
Stubborn people are actually just conserving energy. ‘Change’ always takes energy. We must first convince a person that the expense of energy pays off in the long run.
Work harder today, relax longer tomorrow
In the past few decades we have approached this knowledge from two key directions:
- We’re asking (testing) humans to find out how their memory works.
- We’re building machines that act like humans (which starts with memory).
They appear to be converging on the same model quickly.
But, what’s going on?
Here is a quirky little video that never-the-less does a good job of summing it up.
During intense brainstorming sessions, it is common for those that know the tricks to know to stop… and let it soak. Go for a walk, take a break. Not because one is tired, as in the physical world we learn we get results by not stopping but pushing through. But in the world of the ‘productivity of the mind,’ it needs time to rest, which in fact is time to work without you (the conscious you) hoarding all the energy (you are not alone in your mind).
But more precisely, it appears our human mind and the mind of Artificial Intelligence (machine learning, deep learning) are more akin to one another. Simulations and tests are being run. Your mind is still playing the game.
How realistic your model (simulation) is might dictate how quickly or accurately your results are set.
Footnotes
† Facebook: I closed my account many years ago when I realised I was addicted. There is an old saying in Poker ‘if you don’t know who the sucker is, it’s you.’ This makes it seem like I’m blaming FB, I’m not. Rather, I looked into myself to ask what the actual value was to me, and to my circle of friends. I’d rather ‘give’ my limited time to a few really great friends than have an audience.
‡ Thumb: One of the highest compliments an action game designer can give another designer is ‘you give great thumb.’ It means the player simply can’t stop, they are fully in, addicted.
Worth reading The Power of Habit = Charles Duhigg (a rare book a non-scientist wrote that was worthwhile on the topic of science). The New York Times entitled it ‘How Companies Learn Your Secrets.’
Thank you Noah Falstein for bringing my attention to this research. Sure, anyone can post a link to an article, but it was Noah’s background that sparked my urge to connect the dots.
Did you learn something reading this? Did I make you think about something in a different way? Then give this a clap. Otherwise, rest on it, then come back and give it a clap.
