Sunday, August 01, 2004
Tetris at 80 mph
When I was in college I played the simple but addictive computer game "Tetris" alot. You know--it's the one w/ the falling odd-shaped blocks which you have to rotate quickly so they fit into the rows at the bottom of the screen in as compact a manner as possible when they land.
I don't play it or its successors very much any more--too addictive!--though I do have a clone on my Palm for use in emergencies. But I've figured out that the Tetris skills honed 15+ years ago are actually coming in quite handy out here in San Diego.
IMO, driving on a 6-lane freeway at 80 mph is very similar to playing a fast-paced game of Tetris, except it's in 3 dimensions. And the stakes are a lot higher. But the visualization skills needed are very similar.
Certainly not anything I needed when living in Minnesota!
I don't play it or its successors very much any more--too addictive!--though I do have a clone on my Palm for use in emergencies.
IMO, driving on a 6-lane freeway at 80 mph is very similar to playing a fast-paced game of Tetris, except it's in 3 dimensions. And the stakes are a lot higher. But the visualization skills needed are very similar.
Certainly not anything I needed when living in Minnesota!
