- #1
anorlunda
Staff Emeritus
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This may be a bio question, but I'm not sure so I'm posting it in GD.
For the past 10-15 years, my interest in computer gaming centered on the solitaire game called "free cell". It's a great time waster. I've used several devices over the years. The game tracks my statistics. Once in a while, I peek at my statistics. I have several tens of thousands of games logged, but my success rate has been relatively stable over the years in the range 47% to 53%.
Last week, I won three games in a row so I glanced at the statistics. It said that my record for consecutive wins was 7 and the current win streak was 7. Wow. Since then, I haven't lost a game and my consecutive record now stands at 38. That's far to unlikely to be random chance, so something must be different. But what?
Here's my theory. Last week I played for the first time laying down in a hammock, using a tablet held about 20 cm from my face. I think those ergonomic factors somehow enhanced my ability to visualize several moves in advance and mentally evaluate alternative moves. I use a laptop while sitting and with more distance between screen and eyes. The subtended angle of the playing board is greater when using the tablet as I did.
A second factor is distractions. When I play while sitting I see the whole room. Sometimes, the TV is on while I play. The hammock+tablet setup is closer to a VR experience, because it reduces distractions. But that is also ergonomics.
A third theory is that this change happened at the same time I stopped being a PF mentor. 
What do you say? Might my speculations on ergonomics be valid? Have other people reported more board game success when using VR helmets? What about chess? What other theories should I consider to explain this abrupt change in win statistics?
For the past 10-15 years, my interest in computer gaming centered on the solitaire game called "free cell". It's a great time waster. I've used several devices over the years. The game tracks my statistics. Once in a while, I peek at my statistics. I have several tens of thousands of games logged, but my success rate has been relatively stable over the years in the range 47% to 53%.
Last week, I won three games in a row so I glanced at the statistics. It said that my record for consecutive wins was 7 and the current win streak was 7. Wow. Since then, I haven't lost a game and my consecutive record now stands at 38. That's far to unlikely to be random chance, so something must be different. But what?
Here's my theory. Last week I played for the first time laying down in a hammock, using a tablet held about 20 cm from my face. I think those ergonomic factors somehow enhanced my ability to visualize several moves in advance and mentally evaluate alternative moves. I use a laptop while sitting and with more distance between screen and eyes. The subtended angle of the playing board is greater when using the tablet as I did.
A second factor is distractions. When I play while sitting I see the whole room. Sometimes, the TV is on while I play. The hammock+tablet setup is closer to a VR experience, because it reduces distractions. But that is also ergonomics.
A third theory is that this change happened at the same time I stopped being a PF mentor. What do you say? Might my speculations on ergonomics be valid? Have other people reported more board game success when using VR helmets? What about chess? What other theories should I consider to explain this abrupt change in win statistics?
