Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2007):

Modeling infectious diseases dissemination through online role-playing games.

Full Abstract

As mathematical modeling of infectious diseases becomes increasingly important for developing public health policies, a novel platform for such studies might be considered. Millions of people worldwide play interactive online role-playing games, forming complex and rich networks among their virtual characters. An unexpected outbreak of an infective communicable disease (unplanned by the game creators) recently occurred in this virtual world. This outbreak holds surprising similarities to real-world epidemics. It is possible that these virtual environments could serve as a platform for studying the dissemination of infectious diseases, and as a testing ground for novel interventions to control emerging communicable diseases.

Learn Faster Today      Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Balicer, Ran D (RD);

Affiliation: Epidemiology Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. rbalicer(-atsign-)netvision.net.il

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) (Epidemiology), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 18 (issue 2) : pp 260-1

Dates: Created 2007/02/15; Completed 2007/03/22;

PMID: 17301707, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Animals, Domestic Communicable Diseases, Emerging - epidemiology; transmission Computer Simulation Disease Outbreaks Humans

Internet Models, Theoretical User-Computer Interface Video Games World Health Zoonoses - epidemiology

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Further interest in virtual game worlds. 29 Sep 2007
• [Are virtual worlds a threat to the mental health of children and adolescents?] 30 Jan 2000
• Teaching neuroscience through Web adventures: adolescents reconstruct the history and science of opioids. 30 Jan 2002
• Media violence: advice for parents. 30 Oct 2002
• The games psychologists play (and the data they provide). 29 Apr 2003
• Anxiety and presence during VR immersion: a comparative study of the reactions of phobic and non-phobic participants in therapeutic virtual environments derived from computer games. 29 Sep 2003
• Net-generation attributes and seductive properties of the internet as predictors of online activities and internet addiction. 30 May 2004
• Virtual reality and haptics as a training device for movement rehabilitation after stroke: a single-case study. 30 Jul 2004
• Online data collection from video game players: methodological issues. 29 Sep 2004
• [Identity and dissociation in cyberspace. A case of dissociative identity disorder associated with internet role playing] 30 Dec 2005

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.