I spotted this article on the Internet on the BBC Online site the other day. I've seen it written up or quoted in other locations, as well. It's exciting, and it makes sense. What it says, in a nutshell, is that using the Internet to access information is much more stimulating to the brain than simple reading. The brains tested were older adult brains, specifically looking for things that would provide greater stimulus to slow brain degeneration. I think, however, that the work is a forerunner that might point the way to developing brains of all ages more fully.

Certainly in this age of computer use, multitasking and cell phone ubiquity, we can see that we're ever more involved with things. What do we actually get from that? Can we handle things better, then? Are we delaying the slow-down that naturally happens as we get older? Can we develop better neural connections using this same information, in this same way, if we use it earlier?

For those adults already enmeshed in the virtual world, through work or hobby, the answer may be quite important. The way we work today makes use of many tools that we consider to be indispensable. Just five years ago, cell phones were only just becoming common. Ten years ago, many were getting their home computers set up, but home networks weren't all that common. Fifteen years ago, most of us didn't use email except at work.

So what about this Internet, and its stimulus of the adult brain? What can we get from that? The BBC article on the study pointed out that the use of the Internet required more involvement to get what was desired. Instead of leafing through a newspaper, people need to think and make decisions to get to what they want. The newspaper has what it has, but is not interactive. The media online has a much richer structure in terms of interaction.

And so do virtual worlds. The reason for Sun Microsystems' development of Project Wonderland was to facilitate the human interaction that was missing from their work force. They, who have at any one time some fifty percent of their employees working remotely, needed to have a way for them to interact more easily. As in the offices of yesteryear, when it was common to meet around the water cooler, stroll into someone's office to discuss a thought, or gather in the lunchroom to consider ideas, people can now use Wonderland to meet, greet, and exchange ideas.

Project Wonderland: It's a great place, a great concept, and it may be stimulating to your brain, as well!