Project: Evo by Akili is a Clinical Mobile Game

Akili is a professional team of scientists and medical experts dedicated to breaking new ground in electronic medicine. “Akili functions on the premise that advances in neuroscience research and consumer-facing technology are enabling a new way to sensitively measure neural function, and intervene in any measured deficits” states the Akili website. Their currently in-development platform will be able to conform to the user’s own abilities and will also allow physicians to track progress and health of their patients.

In early stages, users focus on red obstacles and ignore others.

Project: Evo is a mobile game designed to exercise patients’ cognitive functions. Since its inception several months ago, the game has garnered several million dollars’ worth of funding from multiple backers, including Puretech, which co-founded Akili. In the game, users attempt to prioritize which elements of the game require their focus and phase out those that do not. Later levels present more choices and faster pace, leading the patient through an increasingly stimulating therapeutic experience. However, Project: Evo is far from an overnight solution. The Autism Speaks website says “It will be years before clinical trials prove whether the game actually works. If it does, it may prove to be an anomoly in the cognitive training software market.”

Autism Speaks is one of several partnerships supporting Akili’s efforts. Also check out Extra Life.

Akili has several partnerships with other medical and educational institutions, including Autism Speaks, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Shire Pharmaceuticals, and the National Institute of Mental Health. The Project: Evo team will present the results of an 80-patient study at a medical conference in San Antonio on October 28.

Matt Eschbach

Matt Eschbach is a PC, Mac and Android indie game developer and fiction writer. His works have won multiple monetary awards from various contests. Graduating college in 2012 with a major in Game Design, Matt spends his time making stuff up and then building it. His favorite hobby… is sleeping.