sudoku, puzzles, games

Sean Brown asked:




Here are just a few unorthodox yet immediate ways to activate your brain and engage your mind.

1. RA’K up the IQ points with a DVORAK keyboard!

No, that’s not the noise your cat makes when it’s choking on a hairball, it’s a type of keyboard! The standard typeset is QWERTY, which came into standardization with the invention of the first typewriters*. QWERTY is an arrangement of keys that was actually designed to slow typists down! This was because typewriters were notoriously feckless and often broke down or seized up due to people simply typing too fast. So, in an ironic twist of fate the most popular typeset is in fact the most inefficient one! Which brings us back to DVORAK which is thought to be the most efficient typeset. In fact, for every mile that your fingers travel on a DVORAK keyboard, they’d have traveled 4 miles on a standard QWERTY keyboard! By learning something new and alien you’re engaging the parts of your mind that deal with language and logic. You will also be forced to utilize your memory as you begin to learn where the keys are and the fastest paths to them. In short, a great mental work out- learn to type faster AND increase your intelligence while doing so.

* Note: “Typewriter” is the longest word you can make using only letters from the top run of your keyboard

2. Cubic Cognitive Comprehension

The most misspelled* puzzle in history, the Rubik’s Cube was invented in the 70’s by a Hungarian architect and is said to be the most sold toy in the world! It’s also one of the best for pushing your gray matter into action. You’re bound to know someone who has one stored away in a dusty, old box in the attic marked “70’s” along with the Greece soundtrack on vinyl and a pair of green flares. If not, pick one up at your local toy store for pennies and get shuffling. The brain bending puzzle takes a long time to complete and is all about pattern recognition and sequence memorization. Hours of puzzling fun!

* Note: Misspelled is one of the most misspelled words in the English language!

3. Sodiku.. Sodak..Sudako..Sod it!

The word sudoku derives from the Japanese phrase “Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru” which means “the numbers must be single” or “the numbers must occur only once”. That doesn’t stop me from spelling it wrong every time I try. Sudoku is a great and popular puzzle because the rules are so simple yet the methods to solve it can be extraordinarily difficult. Sudokus range from easy to fiendishly hard and there are many different kinds to try out once you get bored of the standard version so you’ll never run short of logical, brain engrossing material.

*Note: You can actually buy Sudoku themed Rubik’s cubes, so you can kill two birds with one stone!

4. Juggle your way to smarts

The left hemisphere of your brain controls your right hand and the right hemisphere of your brain controls your left hand. This means that by using your less dominant hand you are stimulating the opposite and lesser used half of your brain. This is a common phenomena which explains why ambidextrous people are often very intelligent. Taking up juggling is not only a good way to show off to your friends but it will wake up different parts of your mind and all you need is a few apples or oranges!

Tyler