First Example: Scientists created a computer game called "Planet Hunter" that allowed players to search targeted areas of the night sky - specifically the stars in them. Those stars had varying luminosity, and when that dipped, it could signal a plant crossing in front. In their first year, hunters found two planets, and got the titled "Planet Hunter!"
Second Example: Someone came up with an app called "Ghost Hunter" that drove people around to different locations in their neighborhood seeking ghosts. The people would capture a ghost after finding it, and it would upload a photo of the location. The article suggested this could be used for creating crowd-sourced 3D maps, for example.
Third Example: Fitocracy has an app that allows you to track your workout. But the catch is that it also links to your friends and gives you a level based on the time and activity you complete. So you get the satisfaction of leveling up, and the thrill of competing with your friends. In this case, you're data-mining on yourself!
In the first case, they are using our love of games to get us to do menial tasks we wouldn't do if you paid us. In the second, they are directing your activity by rewarding behaviors that over time provide detailed information about a certain topic.
What other kinds of things could you push by making it into a game? Open-source coding efforts? Electronic filing? Neighborhood beautification? Organizing tourist movement at a tourist location? Reducing traffic congestion? Getting people to live a greener lifestyle? Eating right? Balancing their household expenditures? Basically, this comes down to another way you can translate a person's need for entertainment into a positive action for whoever sets it up.
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