The text provided is a transcript of a dialogue from a podcast episode. The speaker discusses the impact of the mobile game Pokémon Go, particularly its influence on physical activity and its potential role in causing traffic accidents due to distracted driving.
The speaker begins by noting that Pokémon Go has generated billions of dollars and has been downloaded over 752 million times, with 65 million players still using the game at least once a month. Despite the game's popularity, the speaker also acknowledges the negative aspects, such as the number of accidents associated with the game.
The speaker then presents data from a study conducted by researchers at Purdue University, which found an increase in traffic accidents in the 148 days after Pokémon Go was launched. The study compared accidents around Pokémon Go stops to accidents around gyms, concluding that Pokémon Go stops were associated with more traffic accidents.
The speaker calculates that Pokémon Go has caused around 170,000 traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2016, resulting in around 182 deaths from car accidents. However, the speaker notes that the number of accidents caused by Pokémon Go decreased by 20% in 2017, resulting in an additional 28,000 traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2017.
The speaker then discusses the potential health benefits of Pokémon Go. According to the U.S. Department of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, physical inactivity kills 5.3 million people worldwide every year. The speaker calculates that the additional steps taken by Pokémon Go players could potentially extend human life by around 1,725,000 days, or around 47.7 years.
In conclusion, the speaker suggests that while Pokémon Go has caused a significant number of traffic accidents, it has also led to increased physical activity, potentially saving a significant number of lives. The speaker also mentions the possibility of pre-ordering merchandise related to the podcast, including hoodies, t-shirts, and socks.
Here are some possible facts extracted from the text:
1. Pokemon Go is a mobile app that allows users to catch virtual creatures in augmented reality.
2. Pokemon Go has been downloaded 752 million times and has earned 1.2 billion dollars since its launch in 2016.
3. Pokemon Go has been associated with at least eight deaths and hundreds of injuries due to distracted driving, walking into traffic, or trespassing.
4. Pokemon Go has also encouraged users to walk more, resulting in an estimated 629,762 extra days of human life.
5. A study by Purdue University found that Pokemon Go caused an additional 134 accidents in one county in Indiana in the first five months after its launch.
6. A study by Microsoft Research found that Pokemon Go players walked an additional 1,473 steps per day on average while they played.
7. Game Theory is a YouTube channel that analyzes video games and their implications using math and science.
8. Game Theory released a limited edition hoodie that sold out in less than 24 hours and is now available for pre-order again for one week only.
9. Game Theory also sells t-shirts, socks, and mysterious gold coins that will be valuable later this year.