Meet Dr. Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, a celebrated technologist and scientist with an extensive three-decade career in Silicon Valley. As the VP of R&D and ML at Analog Inference, Dr. Yasantha is a leading authority in Artificial Intelligence, renowned for his innovative contributions that have culminated in 130 patents. More recently, he has partnered with the Taiwanese semiconductor chip giant to research and develop Artificial Intelligence chips and algorithms, including using AI techniques for cancer detection. On its merit, he has personal algorithms that can detect lung cancer with over 95% accuracy, and they have reached the top 10 in the world in terms of public dataset accuracy. His achievements were recognized in 2022 with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sri Lanka Foundation.
A brilliant mathematician, Dr. Yasantha has adeptly transferred his expertise in optimizing space and time into the world of board games. His latest invention, Vediic, is a captivating board game that merges strategic play with the mystique of ancient wisdom, guided by the movements of wandering planets. Designed for family enjoyment and competitive play, Vediic challenges participants to compete, cooperate, and ascend in a dynamically strategic cosmic setting.
Dr. Yasantha Rajakarunanayake developed the board game Vediic as an alternative to the prevalent materialistic focus of modern Western games and sports that emphasize the relentless pursuit of wealth and glory. Inspired by Eastern philosophies, elements of Buddhism, and his Sri Lankan heritage, Dr. Yasantha aimed to create a game that elegantly balances materialism and spirituality. This balance is encapsulated in the traditional Indian practices of Pooja (offerings) and Dana (charity), which are also cherished in Sri Lankan culture, promoting the betterment of all participants.
Vediic transcends traditional game objectives by encouraging players to donate their accumulated resources. This act of charity moves players toward spiritual victory by earning enlightenment points. It benefits all players, embodying the idea of improving collective welfare—a reflection of the real-life journey towards enlightenment. Vediic also integrates the concept of spiritual ascension. It draws inspiration from the Buddhist state of Sotapanna (known as Sovan in Sinhala), which symbolizes the first stage of enlightenment. In Vediic, players strive to elevate their pawns to this exalted state, achieving a harmonious balance between material gains and spiritual merits.
The game teaches a vital lesson for modern youth: the importance of caring for the environment and each other while pursuing personal ambitions. This message is crucial in a world where young people must navigate the pressures of individual achievement and collective well-being.
Dr. Yasantha Rajakarunanayake’s captivating new board game, Vediic, will debut on Amazon in September 2024. In the meantime, you can support Vediic’s Kickstarter campaign and be a part of its journey.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1940758579/vediic-cosmic-strategy-game
