'Sudoku improves skills and attitudes'
Saturday, August 4, 2007
A MALAYSIAN Sudoku expert and first-time author arrived in Brunei earlier in the week to spread his fascination of the Japanese number game -Sudoku- with his first book "Thinking out of the Block with Sudoku."
Jeff HS Keow, 64, came across Sudoku late 2005, when his wife and daughter were newly struck by the craze.
An avid user of 3X3 and 4X4 magic squares that he incorporates when he conducts management workshops, he was instantly "mesmerised" by the 9X9 Sudoku block.
Since then, he has practised daily with the game. At some point, he felt disappointed by the lack of guidance or references on the game from sources, like the Internet. "Most of the material online are vague tips and don't offer any solid formulae," he said in an exclusive interview with the Brunei Times.
"But there were some good articles in leading UK newspapers that I found, which educated their readers about Sudoku." This lack of Sudoku-related literatures and references drove Mr Keow to create an easy way for people to take up the puzzle's challenge.
Having read various tactics available at that time, Mr Keow later developed his own set of formulae, tools, and techniques. It is called the 'KHS Formula 3 Plus 2'.
"To solve the puzzles, people need to use analytical skills, and sound, logical reasoning without wild guessing," he explained.
In the maiden-publication by KHS Consultancy and Training, Mr Keow shares with other Sudoku enthusiasts his step-by-step solving methodology using three primary tools and two more secondary tools. They are designed to help solve even five-star puzzles.
"More extremely difficult puzzles also include an aspect of guessing, which the book doesn't cover," the principal consultant said.
"This is the first ever published Sudoku handbook and manual," the author added, proudly. It has been sold in Malaysia, Singapore and are now available in Brunei, through Best Eastern and Koperasi Universiti Brunei Darussalam Bhd.
According to Mr Keow, Sudoku is a puzzle for everybody, as it can develop and improve one's critical thinking and creativity. "Especially for the elderly, the mental exercise can delay diseases such as Alzheimer's," he said.
"Younger people, like students, can benefit from the puzzles as they can improve their overall attitude and attention span, increase their ability to focus, and gain self-confidence through the practice of patience and perseverance," he added.
He also suggested that through Sudoku, students could also acquire techniques and skills to pass examinations. The puzzle requires problem-solving skills. Aside from memory and method application, he said that "it can also be used to improve one's temperament as you need to be calm and cool while doing the puzzle".
"Think out of the Block with Sudoku is the mathematics book I've always wanted to write," Mr Keow said with a smile.
He started on the book in January 2006 and finished in June. It took another six months to edit it further, and iron out some kinks before it was printed in December 2006.
"The German Ambassador to Malaysia, Herbert D. Jess helped with the publication. He claimed that he could sleep better now," he added, suggesting that the intense concentration needed in the game has a powerful calming effect.
The Brunei Times
Jeff HS Keow, 64, came across Sudoku late 2005, when his wife and daughter were newly struck by the craze.
An avid user of 3X3 and 4X4 magic squares that he incorporates when he conducts management workshops, he was instantly "mesmerised" by the 9X9 Sudoku block.
Since then, he has practised daily with the game. At some point, he felt disappointed by the lack of guidance or references on the game from sources, like the Internet. "Most of the material online are vague tips and don't offer any solid formulae," he said in an exclusive interview with the Brunei Times.
"But there were some good articles in leading UK newspapers that I found, which educated their readers about Sudoku." This lack of Sudoku-related literatures and references drove Mr Keow to create an easy way for people to take up the puzzle's challenge.
Having read various tactics available at that time, Mr Keow later developed his own set of formulae, tools, and techniques. It is called the 'KHS Formula 3 Plus 2'.
"To solve the puzzles, people need to use analytical skills, and sound, logical reasoning without wild guessing," he explained.
In the maiden-publication by KHS Consultancy and Training, Mr Keow shares with other Sudoku enthusiasts his step-by-step solving methodology using three primary tools and two more secondary tools. They are designed to help solve even five-star puzzles.
"More extremely difficult puzzles also include an aspect of guessing, which the book doesn't cover," the principal consultant said.
"This is the first ever published Sudoku handbook and manual," the author added, proudly. It has been sold in Malaysia, Singapore and are now available in Brunei, through Best Eastern and Koperasi Universiti Brunei Darussalam Bhd.
According to Mr Keow, Sudoku is a puzzle for everybody, as it can develop and improve one's critical thinking and creativity. "Especially for the elderly, the mental exercise can delay diseases such as Alzheimer's," he said.
"Younger people, like students, can benefit from the puzzles as they can improve their overall attitude and attention span, increase their ability to focus, and gain self-confidence through the practice of patience and perseverance," he added.
He also suggested that through Sudoku, students could also acquire techniques and skills to pass examinations. The puzzle requires problem-solving skills. Aside from memory and method application, he said that "it can also be used to improve one's temperament as you need to be calm and cool while doing the puzzle".
"Think out of the Block with Sudoku is the mathematics book I've always wanted to write," Mr Keow said with a smile.
He started on the book in January 2006 and finished in June. It took another six months to edit it further, and iron out some kinks before it was printed in December 2006.
"The German Ambassador to Malaysia, Herbert D. Jess helped with the publication. He claimed that he could sleep better now," he added, suggesting that the intense concentration needed in the game has a powerful calming effect.
The Brunei Times
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