Computer scientist Luis von Ahn, assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University, has been named one of "America's Young Innovators" by Smithsonian magazine.

The special edition, due out tomorrow, calls Dr. von Ahn "The Player," in reference to his development of games that allow players to accomplish useful tasks, such as making it easier for blind people to navigate the Web.

The distinction is one of several that recently have come to Dr. von Ahn, 29. Last year he was awarded a $500,000 MacArthur "genius" grant, and Popular Science magazine named him one of its "Brilliant 10."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.