We're finishing with our section on surveillance and privacy in the age of technology and moving on to.....(drum roll)....video games and game-like environments. We'll be talking about how games affect people, what the implications of such environments are for self-representation, and more. To begin, read this article from CNN. It blows me away...Can you think of the positive and negative benefits of this kind of technology? Is this the end of the world or the best thing since sliced bread? Explain in a comment.
Is that the world's biggest cat or what? Bet you can't beat his best score on Galaga.
16 comments:
The positive benefits of this technology are obviously the impact it can have on focus, especially in individuals with disabilities. Another thing I found fascinating was how it could help paralyzed individuals move around in a virtual location, which would enable them a mode of communication that has never before been attempted. The negatives are that it may encourage violence, which is something we're all probably tired of hearing about when it comes to video games such as Grand Theft Auto. But by letting the user know how calm they are in a given situation, they are almost suggesting that they could carry out the action in real life. In the rights hands, this kind of technology could easily be beneficial to a large part of the population, whether to improve mental capacity (thus warding off Alzheimers), helping those with disabilities (like ADD or paralysis) or simply providing entertainment that can be educational. In the wrong hands, it can almost become like the telescreens in 1984, sensing when someone is not focusing or having thoughts that are not desireable to the controller of the technology.
I think, like all things, this kind of technology has positives and negatives. I would say that the small amounts of technology that they have now (such as the darth vader game) may not do much on the market. Unless hospitals and scientists have made a request for such activities, it will be awhile before they think about possibly studying the affects of such toys on therapy. However, the "more sophisticated" games, sound very neat, and I think would sell. The biggest problem I see is that it doesn't solve the problem of kids becoming less active. Instead of improving coordination (like some video games do now) the gamer will move even less. However, could it be possible that this could make gamers more intelligent in certain areas? Maybe even better students (that is if they care to use their attention on school work)? I am not into video games, so as far as what the market of gamers want, I haven't a clue. I do think they're right though, a lot will depend on how they present their inventions to different target audiences. I don't think they can target gamers and the health field all at once. One audience will be skeptical because of the other...they will need to make the toys for the 2 markets look and appear different. This kind of technology could be great in the mental health field...as long as it is used apropriately and, and catsagain stated, doesn't turn into a "big brother" type system for anyone. I'm trying to think if this kind of technology could somehow benefit the criminal justice system? (of course in the wrong hands...)
Well we all can state the obvious negative outcomes of this kind of technology. Our kids will want to do nothing but sit around inside and play with these amazing technologies, instead of being outside or doing something productive. I mean as far as playing these games, the technology is great. This will make the video games more lifelike and just out of this world. The thought that one day someone might be able to control a character in a video game with nothing but their thoughts is amazing. Also later in the article they stated that eventually they will be using this technology clinically. I think they said it could help paralyzed people "move" in virtual worlds or help people with OCD measure their level of OCD and alter their medicine based on that. Really I don't see too much wrong with this breakthrough, there's really no major way to abuse this.
This is definitely the best thing since sliced bread. I hate video games because my hand-eye coordination is absolutely terrible. I am really good at concentrating and remaining focused though. I would totally kick ass at those kinds of games!
Other than being able to beat my brother at video games for once, there are other positive benefits of this technology. It's like the article stated, these games could increase our mental focus abilities and help kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder gain better focusing skills.
But I can think of a few negative benefits as well. The article used Grand Theft Auto as an example for concentration. If a player overcomes nervousness and remains call and collected, they'll have better aim. This seems to be teaching children to feel calm and cool when operating a gun...
Even though this game has some negative benefits, I still think the concept is amazing. It's the first step towards telepathy!!!!
Wow! The first thing I thought of when reading this article is how close today's technology is getting to telekinesis. I never would have thought that the ability to detect brain waves indicating smiles, blinks, laughter, even conscious thoughts and unconscious emotions would be in our time.
This technology would be helpful in working with people with behavioral and anxiety disorders. Not only people with disabilities, but anyone trying to improve her focus would benefit from this technology. It is also making computer games more educational, instead of a hand-eye coordination skill to be polished. It is supposedly able to improve cognitive ability as well. The makers already targeting video game users are aiming to make the technology user-friendly. A disadvantage may be the freedom given to gamers. As noted by dancefreak, to remain calm and collected when shooting may not be good. This technology also makes gamers even more sedentary. Also, the makers aren't sure if this technology is fun or taxing to gamers.
I don't think this is by any means the end of the world. As stated in the article, the makers weren't sure about the demand for production. They may decide to produce the technology mainly for clinical use, or for gaming. Either way, the knowledge can be beneficial to medical research and fun for gamers.
When I read things like that, I think about reading Frankenstien in high school; I always think about "just because we can, because science allows us, should we?" In this case I don't think we should. It's too close to mind reading. If we have games that read our minds and cars that record our actions, then whats to stop games from recording our thoughts. And if our thoughts are already being recorded, whats to stop the government from recording them. That would be worse then 1984 because the government CAN get into our heads. On another note, if you have to be good at golf to excel at the golfing games, is it a far stretch to say that kids can learn to shoot guns from games like grand theft auto? I just feel like allowing ones brain to be read, even if for a game, opens the door to a lot more outragous requests.
Whoah, does anyone else find this incredibly creepy or is it just me? It sounds like a very crude form of mind-reading to me. Just thinking what they could do with this technology in a few more years after more developments. Ok, so this might be beneficial in some way. Games with brain-wave reading could help kids with focus and concentration and even help those with certain mental disorders like the article said. But some of these games are programmed to measure emotions and the slightest changes in mood - concious and unconcious. In real life, I suppose we could use these types of technological improvements for things like lie-detector tests. This would be more helpful in catching criminals and may even lead to a reduction in crime. I do see the harm in putting such brain wave-reading devices in video games, but as long as this technology doesn't invade on our personal rights or limit our freedoms.
Technology is becoming more unbelievable day after day. It is already amazing how far the video game industry has come in less than 20 years from the original nintendo to the capabilities of the xbox 360 and playstation 3. I remember hearing someone talking about the topic and saying how video games are going to look like real life in a few years which would not be a suprise with how they already look now. I wasn't expecting that they'd be able to creat something that can tap into your brain waves and alter the way that games are played. It is incredible that they have created the technology to do this and are able to make it affordable to the general public. It is a positive that they can use it to help people with certain neurological problems and help them improve them. However, if it can become addicting or kids spend too much time playing video games instead of doing other activities it would be a downside. Either way this will certainly be some of the most revolutionary technology to come along lately. And as for the cat, it is rather unordinarily large...wonder what it must have been fed?
Wow. That is some CUH-RAZY technology. Of course it sounds pretty cool and is probably great for kids with ADD or ADHD. I have no idea whether or not it can "heal" these disorders or not, but I don't see why it can't be tried. Definately sounds like a plausable attempt to remedy some of those serious medical conditions. At the same time, the way technology is advancing to monitor the mind is pretty creepy. The part about being able to read "conscious and unconscious" things is especially creepy. If I can't tell you my unconscious thoughts, no one should be able to....
Wow. scary. So i can def see where they're coming from; how it can improve memory and focus and all that but it REALLY scares me that kids will be able to concentrate on shooting a gun and not be scared of it. What's the next step then? I mean i understand the golf game improvement, but let's be honest about the gun issue. it's already a problem and video games enhancing the problem by getting in kids heads is an issue. They NEED to be scared of things like that, otherwise they'll be more willing to pull the trigger in real life, and that's scary. i hope that technology doesn't out-do itself in this case. I really hope that they make responsible uses for it....
Im not really sure how I feel about this kind of technology in toys. The benefits seem promising, like kids with ADD will learn how to concentrate and focus while playing. However, personally I don' think the game sounds that fun. I can't really see how the toy can have a very negative impact.
I only see this as a positive step in the progression of soceity. Now people will be able to tell where they lack in certain areas, espcially when pressure sets in. Once the brain-wave results are read the subject will be able to better determine how to improve their lacks. I would go as far as to say that this might very well be the best things since sliced bread. If this technology is just used for improving video game players will be able to truly feel like they are apart of the action. There will be no more, beginers luck wins, depending on how confindent you are the harder or easier it will be to play the game. I think that is is really cool.
So when can I buy one......(j/k) I think that this new technology is great, the fact that it has benefits other than simple gaming. Giving the paralyzed the ability to move, helping children with ADHD and autism, this is great! The only thing that I can see as bad for the future is with the debate of children and guns. There was a section of the article that talks about the possiblity of having Grand Theft Auto for this system, but the person would need to be relaxed enough to use the guns and shoot 'dem hoes. All of the opposers of video games are going to have a field day with this...kids today are relaxed enough to go around and shoot other people, what is this world coming to! That is the only problem I can forsee.
If this technology were to just help increase your focus and concentration I think it would be very effective in the game world. Maybe not as much with teenagers but we adults who play golf. It could improve their concentration in golf. With the kids who probably try it out might not like it because you have to put in a lot of concentration and sit still and focus on the game. Some might think there stressing there brain. Also in this case only the violent game would be sold. it's probably more fun to concentrate on shooting someone than trying to shot a basketball or hit a baseball.
Some benefits for this type of technology are that anyone can play this game. I mean pyhsicaly there are no limitations. I am not really a neuro expert but maybe this brian stimulation could be good. Researchers could use this to study how the mind functions in other with disabilities. Learning how they may react in this sort of environment. It may have medical side effects however. Or the fact that video games just make us lazy. And honeslty I think American needs to do something about that. I am not sure if this is the end of the world but maybe the end of sports. Mental golf may replace actual golf. Cutting out physical talents altogether, which I think is wrong
This new technology seems really mind blowing i would have never thought that this would be the new wave of technology for gaming. I think it would be a really cool way to play games but there are also the downsides to it as well. Especially if have different ways of processing things such as getting more nervous when a really hard part comes a long in the game the game may not work as well for you as to someone who can keep calm and collected why they play. I just think that the system reacting to every little detail maybe too much and that we should just stick to what we have had for the past 20 or so years of gaming with joy sticks and controllers.
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