Unit 8: Art, Games, and Tech Discussion
November 20, 2013
I found this unit to be pretty fascinating, especially after I watched the TED Talk video featuring Jane McGonigal, a game designer who is aspiring to create a new type of game genre that can possibly contribute to solving some of the world’s current problems. I don’t know if I would consider myself a “gamer” but I do enjoy playing video games every once in awhile so here idea caught my attention even though I was skeptical. I don’t know how far her idea will go but she does have one aspect of today’s world in her favor. That aspect is the fact that technology is on the rise and more and more things in today’s world are becoming virtual. For example, the internet is more powerful than it has ever been and what you are capable of doing online can be endless, and now we have cell phones that that are digital. I mean as a kid did you could you ever believe that Blockbuster would be going out of business? My point is that it is a digital world and kids might be more interactive and enthusiastic to learn through video games then from lectures. However, my problem with this is that since the world has become more digital there has also become a greater disconnect between human interactions. For example, I was eating out the other night and there was a family of 5 across from me who all had iPads! And each family members attention was directed at the iPad, seldom was there a word spoken. My question is do you think the cons of becoming more digital outweigh the pros?
4 Responses to “Unit 8: Art, Games, and Tech Discussion”
November 20th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
I believe the cons definitely outweigh the pros with digital life. People claim that electronics improve the lives of people. That it allows us to get more things done, etc.
I beg to differ. There may be a positive impact to a point. It can improve the way we study, learn, and communicate with people across the world. But when it comes to games, people can become engrossed and playing too many online games can be counter productive. Some playing for a hobby is fine, to have fun, but it can get in the way of things you could be doing in real life.
Jane’s games that she created could help people solve problem in real life but I will not agree that all online games (like the World of War Craft) that it will help and encourage people to solve real world problems.
November 21st, 2013 at 3:51 pm
I could not agree more with your point about humans becoming less capable to converse face to face. That is one downfall of today’s ever-growing technology world. With all the new applications, software, devices, media and technology it is making it easier for people to not have to actually interact with each other. This is one of the main reasons why I don’t like all the advancements in technology. It seems as though it gets worse with every generation. All my cousins who are younger than me struggle to have a real live conversation, but are perfectly capable of texting and surfing through social media. I hope these advancements don’t overtake actual human interactions because these are key to surviving and making it in the business world. Employers are searching for people to represent their company and being able to converse with adults is a must. I believe the cons are actually greater than the pros in relating to a more digital life. A more digital life means less human interaction, which will only hurt us in the end.
November 21st, 2013 at 9:36 pm
I find it really interesting that all the posts I’ve read in this class (so far) agree that the cons outweigh the pros…if people felt this way, then why would it still be so massively important to us?
When I think of the gamers I know, they are all single (maybe dating), don’t have a family and work limited hours or are unemployed. Thus, they have more time to spend with themselves and their games. The family of 5 that you mention, probably prefer to spend time with themselves or their devices than with their family. I am not eager to think that technology is the reason that people don’t connect more. I think technology may just provide more escape routes for people. More ways to ‘feel’ as though they have friends without all the work of actually having them, etc. Don’t you think our gaming and techie society is simply a reflection of our laziness and changing values?
August 11th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
I also find that ted talk inspiring. Great Britain vs UK