Simulation and Gaming Questions (Group 13)

Timeline: The Future of Videogames

1.) What will become of society when/if the line between reality and augmented reality become blurred?

2.) How much of this article can we actually believe? I understand the points that are made and that there are facts to support their guesses for the future, but that's all they are: guesses. I remember when 2000 was the year we were "supposed" to have flying cars... So how much can we rely on these predictions?

3.) How will the way humans socialize with one another change? With the blending of reality and video games becoming the norm, will the human race still value social interactions as much?


Does Game Violence Make Teams Aggressive?

1.) Why is there so much focus on computer games instead of other platforms such as the internet, music or television in which kids are exposed to the same amount of violence?

2.) From my limited video game knowledge, I know there are other types of video games that are still "violent" (such as World of Warcraft) while the article focuses on more extreme games like Call of Duty... Can researchers really make the distinction or could it just be that ALL video games create this similar arousal in the brain?

3.) Just because certain areas in the brain are more active or aroused than others at times, does that necessarily mean that the gamer will have violent tendencies? Are these arousals merely temporary?

Readings from Week 2

Agarwal, R., 2003. Resisting Technology: Regaining a Personal Ecology. In the 2003 Sarai Reader. Delhi, India.

1.) How has technology negatively impacted people? Why do we continue to use technology that puts certain groups at risk or at a lower level of living? 

2) This leads to the greater question of: Does technology have more of a negative or positive influence on our society today? Is it helping or hurting in communities?

3) I think "And [technology] was not designed for the greater common good, but for a greater common market" is a very interesting comment... What does this mean?

4) Does technology solve needs or create them?

Hopkins, J., 2007. Architectures of Participation. Helsinki, Finland.

1.) Not quite a question but very valid and intriguing points to ponder on... "With this in mind (knowing that life is not infinite), how then do we choose how to  expend our life-times, our dwindling energy stores? Do we value every moment as we should?"

2.) The author is saying without human relations we cannot find our purpose... but I'm not sure I agree. Isn't it true a lot of people can find their purpose or meaning of life by looking at themselves internally? I agree social contact is important but I think introspection is just as important as being social in learning.

3.) In the battle between the spirit and body for a purposeful existence, why can't they both win? Shouldn't that be the ultimate goal?

Shirky, C., 2011. The Political Power of Social Media. Foreign Affairs, 90(1), pp.28–41.

1.) I see how social media has amazing benefits of connecting us to one another, but isn't it also bringing us further apart? Are text messages and emails replacing everyday conversations? If so, this is  big concern socially since everything we do in life relies on the ability to communicate with others successfully

2.) Is it fair that social media has such an impact on politics? Shouldn't politics be about cold, hard facts instead of who has a better Twitter manager or more creative internet ads?

3.) With all the chat rooms, customer review sites, and forums isn't it almost impossible to censor? People aren't accessing facts anymore but everyone's opinions and coming together... How is this a peril? People with similar interests are coming together and becoming empowered... only the government of oppressing countries should feel threatened, not USA

Readings from Week 1

Rheingold, H 2000. Tools for Thought: The History and Future of Mind-Expanding Technology, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Chapters 1 &2.

1) If the medium is the message, what will it mean when the entire environment becomes the medium?

2) Since technology is always changing and improving, how can anyone ever be tech-savvy? How can we ever keep up with such constant change?

3) I can't even fathom a society or life in general without computers...but should we be concerned at how dependent we are becoming on technology as we think less for ourselves and let the machines do the work? How far are we willing to let this technology advance until the technology is controlling us, instead of vice versa?

Bush, V., 1945. As We May Think. The Atlantic, (July).
1) As specialization extends and expands, is our own knowledge of these subjects decreasing?