Video Games and Children
In many ways there is an irony about the one thing that the youth of today love, video games. Today’s youth have so much fun with video games yet they are unaware of the facts that hinder their ability to play care free. Many children today play video games more and more throughout the day which in turn has many side effects due to this prolonged use. Playing video games may also have an effect on their social structure and also playing violent video games may lead to the youth becoming aggressive in certain situations. In the world we live in now too many young kids are able to get their hands on games that are rated beyond their age. Video games aren’t as beneficial for the kids as people think.
Majority of children are now playing video games more and more as well as spending more time each day on them, “79% of American children now play computer or video games on a regular basis” (D. Walsh). A study that was conducted by H. Cummings discovered that children as young as 10 spent on average “58 minutes during the week” and on average “1 hour and 37 minutes on the weekend”, the time playing video games throughout the week added is equivalent to spending a whole day at school. If these statistics are an average then there are children playing longer than these times which in turn must have some kind of detrimental effect on their physical health.
Children that are playing video games in large amounts of time start to show physical side effects and in some cases extreme effects. Some of the physical side effects are mostly hand and arm related symptoms. “65% of video game players examined complained of blisters, calluses, sore tendons and numbness of fingers, hand and elbows directly as a result of their playing” (B. Gunter, 1998). Some other symptoms that are stated on the Raising Children Network are that they can receive eye strain and also headaches due to playing video games to long (2007). There are also some extreme effects of playing video games such as seizures. A study by B. Gunter states that “a further published case of video game-induced seizure involved a 13-year-old girl who had been playing a Nintendo game for three hours with only a short break” (1998). Seizures may be rare in the majority of children however parents need not to take the risk if they do not know if their children are susceptible to seizures. The minor symptoms can be treated by just stopping the amount of time the children play the video games.
Another negative effect that video games have on children is that they may have a direct link to the way they live their social life. Many children play games in isolated situations especially young children as they have not yet developed a social group. At school children may show no cooperation in the classroom this may be due to the fact of early video game playing instead of playing with friends regularly. “Children who are unengaged or unenthusiastic about group activities and classroom instruction tend to be attracted to the solitary nature of video games, adding to antisocial tendencies” (RCN, 2007). Children do not realise that they can affect the way their social life is going to plan out due to the fact of playing video games for far too long, once again it is the parents that should be informed to the dangers of the longevity of playing video games. “Playing computer games for long periods of time alone can make people become reclusive and introverted. It can also give children a false sense of reality” (J. Gummow, 2004). This statement shows just some of the negative social problems that the children may require.
Social effects on the children may lead to other symptoms; playing violent video games may indeed show some behaviors such as violence and aggression toward other peers. “Playing a lot of violent video games is related to having more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours” which is stated by C. Anderson & B. Bushman (2001). This consecutively may also affect the children in other social behaviours such as their ability to empathise and care for other peers. This is proved to be true by C. Anderson and B. Bushman stating “Playing violent games is also related to children being less willing to be caring and helpful towards their peers. Importantly, research has shown that these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies” (2001). Certain types of video games effect children in certain ways and the violent games are the ones that affect the children the most.
There are also violent video games that have a rating of M15+ or M17+ that the children all around the world are playing. Also the children are buying these games and also receiving these games as presents. “In 50 percent of the cases, a youth can purchase an M-rated videogame with nobody at the cash register taking notice, the institute said” (Dance with shadows, 8 Dec, 2007 ). This is an alarming fact that the children have such an easy access to the availability of these games. The violent video games are the games that affect the young children in many psychological factors as previously stated yet the children can get access to the games before they are mature enough.
Children as young as ten play not just normal video games they play violent video games as well. It is beneficial to play video games as long as the children play non violent video games and play in short periods leaving most of the day to get outside and exercise. However children are not doing this and the rate of young children playing video games is rising. All of the negative effects that have been stated prove that young children and video games is a matter not to be taken lightly.
REFERENCES
Anderson, C., & Bushman, B. (2001). Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior, Aggressive Cognition, Aggressive Affect, Physiological Arousal, and Prosocial Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Scientific Literature,Psychological Science, Volume 12 Issue 5 Page 353-359,
Anderson, C., & Gentile, D.A, (2001). Psychology Matters, Violent Video Games – Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects, Retrieved on 22/05/08 from http://www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html
Cummings, H., (nda). Effects Of Video Game Playing On Children, Copy write National Institute on Media and the Family, Retrieved on 23/05/08 from http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_effect.shtml
Gunter, B., (1998). The Effects of Video Games on Children, The Myth Unmasked, pp.110 111
Gummow, J., (2004) 25 Oct Computer Games: Social Implications, Retrieved on 22/05/08 from http://wiki.mediaculture.org.au/index.php/Computer_Games:_Social_Implications
RCN, (2007). Raising Children Network. Retrieved on 21/05/08 from http://raisingchildren.net.au/
Unknown, (2007). Dance with the shadows, It’s easy for kids in US to buy adult-rated video-games, Retrieved on 22/05/08 from http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/minor-adult-games.asp
Walsh, D., (2007) Video Game Violence and Public Policy, Ph.D.National Institute on Media and the Family, Retrieved on 21/05/08 from http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/walsh.html
Plan for Essay
Plan
Do video games have a detrimental effect on the youth of society?
Point of view is that video games do effect children in a bad way.
Violent video games have an effect on children’s aggression. Discuss psychology findings on what the effects are and why it happens. Such as, what type of behaviour. More effective than TV’s and movies?
How easy it is to buy M rated games at a young age. Use reference about the statistics on how many receive M rated games as a gift. Also how many bought M rated games with thier own money without parent consent.
Prolonged use of video games will effect their social life. Played a lot by themselves. Link the aggression to isolation of friends at school. Obsessive behaviour, anti social tendencies, reduced capacity of showing empathy. (Raising Children Network)
Physical effects, such as wrist pain. (Barry Gunter) Eye Strain, Headaches (RCN). Children will not get exercise if prolonged use of video games, find more info to supportPLAN
Intro
How long they play
Time playing
Prolonged use physical
Prolonged use social
Aggression
How easy it is to buy violent video games
Conclusion
Some References
Effects Of Video Game Playing On Children MeddiaWise.org.url
Violent Video Games – Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects.url Dr.
The Effects of Video Games on Children – Google Book - by Barrie Gunter - 1998
Video Games and Children. ERIC Digest..url
Raising Children Network.url
How easy it is to buy! It’s easy for kids in US to buy adult-rated video-games
8 December, 2007 http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/minor-adult-games.asp
Topics in class...... desensitizing.
Do video games have a detrimental effect on the youth of society?
Point of view is that video games do effect children in a bad way.
Violent video games have an effect on children’s aggression. Discuss psychology findings on what the effects are and why it happens. Such as, what type of behaviour. More effective than TV’s and movies?
How easy it is to buy M rated games at a young age. Use reference about the statistics on how many receive M rated games as a gift. Also how many bought M rated games with thier own money without parent consent.
Prolonged use of video games will effect their social life. Played a lot by themselves. Link the aggression to isolation of friends at school. Obsessive behaviour, anti social tendencies, reduced capacity of showing empathy. (Raising Children Network)
Physical effects, such as wrist pain. (Barry Gunter) Eye Strain, Headaches (RCN). Children will not get exercise if prolonged use of video games, find more info to supportPLAN
Intro
How long they play
Time playing
Prolonged use physical
Prolonged use social
Aggression
How easy it is to buy violent video games
Conclusion
Some References
Effects Of Video Game Playing On Children MeddiaWise.org.url
Violent Video Games – Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects.url Dr.
The Effects of Video Games on Children – Google Book - by Barrie Gunter - 1998
Video Games and Children. ERIC Digest..url
Raising Children Network.url
How easy it is to buy! It’s easy for kids in US to buy adult-rated video-games
8 December, 2007 http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/minor-adult-games.asp
Topics in class...... desensitizing.
3D worlds and socialising on the internet
No doubt that everyone in today society has spoken to another person over the Internet, the most common way to 'chat' these days is on MSN. this is normally done with people that you already know speaking to them with no distractions. In a 3D world of chat such as Active Worlds there are many different people walking around that you may not know and can speak to them at any time. Some people like the straight forward simple way however there are other types that like to explore new things. Communication in all forms will exist. There is one more quality that 3D world can achieve in today's society and that is advertising. This will fuel the economic feature of the program.
Using Microsoft Word & Microsoft Excel
I had to follow an outline on writing up and editing a document on Microsoft Word. I found it very user friendly and there was no problems at all. The pop up windows helped and guided me through to what i thought to be a very simple process. I understand that this software can make my writing prose into more efficient and professional for the future.
I had to follow an outline on organizing a template on Microsoft Excel. I have previously used this software so i found the instructions pretty straight forward. I believe that this is a very simple and useful program if you have the right instructions. It can get too much for some people with the calculations however i see that once this has been taught it is very convenient for working out your pay such as this task was doing or just working out a budget.
I had to follow an outline on organizing a template on Microsoft Excel. I have previously used this software so i found the instructions pretty straight forward. I believe that this is a very simple and useful program if you have the right instructions. It can get too much for some people with the calculations however i see that once this has been taught it is very convenient for working out your pay such as this task was doing or just working out a budget.
Tute 5 Walter Benjamin
Walter Benjamin wrote the article "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" he had a view on what art should be. Compared to art in today's society there are many different mediums for which artists can work with. In the time Walter Benjamin wrote the article art was either painted or sculptured, however these days anyone can produce an "art" work from a mechanical machine. Society can now form nothing into something from a click of a button where as in 1931 an artist took months or even years to produce and art piece. It was this time and effort that created a beauty or an "aura" about the work, now that has been lost in many aspects of works of art not being original.
I personally think that photoshop is not authentic due to the fact that it is one way in which art work has lost its aura, anyone can produce it and most of the time it is a piece of work that someone else has done. Society should have to reference a photo when they rip it off just like a piece of writing. A photoshop image may be art if there isn't another one in the world but if its truly that good to be called art then someone will copy it in the future. A beautiful panting is real "art".
I personally think that photoshop is not authentic due to the fact that it is one way in which art work has lost its aura, anyone can produce it and most of the time it is a piece of work that someone else has done. Society should have to reference a photo when they rip it off just like a piece of writing. A photoshop image may be art if there isn't another one in the world but if its truly that good to be called art then someone will copy it in the future. A beautiful panting is real "art".
Wikipedia!
An article about "gridiron football" in the wikipedia is more on the term "gridiron" than the game its self. It is an accurate article about the term, though it should explain the game more in detail than just what the field look likes and who played it. The article is not to long, however it does follow a small guide line. The article is factual which means there is no side to be taken. With it being a term people use outside of America it should explain the game in whole like it does for the search result American Football.
Another article in Wikipedia that i have read was on "rugby league". Its information is very accurate, although the history section mainly talks about the history of rugby union which isn't much helpful, I would have spoken more about the development of the game into the other countries and how those leagues took off in the early 1900's. It is very informing when talking about the positions on the field and what their role are. The article doesn't take any sides as it is a factual article.
Another article in Wikipedia that i have read was on "rugby league". Its information is very accurate, although the history section mainly talks about the history of rugby union which isn't much helpful, I would have spoken more about the development of the game into the other countries and how those leagues took off in the early 1900's. It is very informing when talking about the positions on the field and what their role are. The article doesn't take any sides as it is a factual article.
More Tute 4 Questions
How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet
They rank the web pages by the word/words you type in. The page with that word or phrase in it the most and with the most links to that page about the same subject will show up first.
Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The search engine will put the pages that have the most relevant information in regards to what you are searching for. Thus making it more useful to you.
What are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
I like google because its more accurate and has more information than others that i have used, (ninemsn). I also like to type what I'm looking for straight into the address bar at the top of the screen with .com on the end of it, this seems to get me to where i want to go fast.
They rank the web pages by the word/words you type in. The page with that word or phrase in it the most and with the most links to that page about the same subject will show up first.
Who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?
The search engine will put the pages that have the most relevant information in regards to what you are searching for. Thus making it more useful to you.
What are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?
I like google because its more accurate and has more information than others that i have used, (ninemsn). I also like to type what I'm looking for straight into the address bar at the top of the screen with .com on the end of it, this seems to get me to where i want to go fast.
Tute 4 Questions
1. Who was the creator of the infamous "lovebug" computer virus?
Onel de Guzman, 24, a computer school student, This is off a credible news web page. CNN http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/29/philippines.lovebug.02/index.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian inventor, invented the paperclip in 1899.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/287063 There were many answers on this page with the same information.
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
It takes its name from the Ebola River in northern Congo (Zaire), where it first emerged in 1976. Its from Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. http://www.answers.com/topic/ebola?cat=health
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
Chile, it was 9.5 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/10_largest_world.php , Its information is from the USGS national earthquake centre
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1 Terabyte = 1073741824 Kilobytes
http://www.calculateme.com/ComputerStorage/index.htm ,Its a calculating web site
6. Who is the creator of email?
Ray Tomlinson is credited with inventing email in 1972. http://www.nethistory.info/History%20of%20the%20Internet/email.html It has alot of information on email and the Internet.
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
its an e-mail worm which is a virus and has infected close to 10 million PCs http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/10/the_storm_worm_maelstrom_or_te.html?nav=rss_blog its from a newspaper.
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Contact him through this web site via e-mail . http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page3.asp Its a government site.
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
Stephen plays keyboard for Brisbane punk band, the Black Assassins, http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm Its a university web page.
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is the Internet these days were you can interact with the web pages and click on certain objects and buy things online. Its the new version of the web to what it was 10 years ago were we just read the information and that was all.
Onel de Guzman, 24, a computer school student, This is off a credible news web page. CNN http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/06/29/philippines.lovebug.02/index.html
2. Who invented the paper clip?
Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian inventor, invented the paperclip in 1899.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/287063 There were many answers on this page with the same information.
3. How did the Ebola virus get its name?
It takes its name from the Ebola River in northern Congo (Zaire), where it first emerged in 1976. Its from Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. http://www.answers.com/topic/ebola?cat=health
4. What country had the largest recorded earthquake?
Chile, it was 9.5 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/10_largest_world.php , Its information is from the USGS national earthquake centre
5. In computer memory/storage terms, how many kilobytes in a terabyte?
1 Terabyte = 1073741824 Kilobytes
http://www.calculateme.com/ComputerStorage/index.htm ,Its a calculating web site
6. Who is the creator of email?
Ray Tomlinson is credited with inventing email in 1972. http://www.nethistory.info/History%20of%20the%20Internet/email.html It has alot of information on email and the Internet.
7. What is the storm worm, and how many computers are infected by it?
its an e-mail worm which is a virus and has infected close to 10 million PCs http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/10/the_storm_worm_maelstrom_or_te.html?nav=rss_blog its from a newspaper.
8. If you wanted to contact the prime minister of australia directly, what is the most efficient way?
Contact him through this web site via e-mail . http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page3.asp Its a government site.
9. Which Brisbane-based punk band is Stephen Stockwell (Head of the School of Arts) a member of?
Stephen plays keyboard for Brisbane punk band, the Black Assassins, http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/art/staff/stockwell.htm Its a university web page.
10. What does the term "Web 2.0" mean in your own words?
Web 2.0 is the Internet these days were you can interact with the web pages and click on certain objects and buy things online. Its the new version of the web to what it was 10 years ago were we just read the information and that was all.
Using new communication technologies
With this country being very large and mobiles not getting coverage everywhere there is other options that i use to communicate. One that i use most would be facebook. This is not by my choice but its what all my friends use and i must use this to stay in touch with them. I get random invites from old school friends and having moved away, catching up with them would not of happened if it weren't for facebook. I compete in fantasy nrl and afl dream teams against family and we chat in the forum of that site to keep in touch....... and to brag when we win! I don't mind using these technologies as its an easier way to talk. I'll always use old comunications but i believe that there is room for new ones.
Intro
Hi there, my name is Nathan this is my blog for my class New communication technologies.
This is my first blog ever done......... hmmmm well this will just be all about my work on this course, and some things about me. Im from Mebourne, just moved up to the Gold Coast. I like many sports but most of all i like learninig the art of Muay Thai (which is a form of kickboxing), i also enjoy Gridiron and basketball. Well thats enough about me now...... enjoy the rest of my blogs that i'll be posting at a later date!
This is my first blog ever done......... hmmmm well this will just be all about my work on this course, and some things about me. Im from Mebourne, just moved up to the Gold Coast. I like many sports but most of all i like learninig the art of Muay Thai (which is a form of kickboxing), i also enjoy Gridiron and basketball. Well thats enough about me now...... enjoy the rest of my blogs that i'll be posting at a later date!
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