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A useful waste of time?
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Latest research says video games can have hidden benefits
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PHOTO: R. RAGU
Leisure activity? Or a learning tool too?
Say “video games” in any group and be ready to invite violent reactions. Parents and spouses attack, gamers defend. Parents worry about gaming children’s schoolwork, lack of exercise and death of communication kills. They fear child
ren will forget social skills, with their share of household chores. Psychologists say catch-and-kill video games foster aggressive behaviour — game environments hook children with weapons meant for killing, stabbing and shooting. A lot of games are gender-biased showing women as weak and helpless. An unsurprisingly popular game expects players to manage a drug cartel. The setting and characters look and feel so real it’s difficult to dismiss them as fantasy. It’s a lost battle for parents really.
Give it a thought
Now there’s a twist to this story. New research suggests the games may have hidden benefits. Games help develop children’s brains. Violent or soft, they make children smarter, help develop better hand-eye coordination.
Give it a thought. Better still, take a shot at playing. Grab a joystick and check out “Halo 2”, designed for Xbox. In this game, you drive vehicles, battle enemies, fight a civil war, travel to space stations and activate rings. You multi-task, source help from several quarters and make multiple decisions, mostly split-second. Ergo: games train minds to analyse data and make strategic choices, quickly. In a world of high-speed e-trade, problem-solving skills win CEO salaries.
Gamers can justify long hours spent “outsmarting enemy”, with one more argument. Games teach life skills. When Paxton Galvanek, who saved two car smash victims with medical expertise was asked where he learnt rescue procedures, he said, “Playing American Army”. Players of this game get medical training (virtually) that real soldiers receive. On two occasions, these “combat medics” put the training to good use. They knew how to evaluate injury, control bleeding, recognise and treat shock, and give timely aid.
It’s possible future surgeons will enter op theatres with fine motor skills acquired by playing the Nintendo “Wii” (Marble Mania).
“Wiihabilitation”, uses Wii as rehab therapy for patients recovering from strokes, surgery and injuries. “While I was abroad I watched something similar used in rehab,” says Sunder of Prem Rehabilitation Centre.
“Administered by experts, video games can improve motor and cognitive skills.” Which would a child prefer? PT or a Wii T?
“Games are good stress-busters apart from being good entertainment,” says Rohit Raja, a high school gamer. “Playing video games on the computer helps me cool off after a long day in school.” He admits they can be addictive, may spoil his concentration while preparing for exams, but “with a little parental control, video games can have a positive effect on children”.
Parents aren’t convinced. “Today’s youngsters spend most of their spare time watching TV, playing games on computer or playing video games,” complains K.N. Raja, Rohit’s dad. “Outdoor activity and outdoor games have taken a backseat with boys and have become nil for girls. While television and computers tie them down at home, game gadgets keep them glued to a chair even outside and should be totally discouraged.”
“Defining video games as beneficial or harmful,” says Krish Raghav, college student and ardent gamer, “is trying to find a justification for a ‘time-killer’. Video games should be seen as cultural objects, like movies or books. Then the space for discussing them becomes more interesting.”
For over-worked moms, games offer excellent day care. “It’s safer letting them play with a console than out in the street when I can’t supervise,” said one. The debate isn’t likely to disappear.
GEETA PADMANABHAN
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