Since I don’t really play video games this is pretty hard for me. I have no tolerance or patience with learning the complex rules of most games and I can’t bring myself to spend any amount of time playing. I decided to just do something that seemed like I could tolerate it and not spend exorbitant amounts of time on it. I’m writing this blog as a stream of consciousness in a way. I like puzzles so, I’m trying this Blockout game from www. Addictinggames.com.
In this game, you much guide your player ‘block’ (using the arrow keys) through various levels: for each level, you must reach the end block; and by reach, I mean you must stop on it, not just pass through it.
The brown block is your player, the blue one is the “goal” grey blocks are walls. The game has no set “goal” per se, other than reaching the blue block. It’s timed and the game saves your time so, you could have a goal of beating your last fastest time if you wanted. If you get stuck on a level you can retry as many times as you want to.
It has music, which I find excruciatingly annoying. I immediately turned it off.
I just clicked the button to play and now it’s given me a page of instructions for setting my Flash player parameters to accommodate the game. I’m frustrated by this and don’t want to take the time to read the instructions. I’d like to just play the game for a minute to write the blog. So, I’m going to try it without reading those instructions.
It worked fine so far. I just played my first level and it took me 13 seconds. It’s a brain teaser type deal. When you hit the arrow the block goes as far as it can before hitting a wall so you have to make turns in roundabout ways. I’m pleased that the first level was easy and I am happy to go on.
I just completed the second level and I solved the “puzzle” before moving so I wouldn’t get “stuck” anywhere. Seemed to work okay – 29 seconds.
I’ve played a few levels ahead and I’m getting faster as the levels get higher. That is probably because I now “know” the game. I’m wondering when it’s going to get “harder”
Okay, I’m on level 39 of 50 and I got stuck for a while (181 seconds). The rest was pretty easy. So now I finished all the levels and it gives me my total time (1241 seconds). I must admit I am compelled to try one more time. It’s easy enough that I don’t feel frustrated but, not so easy that I am bored.
Now I got stuck at level 39 again and I can’t remember how I did it. I feel like I’m now wasting my time and I am not going to play it any more. My daughter is about to wake up from her nap and I have only this time to get my work done.
This game is made for someone who is bored and has “free time” and is satisfied by reaching the goal set by the game. Reaching the goals of cleaning behind the refrigerator, going for a run with my daughter in her running stroller and my dog beside me, planning dinner, paying bills… those are the goals that satisfy me. I cannot sit still this long. Or I like a puzzle that I can come back to later and I won’t have “failed” because of the time constraint. I usually have the crossword puzzle from the paper on hand all the time. Video games are just not made for housewives! Now my daughter is awake and I am going to get her up and feed her some lunch.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Personal Experience with Video Games
I was born in 1975 so, I think my experience of video games might be a little different than the rest of the class. We had Atari - played Missile Command, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man, Q-bert, Frogger... We got the Atari 400 with the little flat keyboard and I learned BASIC :) - I made some of my own games. Then my step-father started building PCs and we got online with Prodigy. We played (as a family) Space Quest and King's Quest. I didn't really get into any video games much after that. My husband plays Civilization occasionally on his laptop and he has PS2. Don't ask me what games he has because I don't know! He got me a Wii for Mother's Day this year and we play when company comes over mostly. People really like that thing and I guess I think it's better than sitting still. :) No, I really do enjoy it and I helped my husband with some things in Zelda (?) I think. I think I would really like a lot of the games that are available but, they seem so time consuming and I guess I'm afraid of getting sucked in to something less than valuable to my personal growth and well-being of my family. In a nutshell, I'm too old for that! I do think it's a relevant industry and an interesting topic of discussion. The whole notion of how it relates to and reflects our culture is well worth my time. I'm starting the class with a notion that the driving force in technological innovations is the economy. In other words, what gets developed is not necessarily what is for the betterment of humanity (or most needed) but, what is most profitable. Will we spend a given resource to develop hurricane proof houses for the poorly insured working class in New Orleans or will it more likely be spent to develop a more highly produced video game for the upper middle class teenager? I don't mean this to sound cynical, it's really just an observation and thought process. That being said, I think a relevant web site for this class might be Economist.com. Here is an example of a relevant article I found on their site:
Online gaming's Netscape moment?
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The Future
The real distinction is between those who adapt their purposes to reality and those who seek to mold reality in the light of their purposes. - Henry Kissinger
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The Digital Divide
If we are to believe, as Macintosh and IBM advertisers would surely have us believe, that the key to advancement in our society hinges on the ability to remain on the cutting edge of technology, then it should be clear that the 62.9% of African Americans without computers or the internet are at a significant disadvantage.
America is making advances in the number of people getting on line and in the gaps between African American ownership as compared to Euro American ownership. But why was there such a gap to begin with? The problems and solutions are not simple enough to be pointed to in a single blog entry.
What can be said is that the gap is almost surely representative of the continuing problems of race-based inequality in America. Whether it is due to insufficient educational systems, public policies, personal attitudes, or some combination of each is clearly worth exploring.
Until the results of all surveys similar to the one conducted for “Digital Divide” yield equal results, we should not be allowed to claim equal opportunity or fair competition as an American value. In fact, this claim should be put aside until a time when we no longer need to survey basic needs in terms of race, sex, income level, sexual orientation, disability, or location.
Further, as supposed ambassadors of democracy and freedom, Americans should not be satisfied to know that the rest of the globe is lagging. Never mind internet - what about electricity and running water? One only needs to compare these images to understand the contrast.
USA
Europe
Africa
1 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/hhs/ChartH3.htm
2 http://www.tciai.org/Falling.htm
America is making advances in the number of people getting on line and in the gaps between African American ownership as compared to Euro American ownership. But why was there such a gap to begin with? The problems and solutions are not simple enough to be pointed to in a single blog entry.
What can be said is that the gap is almost surely representative of the continuing problems of race-based inequality in America. Whether it is due to insufficient educational systems, public policies, personal attitudes, or some combination of each is clearly worth exploring.
Until the results of all surveys similar to the one conducted for “Digital Divide” yield equal results, we should not be allowed to claim equal opportunity or fair competition as an American value. In fact, this claim should be put aside until a time when we no longer need to survey basic needs in terms of race, sex, income level, sexual orientation, disability, or location.
Further, as supposed ambassadors of democracy and freedom, Americans should not be satisfied to know that the rest of the globe is lagging. Never mind internet - what about electricity and running water? One only needs to compare these images to understand the contrast.
USA
Europe
Africa
1 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/hhs/ChartH3.htm
2 http://www.tciai.org/Falling.htm
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
eGovernment
This may be the most important topic in this class so far. I think individual involvement in and education about our government is vital to the success of our nation. People are able to learn so much about other points of view and details of issues and candidates during elections and all kinds of important things using the internet. It is such a gift to be able to do that.
I would love to see schools teach kids how to sort through the information and listen thoughtfully to the details of issues. To teach them how to understand how issues are interconnected and understand that no answer is simple and straightforward. The 'sound bytes' should be teasers to get you to look deeper. Then when they really dig into the issues with an open mind I don't believe they could come to any other conclusion.
For us to consciously move in the direction we truly want to go, we must foster a sense of curiosity and compassion when it comes to political issues. The more that can be available on line the better and the more access and guidance we can provide to people the better. Information is power. Nothing is more valuable than the power to make informed decisions and participate in your government.
Aside from decision making (issues, political platforms, etc.) There are resources that can help people understand their surroundings and their situations so that they can be empowered to make changes in their personal lives. It is most unfortunate that the people who need it the most are the same people whose access is most limited. If there is ever an opportunity to change this truth I hope we take it.
To me, not providing all possible access to all people in our nation is a waste of national resources. People are our number one commodity - their hearts and minds, our most precious assets. Social or financial status doesn't determine human potential, but it sure does limit resources to realize that potential. This is like flushing opportunity down the toilet for our country and our world. If we can really inform people of their options and clear the path for our hidden geniuses to shine and provide a sense of efficacy via access to information I believe we can really make a difference in the world.
Yahoo Answers: Government Go there and see what your fellow citizens want to know about our government. Or ask questions that you have! Provide resources to people and get resources from people. :)
Don't forget that we aren't alone in the world and go learn about other countries at the CIA world factbook. Link to the websites of other countries to see world issues from their perspective.
Learn about conflict resolution efforts at ACR.
Ask yourself questions about why things are the way they are and seek out answers. No question is a stupid one and every opinion has validity and importance in some way for your understanding.
Everyone do your part in educating yourselves and setting an example ... eventually we'll reach critical mass. Then we will be the country that our founding fathers intended us to be. Don't'cha just wanna break into the national anthem now?? :)
Just in case you do - here is a link to the lyrics of all four stanzas!
I would love to see schools teach kids how to sort through the information and listen thoughtfully to the details of issues. To teach them how to understand how issues are interconnected and understand that no answer is simple and straightforward. The 'sound bytes' should be teasers to get you to look deeper. Then when they really dig into the issues with an open mind I don't believe they could come to any other conclusion.
For us to consciously move in the direction we truly want to go, we must foster a sense of curiosity and compassion when it comes to political issues. The more that can be available on line the better and the more access and guidance we can provide to people the better. Information is power. Nothing is more valuable than the power to make informed decisions and participate in your government.
Aside from decision making (issues, political platforms, etc.) There are resources that can help people understand their surroundings and their situations so that they can be empowered to make changes in their personal lives. It is most unfortunate that the people who need it the most are the same people whose access is most limited. If there is ever an opportunity to change this truth I hope we take it.
To me, not providing all possible access to all people in our nation is a waste of national resources. People are our number one commodity - their hearts and minds, our most precious assets. Social or financial status doesn't determine human potential, but it sure does limit resources to realize that potential. This is like flushing opportunity down the toilet for our country and our world. If we can really inform people of their options and clear the path for our hidden geniuses to shine and provide a sense of efficacy via access to information I believe we can really make a difference in the world.
Yahoo Answers: Government Go there and see what your fellow citizens want to know about our government. Or ask questions that you have! Provide resources to people and get resources from people. :)
Don't forget that we aren't alone in the world and go learn about other countries at the CIA world factbook. Link to the websites of other countries to see world issues from their perspective.
Learn about conflict resolution efforts at ACR.
Ask yourself questions about why things are the way they are and seek out answers. No question is a stupid one and every opinion has validity and importance in some way for your understanding.
Everyone do your part in educating yourselves and setting an example ... eventually we'll reach critical mass. Then we will be the country that our founding fathers intended us to be. Don't'cha just wanna break into the national anthem now?? :)
Just in case you do - here is a link to the lyrics of all four stanzas!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Online Health Care
This was a hard one to get through. Very boring. I'm also not sure what in the world the last article was doing in the mix. i guess religion is a kind of 'mental health' issue?? Maybe a mistake.
I read this line in the Shneiderman chapter, "The goal would be that if you are brought to an emergency room anywhere in the world, within 15 seconds, your patient history is on the screen in the local language." Has this dude ever been to the emergency room?
If you don't know what I mean, just recall the news this week of the woman who died on the emergency room floor. see article Perhaps we should fix whatever problem allowed that to happen before we start adding whistles and bells.
I think I'm being grumpy... I mean, maybe the high tech medical record access would have helped the hospital move faster and be less bureaucratic in general and then people would be seen faster. I guess then everyone would be less overworked and stressed and they could feel empathy for someone who is coughing up blood right in front of them. They would stop working for a minute and care that a person is scared and suffering. I guess I'd like that to be the root of the problem and the solution to be as simple as standardizing on line medical records. I'm not sure if that's the case though.
(What a strange coincidence. As I was writing my blog, a friend called to tell me that she has a brain tumor. I am actually having a terrible time not giving up on writing the blog so that I can go research the procedure she's scheduled for and the doctors who will be performing it. I'm actually wondering what people did before - I suppose I would go to the library and look it up there. But, why would I do that when I can just research from home?)
Anyway. The concept of getting actual medical attention on line from home relates closely to the communication topic in my mind. When we read about communication, we saw a general pattern that communication on line was sort of a hybrid between the old ways of oration and the newer ways of print. I see the medical topic as having a similar pattern. Online health care is a hybrid between the old ways of house calls and private practice care versus the new ways of Insurance managed health [who] care[s]"
I wonder what the insurance companies think about online 'house calls'
Do you have to pay for 'chat' or email with your doctor and if you do is it covered by the insurance company? can you use paypal to pay your co-pay?! Man, I would love it if I could just send my symptoms to my doctor and get some darn antibiotics when I need them. I never ever ever go to the doctor unless I really think I will do permanent damage for not going. Or if I'm having a baby! I think it would be wonderful if we could get referrals from our primary care physician by sending an email or submitting a request on line.
I wonder what other countries are doing as far as on line house calls. If it wasn't 4:30 and I wasn't super busy and really cramming to get this blog done, then I would probably research that more. I did find an interesting resource that might give me some answers to both of these questions here
I feel like I just wrote a really lame blog.
I read this line in the Shneiderman chapter, "The goal would be that if you are brought to an emergency room anywhere in the world, within 15 seconds, your patient history is on the screen in the local language." Has this dude ever been to the emergency room?
If you don't know what I mean, just recall the news this week of the woman who died on the emergency room floor. see article Perhaps we should fix whatever problem allowed that to happen before we start adding whistles and bells.
I think I'm being grumpy... I mean, maybe the high tech medical record access would have helped the hospital move faster and be less bureaucratic in general and then people would be seen faster. I guess then everyone would be less overworked and stressed and they could feel empathy for someone who is coughing up blood right in front of them. They would stop working for a minute and care that a person is scared and suffering. I guess I'd like that to be the root of the problem and the solution to be as simple as standardizing on line medical records. I'm not sure if that's the case though.
(What a strange coincidence. As I was writing my blog, a friend called to tell me that she has a brain tumor. I am actually having a terrible time not giving up on writing the blog so that I can go research the procedure she's scheduled for and the doctors who will be performing it. I'm actually wondering what people did before - I suppose I would go to the library and look it up there. But, why would I do that when I can just research from home?)
Anyway. The concept of getting actual medical attention on line from home relates closely to the communication topic in my mind. When we read about communication, we saw a general pattern that communication on line was sort of a hybrid between the old ways of oration and the newer ways of print. I see the medical topic as having a similar pattern. Online health care is a hybrid between the old ways of house calls and private practice care versus the new ways of Insurance managed health [who] care[s]"
I wonder what the insurance companies think about online 'house calls'
Do you have to pay for 'chat' or email with your doctor and if you do is it covered by the insurance company? can you use paypal to pay your co-pay?! Man, I would love it if I could just send my symptoms to my doctor and get some darn antibiotics when I need them. I never ever ever go to the doctor unless I really think I will do permanent damage for not going. Or if I'm having a baby! I think it would be wonderful if we could get referrals from our primary care physician by sending an email or submitting a request on line.
I wonder what other countries are doing as far as on line house calls. If it wasn't 4:30 and I wasn't super busy and really cramming to get this blog done, then I would probably research that more. I did find an interesting resource that might give me some answers to both of these questions here
I feel like I just wrote a really lame blog.
Research References
Smith, H, & Novak, P (2003). Buddhism: A Concise Introduction.San Francisco: Harper.
Hongladarom, S (1998). On the Internet and Cultural Differences. APA Newsletters, 97, Retrieved June 21, 2007, from http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/archive/newsletters/v97n2/computers/differences.asp
(2007). Create the perfect virtual you. New scientist, 194(2603), 12-.
Copes, H, Williams, J, & Copes, H. (2007). Techniques of Affirmation: Deviant Behavior, Moral Commitment, and Subcultural Identity. Deviant Behavior, 28(3), 247-.
Randall Collins. (2003). A Network-Location Theory of Culture. Sociological theory, 21(1), 69-73.
Stephen Davies. (1995). Relativism in Interpretation. The Journal of aesthetics and art criticism, 53(1), 8-13.
Hongladarom, S (1998). On the Internet and Cultural Differences. APA Newsletters, 97, Retrieved June 21, 2007, from http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/archive/newsletters/v97n2/computers/differences.asp
(2007). Create the perfect virtual you. New scientist, 194(2603), 12-.
Copes, H, Williams, J, & Copes, H. (2007). Techniques of Affirmation: Deviant Behavior, Moral Commitment, and Subcultural Identity. Deviant Behavior, 28(3), 247-.
Randall Collins. (2003). A Network-Location Theory of Culture. Sociological theory, 21(1), 69-73.
Stephen Davies. (1995). Relativism in Interpretation. The Journal of aesthetics and art criticism, 53(1), 8-13.
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