Are video games really harmful?
Before pondering upon the thought of whether video games are right or not, let’s talk about who invented video games? It’s none other than the father of video games “Ralph Baer”. He had developed the first prototype of multiplayer game systems in 1967. He has developed numerous sports such as ping-pong, handball, and many more which later became a part of his Brown Box. Although the oldest game is known to be “Tennis for Two” which was developed by William Higinbotham, he is barely recognized for his invention.
Impact of video games
With time, people gathered awareness and the zeal to work in the field of gaming. Needless to say, we have millions of games now accessible at a touch; and now is the point where we examine whether this easy accessibility has more positives or negatives.
Let’s begin with a positive approach towards it: speaking of which many studies and researches prove that video gaming helps in the development of cognitive abilities. A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience came to the conclusion that playing video games changes not only the development pattern but also the structure of the brain. James Paul, an American researcher, said: “when your child plays a video game, it is similar to how he is solving a problem or carrying out a test at the laboratory, as he must come up with a hypothesis”.
There are several signs of video game addiction among students. Some of the girls boarding schools in Dehradun play a vital role in handling this type of addiction among students. But whatever be the cause, the ways to deal with it can stay the same.
Many games include puzzle solving, which involves analytical thinking or involves thinking outside the box enhance one’s way of thinking in innumerable ways. For example, a few days back when I was playing a brain game that included puzzle-solving, the answers to those puzzles were straight forward, but it’s funny how our brain gets onto a vehicle of never-ending thought process to solve it. But the two studies I am going to talk about now are for me the game changer: The US Food and Drugs Administration approved the game ‘EndeavorRx’ this year for the purpose of treatment for children suffering from ADHD.
The game is intended to operate as a delivery system for algorithms and improve neural networks in the brain associated with ADHD. Lastly, a few pieces of research show that games have helped a few to fight against depression and anxieties; making people more content with themself.
We have talked about plenty of positive effects of video games, but they also have a negative aspect which questions their daily use. One of the significant negative effects is an addiction to video games; many children and youngsters are so engrossed in their video game that sometimes they have no idea of what is going around them. This further leads to a loss in interest in surroundings, willingness to learn and lethargy. Due to incessant hours of sitting in front of devices, people have a destructive effect on their eyes and physical health, leading to obesity. A study by the Obesity Research says that every hour the children play video games; it increases the chances of getting obese. Few violent games also have an adverse effect due to exposure to wrong values in them.
In these days, video games have a tremendous effect on our lifestyle. Hence, whether games have a bad or good effect truly depends upon us. Few parents might think, the best way to avoid the cons is by restricting the children to play, but this is of no use, whereas playing with them creates a sense of bonding and love. Too much of exposure to video games can be bad and should be thought about when one is indulging in it. It is better that we keep in mind the effects of video games and play accordingly so as to add joy and not sadness in life!
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Originally published at https://blog.eduminatti.com on January 1, 2021.
