So after learning about how dying in internet cafes through out South Korea isn't really that unheard of, I decided to do a little more research on the whole video gaming craze currently taking place in such countries. I found an article in the San Francisco Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/18/GAMERS.TMP) which discusses the video gaming phenomenon. The article specifically looks at the idea of the elite video gamers becoming instant celebrities. These teenage men and women are revered as local gods by their gaming peers. One gamer, Choi Yeon-sung, has 90,000 followers in his fan club. He also makes approximately $190,000 a year in winnings, when the annual average income in South Korea is around $16,000.
The article also reviews how not only are there are countless gaming cafes, but there are also places where people can go to watch these games being played live on huge screens. These viewings can easily bring in hundreds of thousands of viewers. Although, if you don't feel like leaving your house to watch a game, the article reveals that you could just watch the game at home on one of the TV channels that plays games live 24/7. Clearly, this craze is something that is not going to go away any time soon. The level of this addiction to gaming makes it feel like the whole country needs to be sent to an video gaming rehab clinic. I really wonder if this will ever become a problem here in the United States. I already thought that the younger generation was having enough complications with not wanting to go play outside and instead sitting at the computer and watching TV, but after watching the "Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier" I suppose that it could always get worse from here.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Digital Divide
So after reading the two articles a few weeks ago on digital divide, I realized that there were definitely things that need to be done to help improve and lessen the technological gap between up to date countries, like America, and that of the third world countries. In class we reviewed ways in which the United States depends on these impoverished countries for their own gain. Instead of taking advantage of the poorer countries, we need to start helping these countries grow which in the long run will also benefit the economy of the US.
Luckily there have been programs established globally to help fix the digital divide. Groups such as OLD NET (http://www.oldnet.com.br/old_net_ingles/pg_inicial.htm), which has a home base in Brazil, has decided that since the average life span has increased, the older generation needs to learn how to use technology as well. There is also the Digital Equalizer program (http://www.aif.org/education/de/default.htm), which was started by the American India Foundation, which helps bring new technology and teachers to schools in India to teach the students how to use things such as computers and the Internet.
There are so many programs such as these ones and NGOs working all around the world to try and update the world on modern day technology. There is much more work that needs to be done but with the rate in which these programs are working and with their success rate, the digital divide will soon be a thing of the past.
Luckily there have been programs established globally to help fix the digital divide. Groups such as OLD NET (http://www.oldnet.com.br/old_net_ingles/pg_inicial.htm), which has a home base in Brazil, has decided that since the average life span has increased, the older generation needs to learn how to use technology as well. There is also the Digital Equalizer program (http://www.aif.org/education/de/default.htm), which was started by the American India Foundation, which helps bring new technology and teachers to schools in India to teach the students how to use things such as computers and the Internet.
There are so many programs such as these ones and NGOs working all around the world to try and update the world on modern day technology. There is much more work that needs to be done but with the rate in which these programs are working and with their success rate, the digital divide will soon be a thing of the past.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The iPad
Last week Apple introduced the iPad. The tablet quickly made its way onto all the news channels and talk shows. The craze for this new creation is just as intense as it was for the iPhone. Even though some people see it as an elongated and stretched out iTouch, I think that this new device will be much more popular and useful. It has a faster processor than the iTouch and greater memory space. The iPad can be described as the missing link between the iTouch and a laptop.
With all of the applications available on this lighweight and versatile piece of technology, I think that multitasking will become a lot easier. Multitasking has become the way of life for our generation and with the iPad, it is going to become much more manageable. Students can take the iPad to class and take notes while recieving e-mail updates. They can also use it in their free time to access sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. The iPad will be available at the end of March and I think once people begin to use it, they will see just how versatile it is compared to the iTouch or a laptop.
With all of the applications available on this lighweight and versatile piece of technology, I think that multitasking will become a lot easier. Multitasking has become the way of life for our generation and with the iPad, it is going to become much more manageable. Students can take the iPad to class and take notes while recieving e-mail updates. They can also use it in their free time to access sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. The iPad will be available at the end of March and I think once people begin to use it, they will see just how versatile it is compared to the iTouch or a laptop.
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