When War meets Video Games

Journal Entry for Question #3

I think that war video games have become so popular because modern technology has become more evolved and modernized. People who create today’s new videogames have a more variety of technology they can use, as compared to the kind of technology they had to create video games in the past. Video games have become more popular because I feel that they are more accessible and entertaining. The video games from the past were only created with basic technology, so the quality would not be as good, if you compared it to video games that are being played in today’s world. I also think that the creativity that goes in the video games help increase its popularity. If the game is fun, has a good moral of the game and looks good, people will enjoy playing it. I also think that the media and advertisement contribute to the increase of popularity in video games.
In today’s world, the media bombards us with so many advertisements, urging us to buy this and watch that. Advertisements dealing with war video games certainly contribute to its popularity because by advertising that game, people in the society, kids in particular, will see that ad and will be attracted to it, causing them to buy the game and play it. I think that video games were not as popular before because there were barely any advertisements dealing with attracting buyers to the video game.
I think realistic war games make people emotionally insensitive to the horror of war mainly because it does not show the real seriousness to war. Gamers know that they are just playing a game, and the consequences of losing the game is to start over. While in real war, you only have one chance to “win the game”, and only one life to live. The complexity of the game, which makes it more realistic, takes away the real horror of war.
In my opinion, I think that war video games are not a good idea. I do happen to be a fan of video games, but I feel that video games dealing with war would be a bad influence, especially for little kids, due to the amount of killing and blood shown throughout the game.

An iPod Classroom?

Journal Entry Question #2

Watching lectures through an iPod is certainly a new and unique way of learning for students. Students are able to watch lecture videos anywhere they want to. Students who are also more "hands on" can benefit from these video lectures. However, i do not think that learning through an iPod would be as effective as learning from a person to person contact. They will gain a "lazy habit" because they will no longer depend on textbooks. Instead, they can just get information through the video. By watching lectures through the iPod, students will begin to lose communication skills they would learn in classrooms. Also, students will not interact with their teachers and fellow classmates as much as they would, if they start using the iPods to learn.

Another problem that would be caused by using an iPod to learn is that not everyone would be able to afford an iPod video. Those who cannot afford to buy an iPod will feel left out and will not be able to get the oppurtunity of listening to lectures anytime they want. Their only way of method to listen to these lectures will have to be through their course website. Another problem is the increase amounts of iPod theift. iPods will be stolen more because if students are allowed to listen to lectures through iPods, they will be able to bring their iPods to school, which means that there is a higher chance that it could be stolen.

Mary Ward is known for its self directed program. Using iPods would be useful for students who have missed their seminars because they can just download the video lecture and send it to their iPods. But i personally do not think that we should grasp this idea of using iPods for lectures because Mary Ward students will begin to lose the skills they are needed to learn in classrooms, such as communicating and consulting with the teacher and interacting with other students. Also, the cost of using iPod for lectures will be far too expensive, and some students will not be able to afford iPods. The problem of theift also has to be taken into consideration. Some students would also just use the iPods as a way to avoid using textbooks.

With the GOOD, comes the BAD

Journal Entry Question for #1

There is no doubt that communication technology has greatly modernized our society. Because of the types of technology that has been invented, we are able to talk to other people that are located on the other side of the world. Everyone has benefited from the invention of e-mails, cell phones and text message. A person can receive an email from a different country faster than they can receive a letter from the mail. Teens are able to communicate daily with their friends using Yahoo or Msn messengers. Others are able to take pictures using their camera phone and send it to other people.

Another form of communication technology used in our modern world is the Internet. People use the internet to access information on practically all subject matters. Almost everything can be found and researched about on the internet. The internet is also largely used for advertisements. Companies use the internet to communicate with their audience and to sell their products or services. They do this by creating a website that displays their sales. People are also able to post up their thoughts through blogging sites, such as Livejournal. Also, people can talk or meet other people on sites such as Facebook or Myspace, which are sites created to make friends. But as much as there are advantages to these modern-day communication technologies, there are also some disadvantages.

Most teens get too caught up using MSN or Yahoo that they tend to get too lazy and use shot forms for words, such as LOL for laugh out loud”, BTW for “by the way” or G2G for “got to go”. Developing this way of writing can affect how they write or talk in assignments for school. Taking pictures on phones, displaying your thoughts and feelings on the internet can also invade a certain person’s privacy. And although access to the internet is useful, there are some sites that are not appropriate for young people. Sites like Myspace could also be a disadvantage because like chat rooms, some teens meet and talk to other “teens” looking for friendships, without knowing who they really are, which a safe way to meet people. Also, anyone could pretend to be other people through the internet.

Modern technology has certainly improved our generation. The invention of emails, cell phones, and instant messenger has helped us in our everyday lives. But although communication technology has many advantages, there is always going to be disadvantages.