WALL-E

It just struck me how our lives have evolutionized a full circle. From our parents' time of constantly loitering outdoors and playing with the kids in the block, to our time of staying indoors glued to our computer games, and then now to our juniors' time of living and playing in a computer simulated environment that mimics reality to the extent of even integrating the actions of (for example swinging the arm as one would when playing tennis or golf) games. In Wii (which mind you, I thought was really fun), the whole game is simulated, minus the running (as the avatar that represents you does all that automatically, plus the funky action moves, for you), and the sun beating down on your back (as you would be comfortably standing on your soft carpet in the comforts of your air-conditioned living room).

At this point, I am reminded of Wall-e. The bit on humans getting more and more dependent on technology to bring about so-called luxury in the form of automation and simulations that no longer require the bodily functions. The fact that we need a remote control now, a microwave, a television are all starting signs to show where we are headed: Axiom.

But don't forget the best bit, where they return back to earth and are all over-awed by the beauty of it. So perhaps we are beginning to feel the effects of over exposure to cyberspace, and hence, the production of games like Wii to remind us that hey, we still have a body!

A few days back, there was a small malay boy no older than 7 years old sitting next to me on the train totally engrossed in his psp. His mother, sister and baby brother were almost a family of their own as they oblivious to him. And I was just watching his game in silent surprise. He was playing a kickboxing game where his knowledge of where and how to hit his opponent in such accuracy was amazing. And I wondered why the game had to have information on things like where there vital points are to ensure maximum injury.

Then again, I don't understand why they need to make games like this. Let me explain. In learning kickboxing (in real life), there are alot of values such as respect being learnt at the same time, ensuring that the learner learns the value behind the sport beyond mere physical fighting. However, all these necessary values are filtered out in a computer game as there is nothing left but the ultimate goal of killing/hurting/eliminating someone else. But for exactly what reason are you killing that poor dude? Its hence no wonder that the ultimate result is children growing up being unable to distinguish make-belief from reality, and thinking that violence is normal.(http://news.softpedia.com/news/Violent-Video-Games-Are-Increasing-The-Aggressive-Behavior-of-Boys-6653.shtml)

Now, if we take the tools we have (i.e. the technological know-how) and use these to create games for a justifiable or beneficial reason, perhaps it makes more sense. A child, being unable to travel to the 7 wonders of the world, being unable to go to the deepest oceans and highest mountains and see space for himself, gets alot of benefit from learning about all these in the simulated environments that opens his horizon to beyond the 4 walls. Social impact games (http://www.socialimpactgames.com/) lets them experience phenomenas (such as an earthquake) or issues (such as political wars) first-hand that they would otherwise be unable to do in reality. All these are relevant and useful cyber creations that do not alienate reality nor compromise an individual's social capability to re-integrate back into society.

As the world is now all interconnected thanks to the media and the internet, we have now come to an age where we have much power in our hands to impact the world. With our knowledge of technology which we will never be able to escape from anyway, we can choose to use it for destruction or for benefit. Of course, we cannot dictate every single person to be pure and perfectly straight-laced. However, as a personal social responsibility, it would certainly benefit more people to use our knowledge and tools for things that could contribute towards helping and create a positive impact on others.