A whole generation (and more) of kids look at their hands like this … a lot.
they know how to hold and control the console; they learn to be dextrous - in the same way that I learned to be dextrous with a pencil, then a pen when I learned to write.
When I watch my son I see he looks at the screen and instinctively moves his hands, reacting so that he changes the on-screen text, making it do what he wants it to do, without thinking about the mechanical process of moving his hands (as I do when I write.)
This hand position links game players into texts in a way that I have never yet experienced.
I have not given the hours of time that my son has, to becoming accomplished at interacting with digital narratives which invite his participation.
My son often derides the stories in the games he plays but finds other things to enjoy beyond repetitive plot or shallow character (often in the games he plays). He enjoys the escapism, the thrill of the chase, the ability to replay exciting moments that he influenced, and to ‘drive’ a car impossibly fast, using skills he has acquired, over hours (in fact days and weeks) of practice.
This litle hand set allows players to move through texts in multiple ways, reading complex screens, assimilaing information that is useful not just for that game, but for countless others.
He reads the images, the charts on screen (how much energy has he eft? What weapons as he got? etc.) and can also read or hear dialogue. These screen based digital texts require full engagement of te mind and body.
Can kids of today concentrate on something for more than a few minutes at a time? You bet.
Just motivate them.
It is interesting how digital manipulations can be mapped onto other skills
I love the scene in Green Wing where they play the accordian while they operate.
THis made me think that manual dexterity is required in many professions including surgery.
Obviously when you are texting, you are practising brain surgery.
My son is an avid gamer and digital player, he now wants to be a doctor (sorry boasting very uncool)
Comment by Kate Pahl — October 3, 2006 @ 3:50 pm
oh yes. Green wing. So funny. Except that the blonde doctor ahs a terrible ilness in the end.
And the girl goes off with the wrong boy.
Boasting about one’s kids is not boasting. Because if it is boasting, that means that you think you should get the credit.
My son is very brainy at science and I can take no credit so it is not boasting.
I cannot lay the accordian ordo science.
Does your son play the accordian?
See?
Comment by DrJoolz — October 3, 2006 @ 4:40 pm