Video Games ARE Good For You: Part III

So, here we are on the last leg of this three part series. If this were a horse, it would have been shot and put out of its misery long ago. Fortunately, no angry parent has come chasing after me with a gun, so let’s wrap this up. In this final post, I’ll discuss how video games can help with visual development and look at a real life application as a result of playing video games. And finally, I will provide a brief summary of what we have learned.

Visual Development

According to one study, “Action video games may train our eyesight so we have a better contrast sensitivity function (CSF), which is our ability to detect shades and colors that differ from the background”. The study goes on to explain how video games may even help improve the physical process that take place in the brain behind the eye balls. In another study, it has been shown that playing video games not only helps with the physical process of visual development, but they also contribute in a positive way to increasing visual attention. In other words, playing video games might also help improve focus for people. Unless, of course, a child is sitting in a boring math or history class, and all he or she can think about is playing games after school. But don’t worry parents, as long as your child can graduate, regardless of the grade, playing video games can be a step in the right direction for young people entering the work force. We’ll look at that next.

Real Life Application

So here’s the crunch, the punch line, the benefits of having played video games in a very real and concrete way. Mom and dad, listen up. Guess who wants children who have been raised on video games: none other than dear old Uncle Sam. That’s right, the military has found that those who have played video games adapt very well to their electronic world. A report put out by CBS states: “In short, video games made better soldiers and sailors faster, safer and cheaper.” So while some may say that video games today are violent (and I would not disagree), these same violent games, the war games especially, are actually teaching our young people the same military tactics that the armed forces teach.

Summary

Ok, so this is where I put the stupid disclaimer stuff and provide a summary. I should probably mention that there could be just as many studies found that portray the negative side of video game addiction as there are that show the positive side. I didn’t do that, because I didn’t want to. I could say that if you play too much, you may end up with thick, black rimmed, coke bottle glasses, hands permanently cramped as if holding a game pad, and a bottom that has become irrevocably numb from sitting in the same position for hours on end. I should also mention that many of the studies included in this three part series did suggest that not all video games provided the benefits as discussed. In terms of the benefits, some games are more beneficial than others. You can read about this for yourself if you really want to. So…for the rest of the summary:

1. Cancel your Prozac prescriptions.
2. Find a way to convince your parents that you are doing your homework by playing video games.
3. Understand that you will actually be more social and have more friends as a result of playing.
4. Who needs an eye doctor? Just play video games – it will do your vision a world of good.
5. Continue to play video games, and get a job.

P.S. For some reason that is beyond me, I am having a problem with the links in this post. The links for the studies mentioned in this post are as follows:

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/03/action-video-games-improve-eyesight.ars

http://powerusers.edc.org/materials/Green-BavelierQuestionAbstract.pdf

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/08/eveningnews/main672455.shtml