Does Video Game Addiction Really Exist?

I've been working on a research project with some other students about video game addiction. While video game addiction is a popular topic, many papers and articles recognize that a standardized definition for it does not exist. This is a problem because it becomes difficult to give suggestions and come to conclusions without a consensus of what we are talking about. My collaborators and I all recognize that excessive video game playing can be very problematic, but we are divided on the issue of addiction. Some of them think that video game addiction does not exist because they feel video games don’t cause a physical dependency—a necessary element to fit the general definition of addiction. I disagree. I think that video games do affect us physically. Certain games can engross us so much that we feel detached from our bodies and we feel a temporary break from our physical needs (Things as TheyReally Are). The body can become so used to this physical detachment that it can come to rely on it and become addicted. 

Here I Come!

The Internet has changed the way people interact and communicate. Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky gives a lot of cool insights into these new interactions, but I found the book far less then revolutionary. Having witnessed the uprisings in Egypt and Syria this year—revolutions that were organized in a large part on Facebook and Twitter—I felt like I already got the concepts discussed in the book. Nothing felt new. Maybe the book had a larger impact two years ago when it came out. Back then fewer big events involving social media had occurred. Maybe the book is more valuable to older audiences that see the shift in communication as a bigger change from what they are used to.

I’m glad I read the book; I’ve certainly gained a bit more insight into online social interactions, but I feel like I could have gotten that from a summary a tenth the size. 

Parenting and Technology

Patent Scared

I used to be involved in a few business ventures.  Even though most of my experiences were positive, I have seen first hand the personal toll that takes place when complications arise, partnerships sour, and litigation is threatened.  So when I hear of people loosing their businesses in patent lawsuits, I feel sickened, particularly when the patents in question are for ideas that should not be patentable.  The US government shouldn’t be handing out patents for software ideas as general as “backing up files online,” and “sharing pictures on the internet” (see When Patents Attack!).  I enjoy discussing with my friends ideas for new iPhone apps or social media ventures, but I am honestly scared to try an entrepreneurial venture that would make our ideas a reality for fear of litigation.  Aren’t my feelings counter to the type of innovation patent law is trying to protect?  We need to reform the system and get rid of software patents that are too general.

Whitehouse.gov Petition: "Direct the Patent Office to Stop Issuing Software Patents and to Void all Previously Issued Patents" and response

Reddit discussion on the issue

A possible solution

I can’t talk; I’m at my computer

The percentage of women in software engineering jobs and related degrees has never been very high, and in recent years, it’s been dropping even more (NY Times).  I asked my wife why she thinks computer science is uninteresting to her and other women.  She said, “It’s too anti-social.”  She pictured a guy in a lone cubicle or back room with only his computer for company for hours on end.  I explained to her that nothing could be further from the truth: Software engineers have to interact with customers, team members and managers on a regular basis in order to be successful with their jobs.  Some of my mentors in the industry tell me that good communication and social skills are crucial to a successful career.  The misconception by men and women alike that software engineering is a solo activity is one of many that keep women away from the field.  We need to better represent the reality of the workplace if we are going to be successful in attracting more women to computer science. 

Masses of Data

As new technology has made it easier to share information, the amount of data that we have available to us has grown exponentially.  This is a great thing, which also presents unique challenges.  Two important questions are how do we make it possible for people to find the data that’s most relevant to them, and how do we avoid error and duplication?  The first question is being addressed by amazing search engines.  A multi-billion dollar industry has grown up around providing relevant searches.  The second question is being addressed by crowd sourcing.  Wikipedia has proven that reliable information can be maintained by the masses.  These solutions that help us deal with huge amounts of data provide interesting possibilities. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and others are currently implementing these techniques to record and link personal records to fill in the entire family tree of humankind.  Just think of it!  Billions and billions of people will be able to trace their family histories back to the dawn of time.

"Enter to learn; go forth to serve."

One of the things that I love most about attending BYU is the way religion is incorporated into my studies.  Not only do I take a core of religion classes, but religious topics often come up in my other subjects—even my science classes.  And these insights, how religion and faith are applied to real life situations, have been very beneficial to me.  In an introductory information technology class my freshman year, my professor gave this advice: “When looking for a job, don’t get too caught up in matters of pay and prestige, but pray to get the Lord’s direction in finding a job where you can serve in some way.  And there are great opportunities to serve in many companies.”  That has stuck with me, and now that I’m looking for an internship next summer, I’m applying that advice.  My studies at BYU have given me more than just knowledge, they have given me direction.