Right now we have to rely on the cleverness of the game producers, or the sophistication of the artificial intelligence to provide a challenge. But what will happen once our own bodies and brains become part of the game?
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/08/skin-signals-betray-gamers-moves.html
Those two links highlight ways that the physical is going to start invading the virtual, and already we’re seeing technical difficulties. We’ve got mental interfaces that let your brainwaves determine in-game actions, as well as a sensor that measures skin conductance and alters gameplay accordingly.
Honestly, I think we’re a little too quick on the draw to be playing games with electrodes strapped to our heads, especially since it pushes us through brainwave levels and modes that aren’t necessarily healthy and make one confused and less focused after elongated periods.
But that saying, “If it can be done, someone’s going to do it,” applies directly to this. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly this brain-tech develops, and I wonder if, someday in the not-too-far-off future we might be calling up psychologists on technical support hotlines just as much as we call computer experts.
“Yeah, Doc, I’m playing this awesome game and now I’ve got this painful throbbing behind my eyes. Like, jackhammer mixed with ice-pick type pain levels. Oh, and lots of sparkly flashing lights.”
“That would be a tumor.”
“Coooool. I can’t wait to tell my guild.”
I see that smile.
Honestly, I think we’re a little too quick on the draw to be playing games with electrodes strapped to our heads, especially since it pushes us through brainwave levels and modes that aren’t necessarily healthy and make one confused and less focused after elongated periods.
That’s a very valid concern, but you can consider the converse also. If humans hadn’t started using challenging new tools, way-back-when, our brains wouldn’t have evolved to be so capable of using those tools well. Our noteworthy intelligence is partly due to the fact that our species pushed itself to its limits.
Perhaps this is the first step in our next progression. 🙂
I agree that such steps should be taken…but maybe we should test these things out a little more before we start letting people treat it like a toy? Seems awfully quick for something to go mainstream, but I suppose there will always be those trying to ride the edge of a new technology. I just wonder what the consequences will be.