"Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv

[_Jersey Girl]

CK, I have to get off here but wanted to ask you a question about this:

The Nintendo Wii is likely merely the first of many technological products that will encourage greater physical involvement during the use of technology.

I've only seen the Wii on television perhaps once or twice. I think what I saw was a bowling game.

When playing/using the Wii, does the participant feel the weight of objects used?

What physical benefits would there be to the Wii?

(I'm techno challenged as if you can't tell!)

[_Ray A]

What do you think about this? Do you think that given the lifestyle of today's families, the accessiblity of and dependency on technology in our homes and schools, that children are missing a critical piece of learning in preparation for life and life's work? Are we, as adults, presenting them with a trade off between outdated memorization of fact and learning via virtual reality? Are they missing out on the development of concept construction through hands on experiential learning?

My children didn't grow up in the computer age (I grew up in the stone age), and we could never afford sophisticated technology (it all went in tithing), but as for today's kids, I offer my anecdotal opinion: Most of them have no appreciation of what it's like to do it tough. They take too much for granted, and maybe being born into the technological age has contributed to this. My nephew had a digital watch when he was about nine. I had to wind up my watch daily (that will tell you how old I am).

But I do think they still get a lot of "hands on" experience by parents who won't let them sit in front of computers all day, or allow them too much technology. I think it goes back to the parents. But we have a generation of youth who, in my opinion, have little appreciation of the sacrifices that were made so that we could have what we have today. When a politician a few years ago recommended conscription for 18 and over, the outcry was deafening. Maybe one solution would be mandatory history classes, while leaving information technology as an option.

Having five children has enabled me to do some zoological studies in my spare time, and I don't think they're ignorant of practical issues, for example my youngest daughter is a nurse working in aged care, and she knows more about biology than I do, yet she grew up in the "information age", and probably knows more about computers than I do. So I don't think we can lump them all together, and label it as some kind of "modern disease".


Check out the gold fish:
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[_CaliforniaKid]

I've only seen the Wii on television perhaps once or twice. I think what I saw was a bowling game.

When playing/using the Wii, does the participant feel the weight of objects used?

What physical benefits would there be to the Wii?

(I'm techno challenged as if you can't tell!)

At the moment, there is no mechanism for allowing players to feel the weight of objects. The Wii does, however, employ force-feedback technology in order to simulate "impact". It remains to be seen whether resistance can be more effectively simulated. I've seen a few attempts, but none that seem likely to catch on. As for health benefits, I've read that the Wii is used in old folks' homes for physical therapy. I've also read that people get tennis elbow from Wii Tennis. :-)

I had all kinds of computer games as a kid but still went out and climbed trees, mucked around in the creek, and played "war" with toy guns all the time. Granted, that was before the advent of the Internet. But even in high school, when the Internet was in vogue, I had time for tennis, basketball, track, and cross country. And I say this as a self-professed, consummate, un-athletic nerd. I doubt that the digital age will mean the end of civilization. It will surely mean increased specialization and different ways of thinking, but it won't be the end of face-to-face social skills or of good old-fashioned work and play.

[_Ray A]

I had all kinds of computer games as a kid but still went out and climbed trees, mucked around in the creek, and played "war" with toy guns all the time. Granted, that was before the advent of the Internet. But even in high school, when the Internet was in vogue, I had time for tennis, basketball, track, and cross country. And I say this as a self-professed, consummate, un-athletic nerd. I doubt that the digital age will mean the end of civilization. It will surely mean increased specialization and different ways of thinking, but it won't be the end of face-to-face social skills or of good old-fashioned work and play.

Chris, please don't try to look so normal.

[_Jersey Girl]

CK

I had all kinds of computer games as a kid but still went out and climbed trees, mucked around in the creek, and played "war" with toy guns all the time

Not intending to get personal here, but did you have a stay-at-home Mom or was she employed full time out of the home?

I'm essentially asking when you had time for the activities that you described doing "all the time".

[_CaliforniaKid]

Not intending to get personal here, but did you have a stay-at-home Mom or was she employed full time out of the home?

Stay-at-home.

I'm essentially asking when you had time for the activities that you described doing "all the time".

Admittedly, I was pretty bad about getting all my homework done in my elementary school days...

Chris, please don't try to look so normal.

Sorry. Uhm... I have tentacles and drinking pig's blood is a hobby of mine. :-)

[_Ray A]

Sorry. Uhm... I have tentacles and drinking pig's blood is a hobby of mine. :-)

That does it! Your blog is now anathema to me! I will report you to the FBI, ASIO, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Relief Society.

You are on notice!

[_Mister Scratch]

It seems to me that Louv is just recycling a very old Marxian argument: people have drifted away from their "real" work, etc. Machines do what human beings once did with their hands. The basic argument seems to be: people ought to be close to what they are doing, they ought to feel connected, etc. Is this a valid point? Yes, I suppose so. Is it as relevant today as it was in Marx's time? Yes, I suppose so.

[_harmony]

It seems to me that Louv is just recycling a very old Marxian argument: people have drifted away from their "real" work, etc. Machines do what human beings once did with their hands. The basic argument seems to be: people ought to be close to what they are doing, they ought to feel connected, etc. Is this a valid point? Yes, I suppose so. Is it as relevant today as it was in Marx's time? Yes, I suppose so.

What is your purpose in bringing Marx to the table?

I'm not sure what Marx has to do with brain development or early childhood education. Or video gaming, for that matter.

[_Dr. Shades]

I, too, get the impression that Louv is simply trying to justify, in a Freudian sort of way, his own keenly-felt obsolescence.