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[lars hasselblad torres]

thought i'd add a few thoughts on the gaming/entertainment discussion -

i believe that, at a very basic level, just about all windows - and some =
could
argue, command-line - interfaces are gaming environments.  certainly the =
mac
took its inspiration from the drive to create a 'fun, user friendly'
environment within which a variety of tasks could be easily - if not
seamlessly - completed. perhaps once a user stops 'navigating' a windows
environment and gets down to typing, the interaction becomes much less
'game-oriented.'

which is why i agree with david's observation that games can be hugely
beneficial for the teaching of basic- to advanced computer skills.

i grew up in the command-line world, where 'choose your own adventure' - =
the
prototypes for successes like Myst - were hacked through line by line.  S=
eeing
young people today struggle through five lines of 'where in time is carme=
n'-
when they would normally feel intimidated or highly frustrated in a class=
room
/ one-on-one setting - reinforces my belief that a basic skill like readi=
ng
comprehension can be improved significantly through computer games.

it is also important to remember that there is a logic inherent to comput=
er
games that doesn't exist when playing a human opponent - repetitive playi=
ng of
games within a controlled (closed) system can unintentionally condition t=
he
young person to expect specific kinds of responses.  lots of good writing=
 on
the logic of programmable systems and their unintentional effects on the =
user
through repetitive (often redundant) thinking.

just some thoughts,

lars hasselblad torres
founder/director
mediaport
202-483-2599

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