Pokémon GO... More like Pokémon GONE...
Pokémon GO is a mobile game from 2016 which uses the power of Augmented
Reality. The Purpose of the game is to capture virtual Pokémons. But because
this is a augmented reality game, you actually have to leave your house and
walk around to play it. This all seems fun at first; it sounds even healthier
than sitting behind your computer all day. The truth is however that the outdoor
gaming part can be quite dangerous. In your room, you are safe and protected
from external influences. But walking on the streets with your attention on
your phone makes you extremely vulnerable.
Even though the game promoted physical activity, multiple governments
were concerned about the security of the players. Therefore, police departments
in various countries started with the expression of sincere warning statements.
These warnings were mainly about issues like trespassing and inattentive
driving. However, some additional concerns occurred too; players were often
targeted by criminals, due to the lack of awareness about one’s surroundings. “Some
people playing Pokémon GO seem to be forgetting that while the game is in their
phones, they’re still wandering around in the real world” (Irby, 2016).
One’s opinion could be that the previous mentioned concerns are just
problems for the players. “Natural selection at its finest.” Unfortunately, it’s
more complicated than that. Often we see innocent people becoming a victim due
to another person’s stupidity. This happens for instance often while drunk
driving. This is also the case with inattentive driving while playing the game.
In Japan, the first accident caused by the game happened only within a few
hours after the release of the game. The first death happened a few weeks
later. Two women were hit by a distracted driver, one of them broke her neck.
I think it’s necessary to regulate the use of these games. People should
be properly informed about the risks, and it’s the governments task to provide
people with this information. It’s sad to say, but often people are just not
that bright. And the problem is getting bigger, since the rapid development of augmented
reality and its uses. More and more games like this will be created, which will
bring more and more accidents along.
References
(Irby, K. 2016, July 11. Police: Pokemon Go leading to increase in local crime.
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/nation-world/national/article88935332.html)
(Irby, K. 2016, July 11. Police: Pokemon Go leading to increase in local crime.
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/nation-world/national/article88935332.html)
Hi Sven,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI really like the choice of the event you made concerning the dangers of augmented reality. I have tried playing Pokemon GO for couple of days when it was released, but did not enjoy it much. However some of my friends do still play it nowadays, despite the issues and concerns raised globally about the game. Honestly I have not seen any sign of lack of attention by them, because they do play it by walking, which is safer than while driving a car or riding a bike. Moreover, they do not play it when we go out in the city center of my hometown, since that they are aware that it would make them not pay much attention to our conversations. I definitely do agree with you that it is necessary to regulate the use of these games, especially while driving a car or riding a bike. Many people do not realize that playing this game and driving can be as dangerous or even more as consuming alcohol and driving. I really hope that there are going to be more developments on this matter and states would realise the impact that augmented reality has on today's society.
Cheers,
Alessandro Gerosa