Measuring Virtual Skills?
A new trend.
(WORLD) The thing with actively promoting the lifestyles of young people, is without evidence, we're kind of preaching the unknown. Sure, we're intelligent enough, and it's easy to convince doubters when its 2+2=4, but when it's Kids+Computer Games=Smart… it's slightly harder to justify by giving actual results and data to those who aren't convinced.
At best, we manage to convince others that Multiplayer Online Gaming, can create team building skills, but beyond that, being able to provide evidence of leadership or solid skills that leap out of the Gaming environment and into the real world starts to get tricky. A few stories from the world of Second Life, are out there, telling the masses you can make money in a virtual environment, but to my knowledge, that's a pretty limited percentage doing so—unless it's by some budding entrepreneur or a project by a company that has the commitment to see it through to financial reward.
For the average Joe that sits and plays games all day long, it's hard to see how they can ever leap into a real world environment and turn themselves into the same superhero they are in the game.
That is, until I saw this story on Digg this morning: "Gamer uses virtual medic training to help save a life".
Now I'm not a gamer, and only have limited knowledge the genre, and I can't even tell if this Americas Army game is a cash in by some commercial, a simulation by some non-profit, or a Government funded attempt to make shooting people appear a lot cooler than it clearly isn't. I dunno, I don't play it.
The fact that the guy involved here is 28 and we don't know why he was playing this game in the first place is irrelavant. The point is, as more gaming providers realise that peoples lives are being dominated in some way by these games, I'm certain will only fuel the demand for more realism, leading to more real world benefits of virtual learned skills.
But either way I was pleased (so pleased) to read about the story, of the guy that saved someone's life because of it. In time more stories like this will rise to the surface and filter through the media to demonstrate the good side of gaming rather than constantly dwelling on the negatives. And all of us will be able to stop blowing hot air around and start waving actual documented examples of virtual / real world positives.
Related posts: Education Not Legislation/Play Is Good
