I recently found out I'm a Newbie
I’ve always been aware of the world of computers, or should I say technology and what it offers, mostly as an end user. I love surfing the net, I even put screen savers with photographs of family members or anyone I like on my PC. I think the term is Skin now? I’m not sure. Correct me if I’m wrong. I know how to use several software programs and how to search the web for information.
However, it’s since I became an active participant of blogging at JU that I became even more aware of how exciting and complicated this world, the Interactive world, is. When I tune in to JU I browse articles, make comments on those I find interesting and check out my blog to see if anyone stopped by. The one area I never really ventured into is the OC Customization, Gaming and PC blogs. Sometimes when there are interesting or informative articles on the main page, I’ll read it, if it’s of interest to me or scan to see what’s being discussed. The only time I ever offer a comment is when Brad gives his updates, like this morning, for example. Then I also noticed an article by Cordelia for Newbie’s. What a word, New-bie, it rolls of the tongue doesn’t it? I like it actually.
When I do venture timidly into the interactive world I feel a little overwhelmed. Not scared, overwhelmed. Because of all the terminology and I feel as if I should know what they’re talking about. I’m there like a fly on the wall, listening on conversations, scanning articles, and wondering to myself, wow, these guys are so good at this. I have no idea what they’re talking about. It doesn’t all go above my head however, it just takes me a little longer to figure out what some of the things are, like, “flamed”, or “META keyword” (still didn’t figure that one yet?), or “GUI”. I guess I’m a Newbie, no doubt about it.
Here’s something I recently found out; the folks at MIT (Metropolitan Institute of Technology) said that a new art form has been created. Guess what it is? You tech guys and gals should already know this terminology, Interactive Narrative. It’s the latest way of socializing, or not, it depends on how you look at it, I guess. Quite an interesting phrase isn’t it? In-ter-ac-tive Nar-ra-tive.
You see the new, and it’s really not so new, craze as we all know are video games. Those little, or big, interactive screens that men and boys, and some girls get glued to for hours is the reasons why guys and gals get together or not. One can sit and play a game for hours without realizing it.
At any rate, video games are so important in a teenager’s life that it’s taking over the way they socialize with each other. On a date the boys eventually end up in front of a television or computer screen, there is no conversation, no intellectual discussion. They are totally enrapt in what is going on in their interactive world.
I must admit that those games can be very addictive. I’ve played a few with my son. And it’s a fun way to spend time with your kids. But after a while, I’m bored with it, my eyes hurt and I’ve had enough. Not my son though. He’s so into video and hand held games. He’s even creating his own trading cards of his favorite cartoon or animation characters. He’s so good at it; some of them were published by our local neighborhood newspaper. He was very proud and so was I.
While this is good, because it shows his creative side and how much effort and time he puts into something. I worry about the distraction that games may cause. He tells me all the time, “Mom it’s not going to let me not do my school work”. I try not to worry about it. At least not anymore. He recently told me he completed his exam, an important one, by pretending he was battling and completed every level of this game and he won. Because he finally completed an exam within the time limits set for him. He’s very bright, but taking tests are hard for him because he never finishes within the time limits set. This was never a problem when he was a lot younger, he’s 10, but then he wasn’t in the 5th Grade at age 5.
I guess he’ll be a future tech person. He’s already talking like one. When he’s talking to me about a new game or some new figure in the interactive world and I look totally clueless, he gets really exasperated with me. I’m lucky he doesn’t “flame” me for my ignorance!
In the meantime, I’ll try to learn what I can by peeking in the window of OC Customization and so on and perhaps then I won’t be a Newbie anymore.