Assignment 5-1

As the world changes, the lifestyle in which the child generation is developing and being raised changes as well. As a child that grew up in the eighties, my lifestyle was very different than the one children live today. I remember coming home from school, eating, doing my homework, and rushing out the front door to play with my friends. We would go bike riding, play badminton, climb trees, and go for long walks. If my sisters and I were in the house, my parents would quickly instruct us to go outdoors and find something to do. Our current generation has no need to leave the house to have the capability to play with or without their friends. Children are now entertained with videogames, internet, and cellular phones. The popular form of entertainment that has even crossed over to the adult genre is video gaming.
Video gaming is a stimulation form of interaction that can be on ones own or with other players. I remember when the Nintendo was released to the market and I spent many hours in front of the television playing the game “Sonic the Hedgehog”. Videogames have progressed way beyond the simple graphics and interaction of one or two players. One can find almost any videogame that can be imagined to satisfy personal interest. There are racing, war, music, art, and sports videogames. The list goes on and on. A person can also make the decision to play a videogame with no participants or interact with individual from all over the globe utilizing the internet. There are a variety of videogames are available for all age and skill levels.
The popularity of videogames has both positive and negative results. Some of the positive results are enhanced computer skills, increased communication with other cultures, increased self esteem, and opportunities for training simulations. A few of the negative effects are decreased physical activity in the population, improper violent and sexual influences, and decreased in person interaction with others. The effects that videogames have will only grow as technology advances and I can only imagine the possibilities for our next generation.