Is It Just A Game?

My adolescent years were filled with playing Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter and so many other games (2013). Not to mention video arcades where I and my friends, or friends of friends, sometimes hang out at the weekend. In gaming today, it is so much more than just a child asking his or her parent for a video game for the latest console from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo (respectively). While playing these video games that have evolved with technology, most people wouldn't describe it as a multimillion/billion-dollar business.

We are all gamers, and we play online not only with our friends across the street but also with players all over the world (2020). It may only become a trend. But we all needed social interaction during the pandemic since children, teenagers, and adults alike were virtually cut off from each other during the lockdown and social distancing. Gaming has become an acceptable and sustainable way for people to stay in touch online.

There seems to be little doubt that the multiplayer multimedia universe will change the financial landscape soon because it will attract thousands of people from across the world. I no longer see gaming as something to be feared, but rather as something to value. Listed below is one gamer with numbers that professional athletes would accept: Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf earned $3.2 million winning a competition in Fortnite. The game is loosely based on killing as many people as possible in a multiplayer multi-universe battle arena (n.d.).

With companies such as EA (n.d.), the gaming industry, which was once seen as a waste of time and money, is now a multimedia titan changing the lives of those who want to dedicate their futures to working, playing, and contributing to the industry.

References

BBC. (n.d.). How online gaming has become a social lifeline. BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201215-how-online-gaming-has-become-a-social-lifeline.

Heath, J. (2021, March 11). The 10 highest Earning esports players in the world. Dot Esports. https://dotesports.com/general/news/top-earning-esports-players-21870.

Home Page. EA Games. (n.d.). https://www.ea.com/. Lagomarsino, J. (2013, January 16). The life and death of the American arcade. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/16/3881942/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-arcade.

TikTok: Dancing Away To Stay Fit Or Is It Just A Ticking Time Bomb??

It should be noted that I am not a fan of the social media platform, TikTok. Having two left feet makes me dance like a penguin with unhappy feet. My wife on the other hand, at 35 years young, is an avid TikTok enthusiast. Whenever she isn't sharing flash fiction on her page, I find her in random rooms doing fanciful routines, not to be outdone by whatever teenager has come up with a new "dance".

@denaelerian_writer

##duet with @denaelerian_writer ##diabeticwarrior ##dance ##update ##weightlossjourney ##plateau

♬ The Magic Bomb (Questions I Get Asked) [Extended Mix] - Hoàng Read

I was intrigued by her passion for this social media platform. I started to look up various TikTok dancing routines and I found many different ones including a fad exercise routine that could lead to dangerous health repercussions (2021). There is also a dance that has been said to give you perfect abdominal muscles. This claim is being disputed by various other credible sources (2021).

I found TikTok's gain in popularity somewhat expected as people are constantly on the go (excuse the pun). We have less and less time to sit down in front of the TV, let alone a computer screen. TikTok is clearly gaining momentum. Even though most forms of exercise, whether they are in the gym or dancing on TikTok, are not frowned upon, it is important to have the right instruction so people with limited movement or those with rare health issues do not damage themselves or others by their actions (2020).

TikTok is really for the young at heart and should be enjoyed by those who can dance and show the older generations the importance of staying active and fit, even if it means standing in front of the washing machine and dancing around like you're on a hallucinogenic high (like my dear wife who shared a dance with me that she liked to do in her childhood with her grandparents).

References

Isaac Jayne, P. (1 May 2021). TikTok Weight Loss Dance. Cosmopolitan.com. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a36307738/tiktok-weight-loss-dance-viral-expert-dangerous/

Moniuszko,S. (26 May 2021). TikTok Thrusting Dance Workout Ineffective Fitness Experts Say. USAToday.com. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/05/26/tiktok-thrusting-dance-workout-ineffective-fitness-experts-say/5239160001/

Strapagiel, L. (26 October 2020). Most Viral TikTok Dances of 2020. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/most-viral-tiktok-dances-of-2020

 Are We Virtually Plugged In?

Blog 3 by: Alex Elerian

As the pandemic grips us all, some workers are wondering when they will return to their original workplace? From my own experience, my wife works remotely as a phone banker from home. She doesn't have to go into an office and once she is logged off for the day she is already home and can leave work behind. One negative consequence of working in the office is that workers may work both on-site and at home. This lack of boundaries with work can cause conflicts with loved ones. 

Facebook wants to use the VR headset system, Oculus, as a way to bridge the gap between working from home and working in person. It combines the best of both worlds. 

The technology will help bring a new perspective concerning online meetings, which could be a lot more entertaining and productive (and if not, there is always the mute button). Facebook Oculus has been around since 2016 and admittedly this isn’t the first time Facebook has wanted to use the virtual reality headset to integrate its technology with forms of social media (2021).

As workers are still operating in a pandemic-based working environment, I say to Oculus: "No time like the present!"

I personally think the Oculus could be a game-changer (although some people experience skin irritation from the device). As the Oculus headset wearers can view their real-life computer screen in VR via the accompanying desktop app, permitting workers to work from anywhere in the world while still being connected to their coworkers requires a bit of technical adjustment for some of us who are not that technically savvy (2021).

References 

"Facebook launches VR remote work app, calling it a step to the ‘metaverse’". (2021).

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/19/facebook-launches-vr-remote-work-app-calling-it-a-step-to-the-metaverse.html

Metz, R. (19 Aug 2021).

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/19/tech/facebook-horizon-workrooms-oculus-vr/index.html

 Positive Communication

Blog 2 by: Alex Elerian

There is a wonderful notion - some ideas are capable of changing everything - and no, I'm not talking about Life Insurance or Reverse Mortgages. I am speaking of people taking action through a positive idea. People desire to improve themselves and help those around them.

We have never been so connected as we are today thanks to social media. Using software like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Facebook Messenger, we can share ideas from all around the world with one another.

Using communication to give back is a valuable experience. Companies such as Microsoft understand. In 2016, they understood the necessity of the global market and global communication. Through the development of stronger communication bonds, Microsoft helps other businesses get affordable internet access. Microsoft also provided startups with access to a global network that connects social enterprises with peers and mentors to develop best practices for Microsoft's new global partners (2016). 

The accessibility of communication for remote regions of Africa has paved the way for modern business growth. Rwanda and Uganda have not only faced Third World conditions, a lack of resources, and political unrest, but also civil war (2021).

Communication can be turned around for developing countries and their communities, creating a more conducive environment for business and other aspects of life.

References

REDMOND, WASHINGTON, R. (2016).

https://www.microsoft.com/africa/4afrika/affordable-access-fund.aspx

Witness, U. (2021). 

https://www.apc.org/en/news/uganda-2021-general-elections-internet-shutdown-and-its-ripple-effects

The Changing Faces of Technology 

Blog 1 by: Alex Elerian

    💬📲📹📺📷📱

There is no doubt that real stories should be told by real people. Mobile technology has changed the way communicators work. However, this isn't necessarily a good thing. 

Let me explain:

We are, by nature, communicators. Humankind's "need to know" is best illustrated by journalists. An audience gets this character trait from a writer, a cameraman, a photographer, or a sound engineer regardless of whether it is a written piece or one that contains pictures or sounds.

What’s my point? I’m glad you asked. 

The once-bustling industry of editors and writers, camera operators, and sound engineers has been replaced by data analysts and app developers who may or may not know anything about upcoming stories (2021). How much empathy and humanity are we sacrificing in order to cut costs to tell a story? In most cases, readers want to feel like they are heard and not just looked at as a number, which unfortunately is already true with countless gun violence victims and COVID-19 pandemic survivors (2021).

Don't get me wrong, I have no agenda against data analysts or app developers. The advancement of technology has brought benefits to communication whether it's sending work via email or using WhatsApp to receive information at a moment's notice.

Let technology benefit people, not take them out of the equation.

💬📲📹📺📷📱

References

Kurz, P. (2021)
https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/the-future-direction-of-television-news

Dillion, D. (2021).
https://www.newscaststudio.com/2021/03/15/broadcasters-adapting-to-change-trying-new-technology-notes-newscaststudio-survey/