Game Of Words : View Vs Counter View 1.8

The impact of Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game app in which you walk around capturing virtual Pokémon in the real world. There have been suggestions that the game could actually help counter depression and social anxiety. The game has successfully encouraged people to go outside, walk, and interact more socially. The app has the potential to benefit people who would not otherwise be motivated to leave the house.

Augmented reality is slightly different than virtual reality because it doesn’t transport you into a new space but keeps you in the real world. Virtual objects, such as the Pokémon in this game, are blended with real objects using GPS. Augmented reality technology has been studied as a form of exposure therapy to treat phobias as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. Pokémon Go harnesses the power of augmented reality in a different way by giving people incentives for people to go out and explore.

View:

Some of the reasons I firmly support the game are:

1. Pokémon Go is a really fun and simple game that could attract people of any age to play. It also uses the concept of behavioral activation, which means that if you can go out and experience the positive rewards of healthy behavior, like going to the gym, then you are more likely to feel better and create a positive feedback loop to pursue more healthy behavior.
2. The game has said to have created a wave around the world in terms of helping people talk to other people. People have the option to either play the game alone or interact with strangers playing the game around him/her. This gives the people the comfort level to help deal with social anxiety. 
3. It is centered on a theme and cartoon that is non-threatening. This allows the users to concentrate on something other than themselves which is cute, innocent and simple.
4. It encourages walking as People need to walk a certain distance to complete tasks in the game. And physical exercise is known to effectively aid depression and overall health, and the app is a useful incentive to go out and walk more.  
5.  The game makes you notice small things in your neighborhood thereby making you appreciate your surroundings. 

• Nishanth Ashutosh

               1 BBA A

Counter View:

Pokémon Go is very addictive and can cause serious problems. Experts all over the globe are against it. The game uses Google maps, has access to your IP address and can be used by many criminals to trace one's location.

The game is also raising national concerns. This issue is highlighted by the fact that Egyptian officials are considering banning the game because it allegedly exposes the country’s vital security sites to the world. Some people fear that it could be used by the US and Japan to locate military bases all over the world.

Some of the reasons I am firmly against this game are:

1. Privacy issues:

The app also threatens an individual's privacy. All information linked to your Google account, including emails, pictures, documents and contacts can be accessed by Nintendo.

It can access your entire Google account, and get ‘read and write’ access to your email, Google Drive docs, and more

2. The psychological impact:

Many players, young and old alike, are awake till late hours to try and 'catch 'em all,' thereby disrupting their sleep patterns. Experts have also issued warnings that this disruption in the sleep-wake cycle may cause long-term problems.
Doctors say that the phone's game screen emits a blue light, which makes our brain believe it is still day time even when it is night thereby seriously affecting a person’s sleep-wake cycle. Insufficient sleep leads to stress and that leads to a whole lot of problems. Doctors say that another indirect effect of Pokémon Go could be obesity and malnutrition. It affects the eyes as all and can cause discomfort, itching, and headache."

3. Data and other concerns:

Apart from safety concerns, the app will leave one with a massive data bill. The app uses 3G, GPS and the phone's camera which drains the battery very fast.

Thus, people should start realizing such alarming issues and take action. It’s about time people learn to say “Pokémon NO!”  

•                                                                                                  -   Nischal Jain

                     1 BBA A