The video gaming industry started gaining popularity back in the 1970s. It was only considered a childhood activity by then. However, the advancements in games and gaming gadgets have evolved to a new level now. Today, adults are more into gaming and some enthusiasts learn, play, and compete at several gaming platforms. Today there are consoles, tablets, computers, smartphones, and other portable gaming gadgets that let you play anywhere.
There are certain pros and cons related to gaming and addiction. It is sometimes portrayed as a source of violent behavior rather than entertainment by media personnel. The amount of time an individual spends playing video games steals the light from the benefits it has. There are certain positives related to games and gaming. Studies prove that video games are a way of developing better skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and even enhance brain activity.
The question that does playing video games makes you smarter, although does not have a straight answer. But there are certain factors which may prove that video games are beneficial. These factors include:
- Increased Attention and Control
- Increased Memory
- Enhance Problem Solving
- Increased Spatial Intelligence
- Impact Decision Making
To understand more about the effect of video games on a person. Let’s explore the above factors and find out what studies suggest.
Increased Attention and Control
Studies suggest that action related video games are a source of improving attention and control. This also includes the coordination of hands with the eye. According to researchers, action games involve high-speed movements of objects that appear or disappear on the screen in a fraction of a second. A user is made to recognize things and revert with an action. All this is done in a matter of seconds. This improves attentional abilities and improves recognition.
Sometimes gamers have to focus on one object out of thousands on a video game screen. Such games improve one’s ability to focus and improve its response rate. Video gamers tend to recognize and track moving objects faster than non-video gamers. Research also proves that video gamers have a faster response rate than any non-video-gaming person. Hence, it proves that video games do improve attention and control.
Increased Memory
Memory and attention have a close relation. If you pay attention to something, your memory will be involved as well. Since games improve attention, therefore they have a direct relationship with a person’s memory as well.
Sometimes, video games have sequences and events that have to be remembered for later use. This may include certain keycodes, the visual setting of a scene, or even words said by a character in the game. To advance further in-game, a player has to use those codes or recreate a scene. This helps improve the memory of a person. Studies also prove that action video gamers have a better retaining memory than non-gamers. They show exceptional results in short term memory-related tasks as well. Another research proves that gaming improves the brain’s ability to be more flexible in accepting new information while increasing the memory capacity of gamers.
Enhance Problem Solving
Many video games involve different types of problem-solving techniques. To advance further, a player has to apply several strategies and solve different puzzles. A study conducted in 2013 showed that students who play strategy games had exceptional problem-solving abilities and improved grades in school.
Another research concluded that the more kids who played strategy games, the more creative they get. Students tend to show improvement in writing stories, drawing pictures. Their imaginative capabilities were increased which helps them visualize concepts more easily. However, another use of smart gadgets and its side-effects is a separate question.
Gaming improves communication skills, knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities in a person. This is proven by Glasgow university’s research which suggests that these improved learning abilities are something an employer looks out for when hiring fresh graduates.
Increased Spatial Intelligence
Most 3D video games require spatial intelligence to navigate through complex environments. Studies show that video games significantly improved the visualization and imagination of a non-gamer. Games improved their ability to understand complex shapes and identify objects in complex or tricking environments.
Another study also proved that video gamers have a faster response rate in visual searches when compared to non-gamers. According to medical researchers, gaming improves the network of complex virtual tasks in our brain and makes it efficient.
Impact Decision Making
Video games require quick and efficient responses to proceed. Strategy or action games require frequent decision making to advance in a sequence. Studies prove that interactive video games improve the decision-making abilities of a person. They reduce bias and increase positive decisional behaviour to advance.
Video games have several benefits that can positively impact you and make you smarter. However, addiction to anything can have negative effects. One such reason is health and the weakening of eyesight. Younger children who get addicted to gaming on handheld devices are at an increased risk of having weak eyes. Hence it is important to keep a time limit for children or use certain gadgets to help save their eyes. The Gamecube HDMI Video Adapter for example could help let a child play on a bigger and better screen rather than sticking to the portable device close to the eyes.
