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Pokemon Go Argument Essay: Does Pokemon Go promote good health?
Prompt: You will be reading three articles about the popular app, Pokemon Go. Make a claim that answers the question, Does Pokemon go promote good health? In your response, use text evidence to support your claim. Mastery Rubric: Introduction (Paragraph 1): ___ 10 Points
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Restate claim.
Review the most important ideas.
Wrap up by asking a question or making a thoughtful comment. Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, Grammar _____ 5 Points Use of transition words _____5 Points Total _____60 REMINDER: DO NOT USE THE WORD, “I.”
Health benefits of Pokémon Go Date: July 15, 2016 Source: Texas A&M University Summary: Real-life positive health consequences of playing Pokémon Go--a new GPS-based augmented reality game--are being realized across the nation. According to one expert, this quest to "catch 'em all" is great news for public health.
Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was? Real-life positive health consequences of playing Pokémon Go -- a new GPS-based augmented reality game -- are happening across the nation. According to Matt Hoffman, DNP, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Nursing, this quest to "catch 'em all" is great news for public health.
I will travel across the land, searching far and wide
Players, known as "trainers," download the Pokémon Go game to their smartphones. To progress in
the game, trainers must walk around to find and catch Pokémon and access specific locations called
Pokéstops -- where Pokéballs and other useful items are collected. Poké eggs are among the things
that can be collected at these locations. Getting to Pokéstops, catching different Pokémon and
hatching the Poké eggs requires walking; lots of walking.
"Playing the game is a lot of fun, and it has been a catalyst to get people moving," said Hoffman who
has been affectionately dubbed the "Pokémon Professor" by co-workers.
"What began as just playing the game has now become a hobby for me that provides certain health
benefits," Hoffman continued. "I've spent an hour or two at a time venturing around the community to
find Pokéstops. And, to hatch one egg, a trainer must walk anywhere from one to six miles. There's
no doubt about it, I am exercising more as a result of playing the game, and I am enjoying it."
Hoffman isn't alone. Estimates of the number of Pokémon Go daily users range from nine to 21
million people, and this user base is growing daily. In addition to inspiring exercise, playing Pokémon
Go may have additional benefits.
Pokémon, (gotta catch'em all!) it's you and me
"There is a sense of community when trainers converge in search of Pokémon, or when they gather
together at Pokéstops," Hoffman said. "The game is bringing people together, providing opportunity
for social interaction and increasing our sense of belonging, which can have a positive impact on our
emotional and mental health."
Additionally, families may find that Pokémon Go lessens the technology tension that divides the
generations. "This is a relatively non-violent game, and I have seen families walking around playing
the game together," Hoffman said. "Or, it encourages parents to go outside with their children while
they play. Pokémon Go has the ability to transport families away from an evening on the couch to
walking around the neighborhood."
You teach me and I'll teach you
Hoffman said playing the game has even broadened his sense of curiosity and knowledge about his
local community. "I discovered new experiences within my community because the game has led me
to areas that I haven't explored, or, previously only driven through," he said. "Additionally, I've met
many interesting people while playing the game, and I enjoy seeing the variation in the character
designs and abilities."
Come with me, the time is right, there's no better team
Multiply the number of Pokémon Go players by the number of kilometers they must travel to
progress in the game, and the chances of negative consequences increase. "We often hear of
people falling off curbs or sustaining injuries as a result of staring at their phones and not paying
attention to their surroundings," Hoffman said. "It's good to always keep safety and best practices in
mind."
Hoffman emphasized players watch where they walk and be aware of surroundings when playing.
There is safety in numbers, and he encourages playing with friends as a team.
"Remember, you should never play Pokémon Go while driving. It's also important to avoid playing in
dark, isolated areas -- there have been reports of trainers being robbed and attacked," he said.
"Also, summer days are very hot, so use sunscreen and drink plenty of water before heading outside
during peak heat times. If you are one of the millions who are playing Pokémon Go, we hope you
catch 'em all!"
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Texas A&M University. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.
The Health Risks of Pokémon Go Though the app has been lauded for its health benefits, several countries have cautioned their citizens about the adverse effects of playing the game.
YASMEEN SERHAN
JUL 25 , 2016
NEW S
Since the release of Pokémon Go earlier this month, users in the United States, the United
Kingdom, and New Zealand have gotten into car accidents, beenrobbed, and stumbled upon dead
bodies in rivers, their attention compromised by the need to catch ’em all. The app has since
been released in 38 countries, and some government officials appeared to have learned a thing or
two from the experiences of the app’s first users.
France’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health Marisol Touraine issued a warning Monday in a
tweet addressed to “all trainers,” encouraging Pokémon Go users to exercise caution while using
the app. The app debuted in the country Sunday.
“To all the trainers: Go out, walking is good for your health! But be very attentive to avoid
accidents. Happy hunting! #PokemonGo.”
To use Pokémon Go, players must physically wander around real-world
locations in search of Pokémon characters. The app taps into a cellphone’s
GPS and camera to make Pokémon “appear” against the backdrop of users’
surroundings as they move around. The physical component of the game has
prompted many users to increase their overall physical activity, with early
reports praising the game for its ability to encourage daily exercise.
But the app has taken users to some strange places. Some locations have
proven to be more dangerous than others; two menfell off an ocean bluff while
attempting to catch a Pokémon in San Diego.
Several government officials and organizations in countries where the app is
available have issued warnings about potential health hazards. Turkey’s health
ministry advised users against playing the game during peak daylight hours in
a Facebook post earlier this month, cautioning against too much sun exposure.
The Israel Medical Association echoed similar warnings Sunday, advising
users against playing the game between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and encouraging
the use of sun protection. Japan’s National Center of Incident Readiness and
Strategy for Cybersecurity released a nine-point flier with safety tips for
players when the app went live last week.
In Bosnia, a nongovernmental agency warned citizens in a Facebook post of
the dangers of playing the game in dangerous areas, citing the risk of players
wandering onto old landmines that have existed since the 1992 Bosnian War.
Source: The Atlantic Magazine
Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D.Urban Survival
The Psychological Pros and Cons of Pokémon Go Can the game craze actually help people with depression and social
anxiety?
Posted Jul 12, 2016
Source: Matthew Corley/Shutterstock
I have been playing Pokémon Go this week to try to figure out what the buzz is all
about, and I can see why so many people are hooked. Pokémon Go is an augmented
reality game app in which you walk around capturing virtual Pokémon in the real world.
In terms of app downloads for Android users, the game has already surpassed Tinder
and is expected to surpass Twitter soon.
Amid all the talk about the game craze's numbers, there have also been suggestions
that the app can actually help people with depression and social anxiety. While it’s too
early to know whether Pokémon Go will help long-term with the treatment of anxiety or
depression, 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 or able to leave the house due to fear or anxiety.
The use of virtual and augmented reality technology in medicine to improve
psychological and physical health is not new and has an emerging role in the
treatment of many disorders. Virtual reality games are currently being used and
researched to treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as to alleviate pain, and
even to improve rehabilitation after strokes.
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, though less so, as a form of
exposure therapy to treat phobias, such as cockroach phobia, as well as post-traumatic
stress disorder. It has also been studied, in at least one case, to treat an amputee’s
phantom pain, a phenomenon that occurs when a limb is severely damaged or missing.
Pokémon Go harnesses the power of augmented reality in a different way by giving
people incentives for people to go out and explore.
Source: Marlynn Wei
Here, then, are some of the psychological pros and cons of Pokémon Go:
Pros
1. It’s fun, so it provides positive reward in and of itself. Pokémon Go is fun and
simple to play. This provides incentive for people to get off the couch and walk
around their neighborhood. A basic concept incognitive behavioral
therapy is 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 is structured with clearly defined goals and step-wise levels. Clear
structure, immediate feedback, and attainable goals are all very helpful, especially
for those with depression, to keep people interested and engaged. A lack of
structure can keep people with low energy, fatigue, lack of motivation, and
depressed mood in a rut. By creating incremental goals, the game encourages
feelings of effectiveness and moving forward.
3. It's an easy conversation-starter and can help ease social anxiety. Within an
hour of playing Pokémon Go outside, multiple people walking by me started talking
about the game. Social anxiety and depression are commonly marked by being
socially withdrawn and feeling uncomfortable around other people. With social
anxiety, it’s common to feel like you don’t fit in or that other people will judge you.
This game has the flexibility to let you play alone but also to be around other
people, so it gives you a way out if you want it but also the option to interact with
others over something you share in common, so it's low risk interaction. After 48
hours of playing, I can attest that other gamers will feel comfortable talking to you
when they see you playing the game. As one teen on the subway noted, when I
asked if she felt like people are talking more to each other, "Definitely! I would
have never talked to you if you weren't playing the game."
4. It is centered around a theme and cartoon that is non-threatening
and kawaii.This allows for users to focus on something that is innocent and cute
outside of themselves, in contrast to dating apps like Tinder or Happen, in which
people may feel like they are being judged or feel pressure to present their image
in a certain way. Pokémon Go also has advantages over social networking apps
like Facebook or Twitter, where users may feel pressure to produce interesting
content or may access information that can induce feelings like jealousy or envy.
This game in its simplicity and innocent subject matter minimizes that type of
social anxiety, pressure, or potential negative interactions.
5. It encourages walking by giving you an incentive to discover and collect new
Pokémon and balls to catch them—and it requires you to walk certain
distances to hatch "eggs" that you collect. Physical exercise is known to
effectively aid depression and overall health, and the app is a useful incentive to
go out and walk more.
6. You’ll notice things around you that you didn’t before. In the game, you collect
items at Pokéstops, which are around the neighborhood in places like sculptures,
architectural details, murals, or buildings. While the game does not expand
awareness and attention in the same way that meditation or mindfulness does,
you will notice more details in your environment that you typically overlook. This
can help you develop an appreciation of your surroundings.
7. The blending of reality and fantasy can spark
your creativity and childhoodimagination. Finding cartoons popping up in the
middle of buildings and streets can make you feel like a kid, and the app allows
you to create some fun and creative photos.
Cons
The game is already getting blamed for some injuries, criticized over
data privacy issues, and implicated in crimes, as a few people have used the game to
lure players to locations to rob them, so it’s important to exercise appropriate caution.
Here are some of the potential psychological cons or limitations of the game:
1. It gets you outside, but you’re still on your phone. While the app does
encourage outdoor play, you’re still plugged into technology. (As one teen pointed
out to me: Watch out, the game will drain your batteries!) This may not change
your life if you're already typically on your phone while walking outside. For
children and teens, the American Pediatric Association recommends screen time
of just one or two hours a day. (The app does allow you to meet and interact with
other players, rather than just look at the phone, which could offset this con.)
2. Playing the app makes you more distracted. The app itself features a
disclaimer cautioning you to be alert and aware of where you’re going while you’re
playing, but there have already been reports of injuries incurred when playing the
game. It does put the mind into a blended reality state, in which you’re not quite in
the real “present moment” since your eyes are focused on the phone looking at
something that isn’t actually there in reality.
3. The game puts you in a heightened "stressed" state. Since you’re technically
trying to find and catch something, your body is most likely in a fight-or-flight state,
meaning your adrenaline is pumping and your heart rate is a bit higher than usual.
For a short period, this can be fun, but long-term, you can experience fatigue and
feel more worn out, so it’s important to take breaks and make sure you’re not
experiencing side effects of excessive gaming.
4. The game could cause you to spend more time on your phone and make you
less social. Playing the game could actually make you less social and increase
the time you're on your phone and not interacting with people "IRL." But this will
vary based on an individual's experience.
5. The game could exacerbate symptoms for people who have difficulty
separating reality and fantasy. The game blends elements of reality with
virtual/fantasy elements, so it can be confusing for those who already have
difficulty distinguishing out what is real or not, specifically people who may have
psychotic symptoms, so it's important to be cautious in that situation and discuss it
with your doctor first.
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How the pros and cons of the game weigh out over time has yet to be studied
scientifically, but so far, fans of the game are out having fun and exploring. If you're
finding the game to be helpful for your anxiety, depression, or stress, please share your
experiences here.
Marlynn Wei, MD, PLLC © 2016
Source: Psychology Today
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