Playing Video Games can have Health Benefits?

Figure 1. Playing VR

Have you ever played a game using VR? If you haven't, the system allows you to place yourself into the game. You get transported into this virtual world where you can have a hand-on experience with your favorite video games. Imagine, you playing as the main character controlling their every motion, every time you move the character moves as if you were actually IN the game! And as you know, playing video games can be super fun and can make you extremely happy. But did you know that playing video games with a virtual reality headset can also have health benefits? I know weird right but, when you are playing a game in VR, you are relaxing and making yourself less stressed which puts you in a better mood especially after a difficult day of working hard at school.

Figure 2. Multiplayer VR experience

You can also connect with people when playing an online, multiplayer game in virtual reality. When you play online games, you are able to connect with others and build friendships around your common interest of video games. The talks you have with the people playing the game can help increase your ability to communicate with others. Especially so when you are playing a virtual reality game with other people. When you move, your avatar moves. So, when you play an online game with people who are also using VR, you are able to feel like you are talking to them in real life instead of just in an online, virtual world. This allows for you to communicate better as you feel like they are actually there talking to you.

Figure 3. Using VR in a hospital

The use of VR can also help kids who are very sick and cannot go outside because of how sick they are. Since they are ill, they will typically not be able to go outside and do any type of physical activities that would usually not be a problem for a healthy person, such as yourself. This can make them even more sickly and make it so they are not able to properly develop into healthy adults. Using a VR system those kids will be able to do things that they would not commonly be able to. They will be able to experience the outdoors and have fun while doing so. They will also be able to move and exercise while playing the game, so they can regain some of their energy and increase their health after using VR (2). An example of someone using VR in a hospital can be seen in figure 3. Imagine not being able to go outside to play with your friends whenever you wanted to. Always feeling like you are trapped inside your house with no escape. Using VR would help you to experience the feelings of being in the outdoors once again!

Figure 4. Using VR for rehabilitation

There are other things that VR can do to help people’s health. If someone were to have a stroke they could use the technology of the VR system to get better. The use of virtual reality can help to improve their mood and make them feel more motivated to try to get better and complete their rehabilitation. It is also a good way for them to move around and try to do the things that they could do before they had their stroke (1). If someone you were close to, such as your parents, were to have a serious health issue, such as a stroke, they may experience a loss of certain abilities that they once had. Using a VR system can make them feel happier and feel like they want to go out and try to improve their abilities that they once had before, such as their ability to move their arms properly. Someone using a VR system for rehabilitation can be viewed in figure 4. 

The VR has many positive attributes and is something that can bring joy to anyone who uses it. Next time you play a game using VR, think of everything it does to help you and others live a happier, healthier life.

For more information on the different ways VR is used in health care check out this video:Learn More

References:

Cassidy, C. (2017). Playing VR. [Photograph]. Retrieved from: https://www.slj.com/2017/09/technology/virtually-

kids-using-vr-explore-worlds-create-new-ones/

(1) Lupu, R. G., Irimia, D. C., Ungureanu, F., Poboroniuc, M. S., & Moldoveanu, A. (2018). BCI and FES based

therapy for stroke rehabilitation using VR facilities. Wireless Communications & Mobile Computing, 1-8. doi:10.1155/2018/4798359

(2) Salem, Y. & Elokda, A. (2014). Use of virtual reality gaming systems for children who are critically ill. Journal

of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 7(3), 273-276. doi:10.3233/PRM-140296

Upload. (2016). Using VR in a hospital. [Photograph]. Retrieved from: https://uploadvr.com/7-valuable-lessons-vr-

ar-healthcare-education-industries/

VRperception. (2016). Using VR for rehabilitation. [Photograph]. Retrieved from:

https://vrperception.com/2016/03/04/robotics-and-virtual-reality-for-faster-stroke-recovery/

Wagner, K. (2017). Multiplayer VR experience. [Image]. Retrieved from:

https://www.recode.net/2017/4/18/15344368/facebook-virtual-reality-spaces-social-vr-

oculus

Cybernetics and You

It's Iron Man! Everyone's favorite bionic super hero came here today to talk about cybernetics. Cybernetics is the science behind things like Iron Man's suit. It is a field of study that encompasses many different scientific fields, and deals with the communication between man and machine.


Iron Man's suit has many different capabilities. It allows its operator to run faster than an average man, fly, and shoot lazers out of his hands!  He is able to communicate with his suit using his brain, which is connected to his cybernetic helmet.The movies don't go into much detail about the science behind this, but in the real world, this type of feat would be accomplished through the use of cybernetic implants. 

Cybernetic implants could allow for the enhancement of a humans natural abilities, but they can also repair/replace abilities that a person might have lost or never had. While we have a bit of catching up to do to get on the level that Iron Man is at, there are several cybernetic implants that are in use today. One of the most common implants is the cochlear implant. This type of implant is designed to enable the user to hear when they previously could not.

These types of implants are expensive though, with even the most basic costing upwards of $100,000 [1].

Cybernetic implants can do many amazing things! Another common implant is one that allows the user to control a prosthetic limb. A prosthetic limb is an artificial or fake body part, and the ones we're discussing today are advanced machines. These allow people who

have lost limbs to regain the ability to use those limbs. In the future, people may opt to have cybernetic limbs instead of their real ones, due to their advanced potential!                                                                    Cybernetics is an exciting field of study, and it will change the way people interact with their environment! 

Reference

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2017). Cochlear implants. Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implants

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

Figure 1: Patriotic Symbols

I'm sure that things happen in school everyday that could be considered patriotic. And I would also be willing to bet that there has been a time that you've questioned the meaning of the word Patriotism. 

As a student in the public school system, you probably say the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of every school day. I'm also willing to bet that at one point or another, you wondered why you had to do it, or if you really had to. 

Figure 2: Students Pledging Allegiance

Kids have been pledging their allegiance for decades in schools across America, and it's done so often that it just becomes another thing. This stands alone as the most patriotic act done in schools because for years it has been done over and over again. 

Saying the pledge has been a hot topic in recent history, and some people argue that it doesn't really do anything for you whereas others back it up saying it's one of the most important things we can teach kids. Believe it or not, the pledge has gone through numerous changes throughout its long and rich history.

The Pledge of Allegiance was first recognized by the United States Government in the year 1942, and only one year later there was a Supreme Court case regarding it being said in schools. The ruling in 1943 said that people would not be required to say the pledge because it was in violation of two amendments. So from 1943 on, while students were not technically obligated to say the pledge, the opportunity was almost always given to them.

Figure 3: The Religious Aspect

The problem with the pledge is that it sometimes does not relate to everyone. The phrase "under god" being included has also been an issue with the pledge in recent history. The bottom line there is that the phrase was deemed "patriotic" rather than religious. 

In the end, more than anything else, the Pledge of Allegiance helps kids learn to be obedient, and is a great way to display your patriotism. If you don't agree, that's fine too, you aren't required to do anything with it. There is no reason to be ashamed of anything you are for or against in school or life in general. 

Figure 4: Have Fun

You're a kid. You should be having fun, not being self-conscious about how patriotic you are.

References:

Pledge of allegiance fast facts. (2018, April 15). Retrieved from CNN website:
     https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/us/pledge-of-allegiance-fast-facts/index.html

Let's Design a Baby

Figure 1: These baby dolls are able to look different each and
everyday all because their caretaker has control over them.

Hey there! Let's take a minute to think about our baby dolls and action figures that we used to dress up to fit what we wanted them to look like. You were able to choose their eye color, if they have hair or not and the color that is going to be (blonde, brown, or black, and maybe even red), and the outfits they were going to wear for that day. You had complete control of what you wanted your toy to look like, as the example above shows, which probably made you pretty happy. The idea I am about to share with you relates to how you used to play dress up with your toys. It may not make too much sense to you right now, but wait for it, because your generation may be the ones that have the technology to create your own, PERFECT, real-life baby.

Medical technology is growing at a rapid rate and the type we are talking about today has only been around and studied for about 6 years (2), thats a little less than half your age! I am talking about designer babies. Designer babies are important to you because this technology is not made available to everyone yet since the medicine itself is not sorted out, but with that being said, your generation may be the one to take the information and idea of a designer baby and make it the real deal.

In creation of a designer baby, let's compare the doctors creating a real baby to the way that you played dress up with your toys. Step 1, deciding the baby dolls hair and eye color when you picked it out at the store so that it looked as perfect as you wantd it to. That is part of what could happen when the doctors develop a child in the future (3). Step 2, picking out their clothes to dress them as fancy beautiful people. In relation to that, picking out the clothes of your baby doll or action figure can be compared to the doctor giving the baby different traits like intelligence and athletic ability. Step 3, which probably happened each day, changing the outfit of your toy. This sort of step is comparable to doctors editing the different genes that makes up a baby by deleting those bad ones that cause the baby to be sick and not live a healthy life(1). 

Figure: 2 A doctor "sewing" a baby together
to compare desiging a baby.

Now that question you may be asking yourselves is why is it not ok to create a real-life baby like we would a baby doll or action figure? The answer to that is that the technology to do this procedure is not exactly safe yet (1). The picture to your right, although not the real way designer babies are made, the comparison works. Sewing something together can sometimes go wrong and the stitching may not be perfect. This relates to the doctors desiging the baby who may mess up and correct the wrong things which can lead to a harmful life for the baby. Another reason this can be dangerous is something called eugenics. Think about all the baby dolls and action figures you have had in the past. I am sure a majority of your collection looked the same and were perfect for the way you liked them. Well, that is the same idea of eugenics. Through creating your own baby, can lead to creating the perfect baby (good looks, intelligence, athletic ability) which will lead more people to create the perfect baby and if that continues, it could harm the human population by making everyone the same, which is something the world wants to avoid. A quick overview of designer babies is as follows: A Discussion of Designer Babies

You, you who are reading this are going to do great things in the future and with technology and medicine. But you must also make conscious choices when it comes to your personal life. With that being said, keep in mind that dressing up your baby dolls and action figures to look how you want, should not necessarily be what you do in the future for your own baby, unless you are using it for purley medical purposes to help your child from having an unfortunate life in the future. The medicine may not be here now, but designer babies may soon be ok the market to "buy" and therefore, it is decent to know a few things about it before this phenomenon exploads!


(1)Das, J., Dey, P., & Banerjee, P. (2017). Redesigning nature: To be or not to be? Current Science, 112(7), 1346-1350. doi: 10.18520/cs/v112/i07/1346-1350

(2)Hrouda, B. E. (2016). "Playing God": An examination of the legality of CRISPR germline editing technology under the current international regulatory scheme and the universal declaration on the human genome and hum rights. Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law, 45(1), 221-241.

(3) Ossareh, T. (2017). Would you like blue eyes with that? A fundamental right to genetic modification of embryos. Columbia Law Review, 117(3), 729-766.