When Games Invade Real Life

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Keywords: Games tech 1-ups XPS World of Warcraft Jess Schell TED REMtertainment

Written by Onjuli Datta / 26 Jul 2010

When Games Invade Real Life | Get ready for 1-ups, XPS and big boss showdowns | Don't Panic online Magazine

Right now gaming is a major part of technology, from one-minute races in an arcade to all consuming universes, like World of Warcraft. A lot of people put more time and effort into gaming than they ever would to their work or even social life. Jesse Schell argues that our obsession with gaming is spilling over into real life, making us easier to manipulate – and more willing to be manipulated.

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You get up in the morning to brush your teeth. The toothbrush senses it and says hey, good for you! Ten points! Then, it measures how long you brush them. Three minutes? Good job! Bonus points! And you did that every day this week? Another bonus! You get points, your teeth get cleaned, and toothpaste companies everywhere rake in the benefits.

Doesn’t sound that invasive, but then there’s the REMtertainment system. A small device monitors your dreams, and slips advertising in between. Dreamt about your dad dancing with a giant Cola can? Well, that just means it’s all working out. More bonus points!

It keeps going until every moment of your life is monitored, recorded, and judged. It could make you a better person. Or it could drive you insane. In his illuminating and occasionally worrying talk, Schell guides us through a future dominated by points, and the silent systems that will control them.