In the article “Action Video Games Improve Vision” found in the University of Rochester news page in the university’s website, Professor Daphne Bavelier has discovered that playing action video games can improve visual contrasting of the eyes by approximately 58 percent, as her initial research showed (Sherwood 2009). Given this surprising fact, people are bound to speculate on the research methods of her team, as well as the doubtful results as many would have believed.
However, the research was well funded by the National Eye Institute and the Office of Naval Research which somehow proves that this research and its results are indeed factual. In the same sense, people could establish a new angle towards action video games which so many teenagers get attached to; an angle that perhaps perceives the positive side of playing action video games. Playing action video games is a weird remedy indeed for depreciating eyesight—to be specific, visual contrasting.
No matter how unbelievable it may seem (mostly for concerned parents of gamers), Bavelier’s team found another way of dealing with eyesight problems. She mentioned that “Normally, improving contrast sensitivity means getting glasses or eye surgery—somehow changing the optics of the eye” (Sherwood 2009). That is usually the case in coping with depreciating eyesight, wherein either of the two would help in improving eyesight significantly. However, the research team has found an easier, seemingly cheaper, and a more fun way in improving eyesight through playing action video games.
They have claimed that action video games train the brain to process more efficiently (Sherwood 2009). Well, this has been proven with the results from the study, although it the result was just a little bit shy of the targeted 58 percent. However, it was still roughly around 43 percent improvement within 11 subjects in their test (Sherwood 2009). Given the following result, it can be assumed that playing action video games can actually help improve contrast sensitivity (visual contrasting).
According to Bavelier, action video games actually push the human visual system to the limit wherein the brain adapts in the process (Sherwood 2009). Hopefully, her findings would erase concerns over the hours dedicated by people (teens) in playing such games; at least visually. She is actually hoping that her findings could help cure some eyesight problems in the future (Sherwood 2009). Given the following claim in the article, people (mostly parents) who despise action video games, as it turns their children into “zombies”, would initially disbelieve the results of the test.
They simply doubt it, initially at least. However, with continuous successful results that prove the wroth of playing action video games to improve the visual system and the brain’s processing, they would probably start to see the light; although, they would still limit their children in playing these video games which is fine in terms of training the brain and eyesight of these children. Action video games, especially first-person shooters, are well-known for their violent content which might alarm many adults.
Other unhealthy effects of gaming have also raised concerns for parents. However, with a new discovery such as this one, this negative perception towards video gaming—specifically towards the action genre—may actually change, as a more positive angle towards video gaming may be adopted. With each positive result, this does not seem too be a fallacy, nor is it surreal. Science does create wonders upon which both health and pleasure can be satisfied.
The article primarily talked about the positive results garnered from playing action video games, which can actually improve eyesight. However, it should be played on a controlled level; enough time to properly train the brain. The future seems bright for action video game companies for it has been proven that health and pleasure can be both satisfied.
Works Cited
Sherwood, Jonathan. “Action Video Games Improve Vision. ” 29 March 2009. University of Rochester News. 8 May 2009. <http://www. rochester. edu/news/show. php? id=3342>