Gotta Catch Some of 'Em

   Because you just can't catch 'em all!

   I guess I can't get around having to comment on Pokemon Go.

   If you have children, or if you were, born in the 90's through the 00's then you know all about Pokemon.  It used to be about the cards, action figures and, of course, the video games.  Remember the Game Boys, game cartridges and all the sounds and music?!

   With Pokemon Go, the game has gone from sometimes mobile to really mobile.  And from sometimes social to a social phenomenon.

   It's not farfetch'd!

   For some reason, many adults seem to dislike this game, siting issues like inattention to surroundings, time spent playing, etc.  I think the game is great!  Here are my top reasons why (major caveat... I have not actually played the game!  These are my observations as a technology and security professional and as a parent):

• It gets kids out of the house - many people need a little Vitamin D.  One of the biggest complaints about gaming and computers for kids is that they don't get outside enough.
• It gets kids moving - #exercise.  While there have been some attempts at game-ifying exercise, such as Wii Fit, it never really caught on.  Pokemon Go gets people outdoors and moving around.  In fact, part of the game is logging lots of steps.
• It's for "kids" of all ages - parents can play along with their kids!  You don't have to play, but at the very least it's a great opportunity to be involved.
• It's really social - you may remember that, back in the day, players could connect two Gameboys so two people could battle.  Now people are connecting IRL (In Real Life) as they hike trails, walk through cities or congregate at parks or other PokeStops.
• It's another step toward acceptance of Augmented Reality.  Unlike Virtual Reality, in which one is entirely immersed in a manufactured visual scene, Augmented Reality overlays images, text or other information on top of what you are actually looking at.

The Need To Read

   I recently read a great article on summer brain drain on ParentsChoice.org's Read More. Play More. Learn More. blog.

   The article is mostly directed to parents, making the point that kids forget school topics over the summer and often need time to get back up to speed.  This can be remedied with fun, stimulating activities, like brain games.  The article links to some brain games from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

   And, as the post points out, adults can also suffer from the same brain drain due to the inevitable schedule variations of the summer.

   But the specific article aside... what a great name and concept.  We could all read more, play more and learn more.

   We all need to exercise our brains.  Many people read articles and other material as part of their job.  But regardless of how in-depth, creative or technical that job may be, I think it's important to read and learn about other topics.

   So read.  Read blogs, and books of all kinds: non-fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, sci-fi... whatever you enjoy.  Read things in your field, but be sure to also read other info and read for enjoyment.  And, if you don't have time to sit down with a book, try audiobooks and podcasts.

   What are some of your favorite reading, educational or brain activity resources?