Why playing in the virtual world has an awful lot to teach children

A YouGov poll has suggested that computer games can damage children's ability to communicate, but Tom Chatfield argues that gaming imparts a range of new, vitally important skills

What does playing computer games do to us? A YouGov poll has stirred up familiar worries about the effects of new media on children's communication skills, saying that one in six children under the age of seven in England has difficulty talking – a problem that will have many worried parents looking at games consoles and wondering how far their children's onscreen delights are implicated in this decline.

Anyone who has played video games, or watched their children playing, will know that they are an exceptionally compelling medium. As Jean Gross, the government's new communication champion for children, noted, overbusy parents can spend dangerously little time talking to their children. Far easier to plonk them down in front of a mesmerising screen.

Full article at the Guardian

Ross on TV

Our favourite actor, Ross Grant, on The National Lottery show right now - don't understand it, but he's doing OK

MS developer talks tech on Natal

MS developer talks tech, Natal 'correctly positions your hand even if it's held behind your back'

We now know that Natal is going to make it out before the end of the year (if all goes well), but the company is still keeping a lot of > secrets about the technology and being rather stingy with hands-on time. Natal lead developer Alex Kipman is spilling a few notable beans, however, indicating that the team has gathered terabytes of photos and video of people playing games, amassing a library of data  that the system uses to anticipate where you might move next. Because of this the system can predict your hand position, even if it's obscured, based on the location of other parts of your body. He  also indicated that the software required for all this will only take up about 50MB on your Xbox's (probably near-full) storage  device, and that the algorithms it uses will suck down about 10 to 15 percent of the 360's overall processing power. That's certainly a substantial hit, but this is the price you pay for getting to kick virtual balls with physical feet.

from www.engadget.com  

Staff Safety paramount as Crime Increases

Against a background of increased shop theft, abuse and violence, Cascade Productions are in the process of producing a staff safety training DVD.

Stores Demand Action As Shoplifting Soars
Ed Merrison, Sky News Online
Retailers have called for tougher action from police as figures suggest the recession fuelled a huge rise in shoplifting and other crimes in 2009.

Read more at www.skynews.com

Panasonic introduces 152-inch 3D 4k HDTV

Panasonic does it again, introduces 152-inch 3D 4k HDTV" - www.engadget.com 

If that gigantic HDTV above looks a few inches shy of 152-inches, its because it is. While Panasonic has shared a few details about the existence of its new biggest HDTV ever (full release after the break) it has not been shown to the public yet. We imagine it'll look a lot like its little brother pictured above, after all, it features the same 4k resolution and a relatively unobtainable price. What will make a bigger difference then the extra two inches though is the fact that this one is will display 3D content. Panasonic is giving a sneak peak of their new stuff in a bit, so with any luck we'll get a real life picture of the new behemoth in action.

The ultra-large, 4K x 2K quadruple full HD plasma panel creates a true full HD 3D world, delivering an overwhelming immersive experience