Mike's Muses: Pokemon GO

MikeB · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:22 pm Post subject: Mike's Muses: Pokemon GO

The latest craze sweeping the World is Pokemon GO. The Pokemon website describes the app as using "real locations to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO will allow players to find and catch more than a hundred different Pokémon as they explore their surroundings."

This is one of the first games to feature augmented reality combined with GPS to provide location based entertainment. Augmented reality was touted as being one of the groundbreaking opportunities with camera phones equipped with GPS when they were originally released. To date there have been few examples of this, one notable one was a demo of SatNav from Route 66 some years ago at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The overnight success of Pokemon GO could open the flood gates for a raft of similar applications from other software houses.

Amazingly this interactive game has very quickly managed to encourage both youngsters and adults alike to relinquish the sofa and get outside for some exercise as they hunt down the Pokemon. This takes geocaching to a new level. With geocaching you search for something physical at a particular location using GPS to assist in locating it. Pokemon GO creates a virtual 'prize' which can be positioned by the games controllers at will anywhere on the globe. Of course the virtual targets do not need to be visited to create them, this is done on a computer system.

Whilst getting people to exercise in any form is praiseworthy it is possible that people can be hurt or seriously injured whilst playing the game. It is a well known fact that using the phone whilst driving can be distracting, the same is true whilst walking. This distraction is enhanced when concentrating on a screen. Already there have been reports of people falling off skate boards whilst playing, others had walked into things. It will not be long before a distracted player walks into the road without ensuring it is safe to do so and causes an accident.

The popularity of the game also has people congregating at well known locations carrying expensive phones. It has been suggested that this is attracting gangs of opportunist thieves who gather like bees to a honey pot. No doubt we will soon see a spate of location based crime being reported.

Ironically it is possible that in pushing the limits of technology to entertain it is also highlighting the possibility of using technology to facilitate thefts and muggings. The moral of this is to enjoy the freedom that these new technologies bring, whilst being safe and fully aware of your surroundings.
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Mike Barrett

MaFt · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 4:44 pm Post subject:

I hope I don't need to try and explain what a Pokémon is to DennisN...

I read an article the other day how local businesses are cashing in on being PokéStops or Gyms due to the extra footfall in the locations!

MaFt

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 6:18 pm Post subject:

It'll take more than this to get me out of the sofa.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

DennisN · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:10 pm Post subject:

How long before we read of some dimwit who ends up on a railway line or in a river or stuck in a country lane between two thatched cottages from following a Pokeyman?
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Kremmen · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 4:37 am Post subject:

Not long. They showed cuts and bruises on the telly yesterday from people who had already fallen foul of not looking where they were going.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

K13ehr · Lifetime Member Joined: Jul 12, 2008 Posts: 286

People are doing it in their cars too, how long before there is a death, or stupid people going to find them in places where they would otherwise never dream of going.

Great that it gets kids & adults of their rears and out into the open air, but could do with a bit more though on where the Pokemon are placed.

andiih · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 5

Would a Pokemon stop next to a poll both affect the demographic of voters? It won't be long before someone tries it (or is at least accused of it!)

MaFt · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 3:42 pm Post subject:

You can't choose where the Pokemon appear...

DennisN · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject:

Woooooooooo, Spooky!
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

alix776 · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 8:29 am Post subject:

I have read there's a Mario cart satnav on the way too Laughing

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currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

MaFt · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:01 pm Post subject:

Grand Theft Auto GO looked scary... :/

Seriously though, Pokemon GO has been great fun with the kids. We walked around our local parks for over an hour the other weekend with neither of them 1) complaining and 2) realising they were doing exercise.

MaFt

DennisN · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 9:13 am Post subject:

Angry Birds are GO.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

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