Yup, Marco Polo was an explorer, but, according to certain hoax/myth sites,
he made up most of his exploratory transcriptions/writings, etc...<smile>
The game version of the term marco polo is a form of tag/hide and seek,
generally played in a swimming pool, and with the person designated as it
keeping their eyes closed, or doing something like pulling a swimming cap
down over their eyes, but, there are also other versions played out of the
swimming pool:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo_(game)
Effectively, the 'it' person calls out marco, and the other, target
individuals have to answer polo each time, to let the active person track
them down.
Stay well
Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
...Roger Wilco wants to welcome you, to the space janitor's closet...
----- Original Message -----
From: "dark" <d...@xgam.org>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2014 9:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] a well-known saying revamped by me
Hi jacob.
Lets not get back into the spelling discussion otherwise we'll have
certain list members riding their high horses.
Regarding libraries and atmosphere, I do take the point on browsing and
on the environment though this is probably one area where we'll see a fall
back in net use, or perhaps see libraries which remain electronic but
still exist for the reading promotion or community aspects in the future,
indeed a friend of mine who works as a librarian at the moment says a
large part of her job is social, which likely will remain even if the
sources for information are electronic. this is one area where think
obsessions with "everything online" might fall off in the next while as
people realize the need for the space even if the information differs.
Regarding the meaning and derivation of words at least, I see text speak
as far more problematic in this area more than simply having the
information, which is one reason i prefer e-mail to text myself. My
concern actually with a lot of text speak isn't so much whether people use
words without thinking of them as whether people know as many words to use
if all conversations are of the level "ur mi bff coswe duz gud stuff"
Regarding satnavs and electronic sports, satnavs are a major improvement
in access technology generally and I can well imagine people hiking with
them. What I am wondering in game terms though is if electronic devices
will make their way into more games than currently exist, particularly
ones requiring exercise and as you said, analogue movement.
Btw, what is marco polo? that's one term I don't know, it always is a bit
confusing why people splashing in pools or whatever on the Simpsons and
other american programs start shouting Marco Polo. (I know your not
American but obviously you know the term in this case). To me Marco Polo
was an explorer who traveled across China (possibly accompanied by Doctor
who):D.
All the best,
Dark.
Take them to the refirbished chamber that was once bad!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jacob Kruger" <ja...@blindza.co.za>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 9:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] a well-known saying revamped by me
With regards to people primarily using electronic information/reading
sources, while I especially appreciate it nowadays, in the old days - a
long time ago, one of my favourite activities was to go to an old, large
library, and browse around the shelves - maybe it was something to do
with the atmosphere of a library, literally browsing shelves of books,
and coming across something where the title would catch your eye, and
you'd read the blurb, and end up discovering a new author, all by
yourself, or something, but, suppose book discussion clubs are somewhat
similar, even if reading books in electronic formats nowadays, but, the
one other thing have noticed with regards to some sighted children
nowadays is they'd rather listen to the audio version of a book than try
actually reading the story themselves - and that, I don't necessarily
think is a good thing in the long run - I was one of those guys who
before getting involved in most new activities, would pop round library,
and do my own forms of research, and, much as I find it extremely
useful/helpful, etc., maybe making it too easy to do quick bits of
research isn't the best thing overall since it means people get too used
to just accepting the first form of an answer they come across...<smile>
I also, still, sort of refuse to use a word, in any context, spoken or
not, that I can't spell, and that don't at least have a basic concept of
it's meaning, in the relevant context, but anyway...whereas nowadays,
lots of people are unable to, off-hand, spell the longer words they use
on a regular basis when speaking, and if you ask them if they know the
origin, or original meaning of a term that might nowadays get used often
enough in media, or as a form of slang term, etc., in a way that sort of
ignores it's origin/concept/meaning, they get confused that you're even
asking them about that, but anyway - almost my own little form of a
illiteracy rant, but anyway...LOL!
And, again, in terms of gaming, etc., yes, there are quite a few forms of
smartphone games that use acceleration sensors in phones to offer
physical interaction, etc., like blind ping pong for the android platform
etc. as well, as well as another form of experimental version of blind
marco polo using android phones where the idea was to let multiple
players play the same game, against each other, using their android
phones, in an environment of something like a football field, etc. - also
similar to sort of global treasure cacheing that some guys take part in
where they'll stash their own little packages in odd places, and try
sharing clues, or something like GPS coordinates on bulletin boards, and
think the sort of rule is that if you find/encounter something like that,
you have to leave your own package before taking the other one, or
something, but anyway.
I know some blindie golfers who just keep the right caddie with them,
but, something like this might let them play more independently - or fall
in more water features...<smile>
And, I've already used smartphone GPS to navigate parts of outdoor
environments, like campsites - was still trying to persuade some local
guys to set up a form of outdoors, blindie, obstacle course using
something like this at one stage.
And, also know of a person who used something similar to hike most of the
appalachian trail on his own.
Stay well
Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
...Roger Wilco wants to welcome you, to the space janitor's closet...
----- Original Message -----
From: "dark" <d...@xgam.org>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2014 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] a well-known saying revamped by me
Hi Jacob.
Access to information is a good point, though one interesting thing I've
noticed is that, perhaps partly because of those abuses of power you
mention, people do not believe technological information sharing is
legitimate.
For example,my mum was recently complaining over the fact that instead
of primary school children being given physical story books, they were
directed to the books online to read with their computers, tablets etc.
We're not talking about blind or vi children here, just sighted children
in normal schools of about 5 or 6.
My mum believed that this was bad, that the kids were missing out and
that it would discourage say a parent reading the story book together
with their child. I however disagreed, (indeed a friend of mine already
reads to his daughter off his kindle). Sinse just because you change the
mode of outputting the information, electronically as apposed to a book
that doesn't change a person's relationship to that information. yes,
bad parents will probably say "go to your room and read your school
books on your computer and don't bother me" but how is this different to
bad parents saying the same of a physical book?
I also agree Wikipedia is great, particularly if you just want some
random information, although I do one legitimate concern is that when
information is so readily available, will people's skills at
assimilating, remembering and drawing conclusions from that
informationn, though interestingly enough this is an area where computer
games, especially the complex ones like King of Dragon pass can help as
effectively a mental workout for the information processing and
memorization centers of the brain, provided of course the games are
designed so as to be challenging rather than just repetition.
I do remember hearing something about the Golf thing you mention, though
one quite interesting possible use would be blind accessible golf, sinse
if you couldget not only course information but positional information
about the ball and your stick, a blind person could play golf quite
efficiently with the same informational advantages of someone with
working eyeballs.
Indeed, I wonder if in the future we'll see similar access to a number
of sports, although having the word "access" in front will mean such
things don't get developed that soon.
I also wonder if eventually we'll start to see the development of new
sports, especially with the analogue control methods. I already know
there are world championships of dance dance revolution, though.
Beware the Grue!
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to
gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the
list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to
gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the
list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
---
Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org
If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org.
You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at
http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org.
All messages are archived and can be searched and read at
http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list,
please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
