Interview with Curtis Ikehara

Curtis Ikehara

Assistant Professor (CS)

Specialty: Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Robotics Interaction, and Applications of Technology for Improving Health

1. What are some ways you think gamers abuse games?
When playing games interferes with hose things important to you the gamer is abusing games.
For example, if a gamer neglect friends, family, work, school, or sleep to play games the gamer is abusing games. When people use games to always escape from real world problems, game playing is being abused.


2. What advice would you give to people about safe gaming?
Use game playing as a reward for doing something productive, like homework or chores. Limit continuous playing to less than an hour with breaks where something productive is done, such as studying or reading.


3. What do you think is the worst thing that could happened to people who abuse games?
There have been some cases where some games that people with photosensitive epilepsy have had seizures cause by games, but the most prevalent health problem would be how the lack of physical activity would contribute to obesity that could lead to several illnesses including diabetes and heart disease.



4. How would you describe a responsible gamer?
A person that does not let the game interfere with important activities such as studying and working. Also, limiting game playing to perhaps less that an hour a day. Team games are okay for developing and maintaining social skills and relationships, but there are other more important thing to do in the real world.


5. What are problems youth face playing video games?
As I mentioned before, lack of activity could lead to obesity with the associated health problems. Also, too much game playing could interfere with studying and getting good grades; developing and maintaining social relationships with family and friends; and being the best a person could be.