Wesley Crusher and friend pretend to play ‘the game’ as they search for a cure for their shipmates.
I‘m including this article under the
category ‘Hollywood and the Coming Apocalypse’, but it might more
accurately be included under ‘the Coming ZOMBIE Apocalypse’. Why? It’s
all about ‘The Game’.
Years ago, probably far more than most under the age of twenty would
recall, the producers of Star Trek-Next Generation gave us a preview of
our own future. The beautifully written teleplay by Brannon Braga,
titled ‘The Game’, features an addictive headpiece, straight-to-the-brain kind of
video
game designed by a race called the Ktarians. Commader Riker has
returned from a vacation on Risa, where he’s met the lovely Etana Jol, a
Ktarian female. Riker extols the joys of ‘the game’ and makes copies
for distribution throughout the ship.
‘Real world view’ while playing ‘the game’.
However, what appears to be harmless fun soon turns to terror as more
and more people turn to brain-dead zombies, including Dr. Beverly
Crusher. The object of the game is rather simple (just drop an image
into a hole–sort of like playing Angry Birds or Cut the Rope) but the
reward for getting it right is a shot of stimulation right to the
brain’s pleasure center. Need I say that the game is a major hit? Dr.
Crusher is not only useless as a physician, she switches off Data and
plays ‘doctor’ with the android’s circuitry, effectively making him
useless. The real ‘mission’ behind these games, you see, is that the
Ktarians intend to board the Enterprise, and they’d prefer no one try to
stop them, including Data (whose silicon pathways render the game null
and void). With all the humans subject to the slightest suggestion, the
Ktarians have a clear field.
Wes Crusher and his friend Robin Lefler (shown top left) figure it
out early on (of course, Wesley always knows best, right?), and they
wear ‘dummy’ headgear while trying to sort it all out. I’ll not spoil it
further, but suffice it to say the Enterprise appears to be in a
pickle–and highly suggestive, or as I said earlier, ‘zombies’.
Google Glass gives the user constant
access to the internet.
Why am I telling you all this? Because Google has just introduced
their new ‘Google Glass’ headset design that permits the wearer to
interact constantly with the internet. Boy, you could really
play Angry Birds
with a vengeance now! No need to open up a laptop, no need even for
your cell phone–you’re always connected; you’re always ‘engaged’. Note
the design of the ‘game’ from Star Trek sends the image directly into
the user’s eyes while allowing him/her to continue to see the real world
(assuming the wearer even notices the real world once hooked). Google
Glass reports to one eye, but allows the wearer to view the analog world
while indulging in the digital one. Let’s just say, you might not want
to wear it while driving or operating heavy machinery.
In today’s world, nearly everyone interacts on
a computer
at least once a day. Now, our younger generation needn’t worry about
being ‘offline’. Texting, gaming, and Facebook posting will be
constant–especially if you use the
‘glove’ that’s being touted as a means for ‘typing’ while wearing the ‘Glass’.
Like it or not, ‘enhanced reality’ is here. Cue the Zombie music.
Posts
--
