Tag Archives: playful

Embrace the Fun: Celebrate Your Child’s Playful Summer Adventures!

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wSpending a week during the summer holidays in schools across the UK often sparks curiosity about how many parents are feeling anxious as they opt to move their children away from screens. When my son was younger, I used to envision idyllic trips to the seaside filled with treasure hunts in the garden, paddling in rivers, and visiting family. However, reality hit me with work commitments and the short attention span of my son. In just a few hours, our home was a mess with muddy footprints from various activities, half-finished craft projects, and tired grandparents. It was challenging, and eventually, we permitted some Fortnite time just to catch our breath.

There’s immense pressure and guilt surrounding kids and gaming, particularly during extended school breaks. It’s essential to reevaluate our social perspectives. I cherish the delightful memories of gaming with my sons on warm August days, gradually constructing absurd mansions in Minecraft and engaging in silly antics in Goat Simulator. We established a holiday routine where, during our evening meals, my wife and I could relax with a glass of wine while the boys played Super Mario together. We still found time to build sandcastles, swim, and discover new towns, but gaming offered a route to unwind and enjoy familiar leisure.




Keeping it in the family… Keith Stuart and his son Zach have shared video gaming experiences for many years. Photo: Morag Stuart/The Guardian

During their visits to their grandparents, they also indulged in gaming. My mother owned a Nintendo Wii, which she claimed was solely for entertaining her grandchildren. It was heartwarming to see my sons patiently explaining Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn to her. I fondly recall playing Commodore 64 games at my kitchen desk, often trying to lure my dad into playing hooky games while he was meant to be cooking. I’m grateful that my children can share their skills and enthusiasm, whether through playing guitar after discovering instruments via rock bands, or catching Jigglypuffs in Pokémon Go.

It’s a cliché to say “everything in moderation,” but it rings true. There’s excessive discourse about screen time being an indiscriminate evil. When kids engage in video games and become adept in that realm, summer breaks offer an opportunity to evaluate what they are experiencing, who they’re playing with, and what they’re gaining from it. Is it truly detrimental for them to spend an hour or two in Fortnite each night? Or are they making friends, sharing laughs, and creating in creative mode? Gaming can serve diverse purposes. Although you might prefer they don’t game on the beach, those in-between moments—like long travels or rainy afternoons—can be incredibly enriching, and parents shouldn’t feel guilty about that. For many Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids, gaming forms a vital part of their everyday experiences, much like I had records or comics at their age.

Just this week, I took one of my sons, now 17, to London. While I met a friend, he explored the city solo. On our coach journey to Somerset, we had little chance to chat, so we played Mario Kart together. We set up the console on a small tray in front of us as the coach rumbled along, often swaying for my benefit. It was enjoyable—laughing, comparing strategies, and intermittently looking up as the evening sun illuminated the fields outside. I believe I’ll cherish that bus ride much more than any other part of that day. Despite a screen between us, we were together.

What to Play




A wild and carefree thrill… Fumes. Photo: Fumes Team

Car Battle Games thrived in the mid-90s, with titles like Twisted Metal, Carmageddon, and Demolition Derby encouraging players to smash cars into one another while unleashing rocket launchers.

The newcomer Fumes brings back those thrilling days. This single-player, open-world game invites players to explore a vast Mad Max landscape, upgrading muscle cars to obliterate foes. With a slightly retro aesthetic and a guitar-laden soundtrack reminiscent of the original PlayStation era, it features a loose and reckless arcade handling. It’s currently in Early Access on Steam, and a free demo is available.

Available on: PC
Estimated Playtime: Over 10 hours

What to Read




Controversial… Motiram’s Light. Photo: Polaris Est

  • As reported by IGN among other sources, Sony is suing Chinese game publisher Tencent for copyright and trademark infringement, claiming that Tencent’s upcoming game Motiram’s Light bears a striking resemblance to Sony’s successful Horizon series, where young girls battle giant robotic dinosaurs in a vast open world. Tencent has yet to comment on the allegations.

  • Diversity has revealed that a Wolfenstein TV series is under development at Amazon MGM Studios. Penned by Patrick Somerville (known for Station Eleven and Maniac), it will feature Gustafsson from MachineGames as executive producer. This shooter, which features a narrative of defeating Nazis, aims to draw in young viewers who prefer streaming over superhero content.

  • Falmouth University developers are collaborating with local teens to craft video games that address adverse childhood experiences. The game, titled Heart’s Ace, focuses on themes like grief and poverty, encouraging players to engage in dialogue about their experiences. Learn more on the BBC News website.

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Question Block




Team Player… Gaming can foster identity and connection among youth. Photo: Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images

Timeless questions from Andy via email:

“In Gareth Southgate’s Richard Dimbleby lecture, he mentioned that he fears young men are spending too much time gaming, gambling, and consuming adult content. He believes this oversimplifies the nature of gaming. The time dedicated to “good games” should be seen positively. I often contemplate this, as I’m genuinely interested in how gaming shapes young people’s identities and cultures.

The challenge of Toxic Communities in games is well-documented, yet there are many uplifting examples too. Personally, I’ve encountered kindness and inclusiveness in communities centered around specific games, especially simulation games about space exploration. Titles like Deeprock Galactic and No Man’s Sky and in creative genres like Minecraft foster environments where players appreciate each other’s skill sets. Minecraft has also nurtured a strong accessibility community, exemplified by Autcraft, which runs a server for neurodivergent players, enabling friendships to form in meaningful ways. Streamers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, such as Aimsey, Springsims, and Xchocobars, cultivate communities that offer fans a sense of identity and belonging. I appreciate how certain games promote communities where creativity and inclusivity extend beyond the gameplay experience itself, whether through creative events centered around League of Legends cosplay or fan fiction groups for Life is Strange. Video games, akin to music and film, serve as mediums for fandoms to express their identities and explore their passions. For many young individuals, navigating the complexities of contemporary life feels nearly impossible without these communal spaces.

If you have a question or feedback regarding the newsletter, please reply or email us at butingbuttons@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Forget Terminator: Our Robotic Future Could Be Soft and Playful

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“When I think about the future of robots and society, I don’t see machine overlords.”

Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images

Are you concerned that AI-driven robots might take our jobs or even pose a threat? You’re not alone. Yet, this fear invites a critical examination of whether the opposite might be true.

In my upcoming novel, Automatic Noodles, set to release later this year, I introduce four robots battling to secure jobs in a country where laws prevent them from unionizing, securing bank accounts, voting, or owning businesses. Although it’s a work of science fiction, it’s grounded in existing technology and delves into our fundamental anxieties about robots.

For years, I have written non-fiction on actual robotics, interviewing engineers and industry professionals to understand future advancements. Recently, I visited Yale University’s groundbreaking lab, the Faboratory, led by Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, where her team is developing soft robots. These include flexible, squishy creatures with circuits made of liquid metal. One such robot can swim like a turtle, aiding in environmental monitoring of wetlands. Another, named Tensegrity, resembles a cluster of plastic sticks connected by elastic bands, bouncing back when dropped to explore its surroundings.

Medha Goyal and researchers in the Faboratory showcased a tiny liquid ball that expands when warmed. These “Granular actuators” can be incorporated into robots to create varying rigidity and softness in their limbs. They also hold significant medical potential, enabling small robots to deliver medication or diagnose health issues.

Kramer-Bottiglio and her team are challenging traditional notions of robotics. Tomorrow’s bots may not resemble towering humanoids; instead, they could be softer, using air pressure instead of metal mechanics. Notably, one of my book’s characters is an octopus-like soft robot designed for underwater searches and rescues, aptly named Cayenne, equipped with sensors on its arms that allow it to interpret flavors.

Tomorrow’s bots probably won’t resemble gigantic humanoids; they might instead be soft little beings.

When you envision the future of robotics, you might picture something akin to Cayenne. All they and their robotic companions aspire to is to operate a noodle restaurant in San Francisco. Their crew includes Sweety, a three-legged wheeled bot, alongside a basic mixer with two arms and Staybehind, a humanoid soldier bot more interested in decorating the restaurant than fighting.

This makeshift family inhabits a remarkable era of human history. In the 2060s, California’s government decided that certain AI-powered robots should be regarded as individuals. However, officials worry that granting robots the same rights as humans could lead to an uncontrollable influx of robots dominating society. Thus, they have restricted essential rights “for their own good,” assuring the public that a vote could eventually expand robot rights.

Despite what their human counterparts fear, Cayenne and its companions do not seek dominance. They simply wish to pursue their passions. Rather than producing mediocre meals for distant human masters, they aspire to create what they genuinely care about. They symbolize immigrants in a new land, often viewed with skepticism, and at worst, they struggle to survive in a society that wishes them ill.

I’m intentionally drawing this parallel because it’s disconcerting how the fears surrounding immigration resonate with our anxieties about robots. We worry they will usurp our jobs, rise up against us, or disrupt cultural norms. Amazingly, those who voice such concerns about immigration often have never taken the time to understand the immigrants. Similarly, society projects those fears onto robots that do not yet exist. This reflects a troubling pattern: fearing those we don’t know or understand, and in the case of robots, not recognizing their potential.

This is why I do not envision a dystopian future dominated by machines when I think about robots and our society. Instead, I see a reality clouded by terrifying fantasies and restrictive laws. Rather than fearsome terminators, I imagine gentle, soft-bodied creatures like turtles and pneumatic arms. I’m observing Cayenne, apprehensive about human animosity and the vigilance against robot “threats.”

Humans craft narratives to brace for an unlikely future while often ignoring the realities unfolding right before us. Yet, we don’t have to follow this trend. We can develop our understanding based on empirical evidence and science, rather than indulging in surreal nightmares that will likely never materialize.

Annaly’s Week

What I’m reading

Torchon Ebuchi Racebook: A Personal History of the Internet, An engaging compilation of essays exploring cosplay, video games, and social media.

What I’m watching

Murder Bot, for sure.

What I’m working on

I’m wandering with an archaeologist through the Roman town of Talos in Sardinia, Italy. More details to come!

Annalee Newitz is a science journalist and author of the latest book, *Automatic Noodles*. They co-host the Hugo Award-winning podcast, *We Are Right*. Follow them @annaleen or visit their website at techsploitation.com.

The Arts and Science of Writing Science Fiction

Explore the realm of science fiction and discover the art of crafting your own captivating stories during this immersive weekend workshop.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Research: Bottlenose dolphins communicate through “smiles” during playful interactions

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Play is a widespread behavior in distant species, and its social form relies on complex communication. Playful communication has been largely ignored in marine mammals. In a new study, scientists from the University of Pisa focused on playful visual communication. bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

“We revealed that bottlenose dolphins have a unique facial expression of open mouth, and showed that dolphins can also mirror other people’s facial expressions.” Dr. Elisabetta Palagian evolutionary biologist at the University of Pisa.

“Open-mouth cues and quick imitations are repeated throughout the mammalian family tree. This shows that in many species, not just dolphins, visual communication is important for forming complex social interactions. This suggests that it has played a role.”

Dolphin play includes acrobatics, surfing, playing with objects, chasing and fighting, but it is important that these activities are not mistaken for aggression.

Other mammals use facial expressions to convey playfulness, but it has not been investigated whether marine mammals also use facial expressions to signal play.

“The mouth-opening gesture probably evolved from the chewing motion, breaking down the chewing sequence to leave only the ‘intention to bite’ without contact,” Palagi said.

“The relaxed, open mouth seen in sociable carnivores, the playful faces of monkeys, and even the laughter of humans is a universal sign of playfulness and signals enjoyment to animals, and to us. , helps avoid conflict.”

marieri others. They investigated the presence and possible functions of open-mouth displays in solitary play, interspecific (human-dolphin) play, and intraspecific free play. Image credit: Marieli others., doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110966.

To investigate whether dolphins visually communicate playfulness, Dr Palagi and colleagues studied captive bottlenose dolphins when they were playing in pairs and when they were playing freely with a human handler. recorded.

They showed that dolphins frequently use the open-mouthed expression when playing with other dolphins, but do not seem to use it when playing with humans or alone. .

Although only one open-mouth incident was recorded during solitary play, the researchers recorded a total of 1,288 open-mouth incidents during social play sessions, and these 92% of the incidents occurred during dolphin-dolphin play sessions.

Dolphins were also more likely to make open-mouthed expressions when their faces were within the field of view of their playmates, with 89% of recorded open-mouthed expressions produced in this situation. When this “smile” was recognized, the playmate smiled back. With a probability of 33%.

“Given that dolphins frequently participate in the same activities and situations, some might argue that dolphins are simply copying each other’s open-mouthed facial expressions by chance, but this This does not explain why the probability of imitating another dolphin’s open-mouth expression within 1 second is 13 times higher if the recipient actually saw the original expression. ” said Dr. Palagi.

“This rate of mimicry in dolphins is consistent with what has been observed in certain carnivores, such as meerkats and sun bears.”

of study Published in a magazine iscience.

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veronica marieri others. Smiling underwater: Exploring the playful signals and rapid imitation of bottlenose dolphins. isciencepublished online October 2, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110966

Source: www.sci.news

The smile of a dolphin could indicate their playful nature

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Bottlenose dolphins have an open mouth and a facial expression that resembles a smile.

Zoomarin, Italy

Dolphins seem to make open-mouthed expressions most often when being watched by playmates, suggesting that such expressions may be similar to human smiles.

Although we often recognize these as smiles, there is little research into dolphin facial communication.

Want to know more? Elisabetta Palagi Researchers from the University of Pisa in Italy analyzed the behavior of 22 captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). It takes place in two wildlife parks: Zoomarine Rome in Italy and Planete Sauvage in Port-Saint-Père, France.

Over 80 hours of footage, the team observed a total of 1,288 open-mouthed facial expressions during social play sessions. More than 90 percent of these events occurred during play between dolphins, and the rest occurred during dolphin-human interactions.

Animals were more likely to adopt an open-mouthed expression when their face was within the playmate’s field of view, 89% of the time it was displayed in this situation. When their playmate saw the smile, they smiled back 33% of the time.

“One might argue that dolphins imitate other people’s open-mouthed facial expressions purely by chance, as they are often engaged in the same activity or situation,” Paragi says. “But this does not explain why recipients are 13 times more likely to imitate another dolphin’s open-mouthed expression within one second when they actually see the original expression.”

Other animals, such as monkeys, wolves, and meerkats, may relax and open their mouths to make a “playful face,” but whether this is driven by emotion or a way to communicate intent remains unclear. There is a discussion.

“Is the dolphin’s open-mouthed expression conveying an emotional mood, or is it simply used to tell others, ‘Don’t be scared, we’re just playing!’, or both?” It’s not easy to determine whether that’s the case,” Palagi said. .

She says the study can’t say conclusively whether it’s comparable to a human smile. “We do not claim that a single study will reveal the communication strategies of dolphins during play. However, we would like to open up new areas of research that also take into account visual elements.”

Luciana Moller Researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, say that dolphin open-mouth behavior occurs in a variety of situations, including aggressive, sexual, and social interactions. This means that it can’t necessarily be interpreted as a smile, as this is a very versatile signal.

She notes that making sounds could have been a factor in the dolphins opening their mouths, but the study did not examine acoustic recordings.

Another drawback is that they studied small groups of dolphins in captivity, so their behavior may not reflect their behavior in the wild.

“Free-living dolphins have much more space to interact and chase each other while playing, and are often found in waters with poor visibility,” Moller says. . “Visual signals may to be as effective as acoustic signals in these situations.”

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chimpanzee mother’s engage in playful interactions with their offspring during challenging circumstances

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Chimpanzee mother and child in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Dr. Chris Sabbi, Tufts University

When they have less to eat, most chimpanzees stop playing altogether to conserve energy, but mothers continue to spend a lot of time playing with their children. Because play is essential to the physical and psychological development of young chimpanzees, mothers may channel their energy into this behavior to nurture their young, even during difficult times.

Great apes such as gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees all tend to engage in play, such as tickling, pecking, and chasing each other. “Play helps develop both motor and social skills,” he says. Zarin Machanda At Tufts University, Massachusetts. “That's really what the baby needs to develop properly.”

For more than a decade, Machanda and colleagues have been observing a community of about 60 Eastern chimpanzees.Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurti) lives in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The team played a total of 3,891 games between 2010 and 2019.

“We had a great summer in 2016 or 2017 when there was nothing but food everywhere on site,” says Manchanda. “And one of the things we noticed was a lot of adult chimpanzees playing with each other.”

When food was abundant, teams recorded at least one play on 97% of observation days, but when food was scarce, this decreased to only 38%.

However, mother chimpanzees continued to play with their children at even higher rates during times of low food availability.

“We were really surprised,” team members say. Chris Sabbi Food is generally more important to female chimpanzees because the energetic cost of reproduction is much higher, according to a Harvard University study.

During periods of food stress, chimpanzees tend to spend more time alone to avoid competing for resources, so mothers are often the only social partners for their babies. As a result, the mother spends even more time playing with her children to compensate for the lack of interaction with her peers and other adults.

“The fact that mothers continue to play with their babies, even at personal sacrifices, shows how important this is to the child's development,” Machanda said. “It's like the hidden cost of being a mother.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com