Air Traffic Control…This is Flight 103 preparing for descent….seeking clearance” Wondering what’s going on in your teenager’s room? Well, he is playing out a video game where he is the pilot. Several youngsters are trying out new video games and applications which simulate real life situations. Right from aeronautics to law, there are virtual tools which teach concepts in a practical setup.
Ship Simulator, Flight Simulator, ArtRage, iMoot are just a few examples of these games and applications. Many say it’s a fun way of learning and beats the monotony of a classroom. Through Flight Simulator, one can learn the various aspects of a plane, controls and operations. The game even automatically incorporates real time weather conditions to make the experience of flying more authentic. Roxwell D’Souza, who aspires to be a commercial pilot, says, “When I play this game, it feels like I’m actually flying a plane. The game throws open real crises like landing gear failure, crash risks and many more. I even have a joystick which is meant to tackle tougher situations.”
Budding artists can have a go at creativity with ArtRage, a 3D art application which is compatible with the iPad. It has virtual tools where you can play with brushes, easels and acrylics. Faizal Taher, an art designer remarks, “As John Lassiter would say, art and technology inspire each other. We use advanced programmes like Maya in creating artwork and animation. It’s so much better because you can experiment and recreate art. If you don’t understand something, you can always rewind or pause the game or application.”
iMoot and Moot Online are portals that allow virtual mooting and are popular among law students. Law graduate Madhukeshwar Desai says, “It’s very exciting to be able to argue virtually. There is even an iPhone application called Blacks Law Dictionary and it greatly supports this mooting exercise.”