High Tech Household

There I was, in the check-out line at Target, when I overheard the lady in front of me chatting about the copy of Assassin’s Creed 2 she was buying for her grandson. “For my grandson. You know these kids, they always want these weird things,” she casually said to the checker. “You know, assassins and whatever else.” She smiled, as though this must all be light, harmless fun.

That struck me quite a bit. I’ve read about parents and grandparents not doing their homework in regard to the entertainment they purchase for those in their care. Getting people informed about these issues is part of the reason for this very website. Video games are not just for kids anymore. Truth be told, they never really were the exclusive domain of children, but a lot of people seem to think that’s the case anyway.

So, I said to her, “You know, that’s not really a kids’ game at all. It’s rated “Mature,” the video game equivalent of a rated-R movie.” She definitely had no idea what I was talking about, so I pointed out the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) rating icon in the corner of the game case. “M 17+” it said pretty plainly. She was pretty surprised and said she would discuss it with the child’s father.

Of course, the important thing is that you know what you’re getting for your child (or whichever relation). You may have an objection to a mild smoking reference in an E10+ game (“Everybody 10+”), but no problem with some mild swearing in a T game (“Teen”). With the ESRB’s information, you can make an informed choice. No major retailer will stock a game unless it carries a rating from the ESRB, so take note when purchasing. Their website is very informative, and gives a lot of detail on rated games. Case-in-point, here is their description of the game I mentioned above, Assassin’s Creed 2. See if you think that’s what you’d want your 13-year-old to be playing.

A new technical standard, WHDI has been developed that promises wireless 1080p HD resolution at distances of up to 100 feet.  The standard utilizes the same bandwidth area as the newest WiFi protocol, 802.11n.  Gone will be the days of endless cables, and forcing all devices to be in proximity to your television.  Think of the possibilities:

• A computer across the room that uses WHDI to stream Hulu or YouTube to your TV
• A smaller, portable television for your kitchen that simply receives its signal from the wired cablebox
• A home media server stored in a closet used to archive movies and recorded television without taking up precious space on your TV cabinet or living room.

Upon first release, WHDI devices will likely be fairly expensive, but over time will come down in price.  The move to WHDI will likely have a similar effect on homes that WiFi has had, making it easier for people to create complex media ecosystems without complex wiring schemes.