Cognitive boundaries

Sometimes, I wonder whether I should be disturbed that there are dozens of video games I know by heart. I mean that, after not playing them for five years or more, I know exactly which block needs to be pushed, what sequence of answers needs to be given in a run of questioning. The situation is altogether uncanny: you see the little girl made of thirty pixels and you know the instant you see her that she will ask you about her cat: this in a game that you last played in your friend’s basement when you had never had a sip of beer or wine and didn’t know what continent Oxford was on. It is like some kind of insane mockery of my inability to remember the three or four main points in the forty page article that I just read.

Human brains have not evolved for this ‘unknown person 31’ said ‘position 16/34’ on ‘topic 8041D’ style of interaction with data. I would venture to say that we are better suited to the ‘if it flashes, hit it with that weapon more’ style of interaction with data.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan