Concerns about video games: Conference at ITU on January 20-22

An upcoming conference at the IT University of Copenhagen sheds light on the latest research on computer games and asks why the relationship between violence and computer games continues to be the subject of heated debate.

Researchcomputer gameschildren and youth

Written 18 January, 2016 15:36 by Vibeke Arildsen

Since video games made their entry into the lives of ordinary families more than three decades ago, researchers, politicians and parents have discussed whether playing video games makes young adults violent, overweight, socially isolated or addicted. Despite the many years of research, experts are still divided on these issues. 

On January 20-22, researchers will meet to discuss concerns about video games at a conference at the IT University of Copenhagen. 

The organisers behind the conference attempt to broaden the sometimes-shrill debate and ask instead why concerns about computer games arise among stakeholders - from game developers to psychologists, neuroscientists and parents. The conference will also focus on less-debated but equally interesting topics within computer games research.

- Through the media, we have become used to the debate about whether computer games make young people addicted and violent, but there are many other interesting things to discuss, like gender issues in games and gamification - how we can use computer games to make people healthier, smarter and better at their jobs. The conference will focus on the myriad of existing research topics concerning computer games, says Rune Kristian Lundedal Nielsen, a PhD student at ITU and co-organizer of the conference.