The danger
involved in playing the location based augmented reality game Pokemon Go is
similar to the hazards of texting. Pokemon Go, which released in July, uses
global positioning system (GPS) to help players locate, capture, battle and train
Pokemon who appear on the screen as if they were in the same real-world
location as the player. The app quickly became a global phenomenon and has been
downloaded by more than 100 million people worldwide. In the day after game
release, reports started coming in of people falling, running into things or
even walking into traffic playing Pokemon Go.
The problem
with Pokemon Go, is that it leads to a whole new level of not only slowing
down, but moving in a particular direction to chase your Pokemon. Last year, a
research completed, which found that when compared with non-distracted walkers,
texting and cognitively distracted walkers slowed down, took more steps and
increased the height of their steps to go over obstacles. Researchers used the
result to hypothesize that the slowed walking pace coupled with path deviations
will eventually cause a trip-and-fall accident.
Players
are more likely to cross at a time when the crosswalk signs are not giving a
clear go. They are more likely to cross in the middle of the street as opposed
to a crosswalk. Pokemon Go is the potential recipe for more injuries and more
pedestrian or traffic accidents. It is unrealistic to think people will just
chase Pokemon on foot – they are also going to chase Pokemon Behind the wheel
as well. Recently I saw a person was riding his unicycle in a low and slow
traffic area and was crossing the street in a crosswalk. A woman in a car was
chasing a Pokemon, ran a stop sign and hit him.
