Simulation

Psychology

Simulation is an experimental method used to investigate the behavior and psychological processes and functioning of individuals in social and other environments…by reproducing those environments in a realistic way.

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org

Technology

Simulation is an attempt to predict aspects of the behaviour of some system by creating an approximate (mathematical) model of it. 

Reference:  https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

A common simulation form is virtual reality (VR).  Virtual reality is a simulated three-dimensional environment created through the memory, graphics, and processes of a computer. Supporting hardware and software tools, including gloves and head monitors with real-time feedback, are often used. 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org/  

Recreation

Virtual reality, a form of simulation, enables virtual leisure.  According to Harris (2009), any leisure activity using access to the Internet (via virtual reality, chat, online communities, etc.) may be characterized as virtual leisure. Experience, said Harris, is “mediated through electronic media” (p. 255). 

Reference:  Harris (2009) 

Tech+Rec+Psych

Technology, recreation and psychology intersect when simulation is used to generate experience of recreation settings. For example, using virtual reality (VR) is a way to complete an activity, especially when that activity would be inaccessible otherwise.  There are opportunities to use VR to experience the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest, the sea or even a fine arts museum. Virtual reality can also be used for a therapeutic purpose. Just as being in nature itself improves mood, so can experiencing it through virtual reality (Strong, 2021). 

That is all for now. I will leave you with this question. How will you use this new insight? 

References 

Harris, D. (2009). Key concepts in leisure studies. Sage. 

Strong, J.  (2021). 360º videos of natural scenery delivered via virtual reality devices and its effect on mood. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Tennessee].  https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/6515  

Affordance

Psychology 

Affordance is an opportunity to act in a particular way which is allowed or furnished by a resource or support in the environment. 

Reference:  https://www.oxfordreference.com [A Dictionary of Psychology] 

Technology

An affordance is a clue to the function of an object.  Technological affordances are the constraints of a technology which frame the tasks that a person can complete with the technology that they have. 

Reference (1): https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Reference (2):  Thomas et al. (2015), via https://www.igi-global.com 

Recreation

Leisure affordances are the opportunities provided by the environment for a person to engage in a particular form of leisure activity  

Reference:  Walker et al. (2019)

Tech+ Rec+ Psych

It is a beautiful spring day, and you decide to ride your new hoverboard. The hoverboard affords travel, movement, practicing balance, and (hopefully) joy. However, owning the technology is not always enough. You live near very few flat surfaces and any sidewalks nearby are cracked and jagged. This environment does not afford riding a hoverboard. Luckily, your parents need to go shopping in town so you are able to be dropped off at the basketball courts at the park, which are nice and smooth. This environment allows you to ride your hoverboard safely. Affordance is exhibited in the technology you have and the recreational environment you are in. 

Thank you for reading! How cool that you were afforded this opportunity to read this! On to the next construct. 

References 

Thomas, P. E., Srihari, M., & Kaur, S.  (2015).  Handbook of research on cultural and economic impacts of the information society.  DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-8598-7 

Walker, G., Kleiber, D., Mannell, R.  (2019).  A social psychology of leisure (3rd ed.).  Sagamore-Venture. 

Social Presence

Psychology 

Social presence is “the degree to which individuals feel that they are in the presence of another person.” 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org 

Technology 

Social presence is a feeling following the active engagement of people which may deepen as the number of people who are present increases. 

Reference:  http://www.vrglossary.org 

Recreation 

In recreation, social presence can be felt in communal action. The idea of community is reflected in a group of people in a similar location or with a similar goal. 

Reference:  https://dictionary.cambridge.org.

Tech+Rec+Psych  

Today, we will ride a tandem bike. In order to finish the ride, you must interact and work with the other person on the bike. If this is the first time you have ridden with this person, it may take some time, extra communication, and patience. Regardless, you will notice them there. Without them, the ride is harder.  Recreational riding on a piece of technology creates a moment of psychological awareness of the other and self. 

I send you off with this little verse (a haiku): 

Community park
Can ride trails with others here
More than existing

Agency

Psychology 

Agency is the state of being active, usually in the service of a goal, or of having the power and capability to produce an effect or exert influence. 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org 

Technology 

In the design of virtual environments, agency is “the capacity of an entity (a person or other entity) to act in, and influence, an artificial environment.”  

Reference: http://vrglossary.org 

Recreation 

Agency is recognized in recreation when a person chooses their own recreational activities. In these activities, they may choose multiple things: length of participation, dedication to activity, being alone or with others. All these choices relate to agency. 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

My brother loved to play Super SMASH Mario Bros. For us, his only sisters, that was rarely our game of choice and when we agreed to play, we were not challenging or helping him. Occasionally, my youngest sister would want to play without him asking. My brother decided the best way to satisfy both parties was to give my sister a controller but have her “playing” as a computer player. He took away her agency in the game. She could not affect the game in any way, though she thought she was. Eventually the secret came out and then it made sense how my sister beat him on some occasions. Often, we desire to be the initiators of outcomes attributed to us. Agency, the sense of being the one who initiates, is valuable in psychological, technological, and recreational thinking. 

That is all for now. 

Evaluation

Psychology 

Evaluation is “a careful examination or overall appraisal of something particularly to determine its worth, value, or desirability.” 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org/  

Technology 

In technology, evaluation is a process of assessing a system or an element of a system to determine presence and effective functioning. 

Reference:  https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Recreation 

Programs are evaluated in recreation settings. Evaluation is a process, ideally systematic, which investigates the criteria of a program, reviews the evidence from the program, and makes judgements based on the evidence. 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

A ropes course is a space for programming activities (e.g. team building) in a recreational environment.  Imagine that it is time to go and participate in a high ropes course. For someone who does not love heights, an evaluation before this event might end in fear, stress, or anxiety. For someone who is a daredevil or “adrenaline junkie” or adventurist, an evaluation before this event might end in excitement. Regardless, you plan to go and take part in the ropes course.  

Before your arrival, the hosts will evaluate the course. Are all the pieces in place? What environmental factors will play a role in this event (rain or wind)? They will also evaluate the equipment. Are all main structural elements sound?  Do we have the correct number of harnesses and helmets? Are all the carabiners functionally safe? The facilitators will also have to have been trained, tested and demonstrated the proper skills to manage the safety of participants. For example, there has already been evaluations in the best ways to have a safe belay (e.g. How many friction points are there?). There has been, as well, an evaluation on the best way to connect a person to the belay. These technology evaluations are important for safety. After completion of the course, an evaluation of participant experience might reveal feelings of accomplishment, relief, or surprise. For good practice in total recreation service management and delivery, all aspects of the event are evaluated: the participants, the staff, the equipment, the environment, and the designed or programmed activities. 

That is all for now! Thanks for keeping up with the integration of technology, recreation, and psychology. 

Flow

Psychology 

Flow is “a state of optimal experience arising from intense involvement in an activity that is enjoyable.” 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org/ 

Technology 

Flow can be referred to as a mental state where nothing but the task is being focused on and is sometimes also referred to as “being in the zone.” 

Reference: http://vrglossary.org 

Recreation 

Flow is a state that occurs during activities with clear goals, immediate feedback, and a balance between skill level and challenge level. The participant has strict focus, little sense of time, intrinsic motivation, sense of control for what happens next, and a merging of action and awareness. 

Reference:  Walker et al. (2019) 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

Have you ever been playing video games and for a moment or two not noticed the world around you? You were being challenged by an epic level in the game. The game was hard enough that you were intrigued to take it on, but not too hard so that you failed again and again. It does not have to be video games. Maybe it’s a puzzle, board game, making music or completing a workout. Flow comes when your skill level and the difficulty level meet at a high enough, but balanced point. It does not generally last very long, but in those moments time flies, you don’t think about how you look, and nothing distracts you.  

I lost track of time 

The world felt far behind 

Virtual Reality 

You get immersed in what you see 

I was having lots of fun 

Didn’t notice where the time had gone 

Tomorrow, I’ll increase the challenge, I’ll improve my skill 

I’ll find flow again, I know I will

References 

Walker, G., Kleiber, D., Mannell, R.  (2019).  A social psychology of leisure (3rd ed.).  Sagamore-Venture. 

Enhancement

Psychology

Enhancement is an improvement of the characteristics or worth of an entity. 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org/  

Technology 

Enhancement is any change that leads to an improved product or system. Improvements may be in efficiency, compatibility, or functions of the product. 

Reference: https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Recreation 

In recreation, enhancement can be related to an experience of activities. Enhancement is an improvement of skills, quality of involvement or general quality of life through recreation activities. 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

Skiing has been a winter activity for many people for a long time. Skis were originally made from wood and were used more for survival related activities, like hunting or traveling (International Skiing History Association, n.d.). Skis at that point enhanced the ability to capture prey or move across the landscape, thereby improving capacity to cope and augmenting quality of life. As time went on, ski production was, itself, enhanced when metal became a usable material. That technological advancement led to more durable and efficient skis. Today, skiing as a recreational activity can improve skills such as balance and coordination. It is a good embodiment of physical activity. Skiing can also be seen as metaphor for emotional regulation (Kessler, 2020). While skiing, you can have harder paths, faster paths, or smoother paths. Each one requires a different level of skill and mindset. Emotions like fear, excitement, joy, or empowerment can all be part of enhancing a skiing experience. Advancements in ski production through new materials and design allowed for skiing to become a hobby or recreational sport and created opportunities for learning and self-enhancement.  

Who knew skiing had a greater meaning. Thank you for reading! 

References 

International Skiing History Association. (n.d.). A short history of skis. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.skiinghistory.org/history/short-history-skis-0 

 

Kessler, D. (2020, January 27). Skiing – A metaphor for emotional regulation. PsychAlive. https://www.psychalive.org/skiing-a-metaphor-for-emotional-regulation/ 

Constraint

Psychology

Constraints are restrictions, often (though not always) thoughts, that stop or hinder expression or occurrence of natural feelings, impulses or behaviors. 

Reference:  https://www.oed.com/ [Oxford English Dictionary] 

Technology 

A constraint is a specification which uses a mathematical expression to limit, contain or assign values to variables based on the conditions spelled out by that expression . 

Reference: https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Recreation 

Constraints in recreation include any environmental, intrapersonal, or relational factors that hinder a person from completing a recreational activity. 

Reference: Mannell & Kleiber, 1997 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

Sports at one point had many constraints for people with disabilities. Today, we focus on people with visual impairments or who are blind. Baseball is one of Americas favorite pastimes. This has multiple constraints for people with visual impairments. They cannot swing at, catch or throw the ball safely. This may lead to feelings of sadness, frustration, or disappointment. So came beep baseball. There are two main technologies that are part of beep baseball. First, the ball beeps so that ears are the source of information for the location of the ball. Second, the bases buzz so that the batter knows where to run. These two modifications have provided affordances which help to overcome some structural constraints and thereby have provided opportunities for more people to experience this sport. The technological interventions improved the chances of positive recreational and psychological experience of baseball for people with visual impairments. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you found this to be a useful insight!  

Reference 

Source: Mannell, R. C., & Kleiber, D. A. (1997). A social psychology of leisure. Venture.

Validation

Psychology

Validation is a “process of establishing the truth or logical cogency of something.” 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org 

Technology 

In relation to technology, validation is a stage in the development process in which the piece of technology is evaluated to make sure that it meets proper requirements. 

Reference:  https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Recreation 

In recreation, validating is often seen in the pursuit of authentic experience. Often, it is associated with travel or tourism, where the traveler seeks to interact with a real version of an object, event or a culture. 

Reference: Van Winkle & Lagay (2012) 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

Validation through pursuit of authentic experience is sometimes one step removed. The real object of validation may have disappeared for good. At other times, the real exists somewhere, but it is beyond our reach. That is the case of the Titanic. Its wreck was found in 1985, but it is 12,500 feet under water (National Geographic, 2019). In addition, the event has passed. In that kind of situation, we turn to historical accounts, retrieved objects and, given today’s technologies, recreations as physical or digital models (which meet proper representational requirements) in order to re-live or re-validate the event. 

There is a Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri.  Multiple narrative strategies are used to fashion an authentic experience. There are physical aspects for interaction. A visitor is able to stick her hand in a container of water that is the same temperature as the North Atlantic Ocean would have been. In another interpretive strategy, the angle of the deck is replicated over three different points in time in which the incline steepens just as it did when the ship was sinking. Near the end of the tour, you get to see if the person you got at the beginning of the tour survived the catastrophe. It can lead to feelings of sadness, relief, or maybe even guilt. Such an experience might contribute to a better understanding of the truth of the events that occurred.  

I recommend visiting the museum if you ever find your way to Branson, MO. Anyway, thanks for reading. 

References 

National Geographic. (2019, August 22). How the Titanic was lost and found. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/titanic-lost-found 

Source: Van Winkle, C. M., & Lagay, K. (2012). Learning during tourism: The experience of learning from the tourist’s perspective. Studies in Continuing Education, 34(3), 339-355. 

Community

Psychology

Community (1) is a socially organized set of species members living in a physically defined locality. Human communities are often characterized by (a) commonality of interests, attitudes, and values; (b) a general sense of belonging to a unified, socially integrated group  

Community (2) is a collection of individuals who are not socially connected but do have common interests or shared qualities. 

Aggregation is a collection of organisms in one location with no obvious social structure or social organization, possessing only a minimum of shared purpose or interdependence. An example is people in a shopping mall. 

Reference: https://dictionary.apa.org 

Technology 

A virtual community is a group of network users who are linked by some specific area of interest. 

Reference:  https://www.oxfordreference.com/ [A Dictionary of the Internet] 

Aggregation is a technique of combining objects into one new object whose interface is supported by the combined objects. 

Reference: https://www.computer-dictionary-online.org 

Recreation 

In recreation, community is a group of people or a social group that are connected by a similar trait or interest and seen as a unit. 

Reference: https://www.oxfordreference.com [A Dictionary of Public Health] 

Community recreation is recreation which uses resources to ”contribute to the physical, mental, moral development and [improve] the environment of the individual or group.” 

Reference: https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary 

Tech + Rec + Psych 

Community can have slightly different interpretations or meanings. Today, I will focus on community in recreation practice. One of the senses of community in psychology says that members share a common interest or quality, but remain separate and are not socially entwined (APA Dictionary). This is sometimes referred to as aggregation. In another sense, community is meant to be a connection based on social or personal desires, beliefs, or passions. Both senses of usage exist in recreation, but it is the latter which is the greater aspiration in community recreation. 

Here is an illustration of the first sense described above: community as aggregation. In a recreation facility such as a gym, there can be workout equipment that have multiple moving pieces and work different muscle groups but are on one machine–as in a 3-in-1 elliptical. You can use a 3-in-1 elliptical for steps, as a recumbent bike, or an upright stationary cycle. Similarly, there are times when there are groups of people in the gym, who are there to work out or recreate. These people can be seen as an aggregation because they do not have social ties, group goals, or feelings of supporting each other; rather they are there for personal health goals while in proximity to others. 

Community recreation has a greater focus on social integration and inclusion. People with common interest or shared values may come together. Friendships or sense of belonging may be gained in community recreation settings. The community is generally located within the same geographical area. This is the greater aspiration in using recreation for improvement of the quality of life.  

I am curious now: Where do you see community? Thanks for reading about where I see it!