Nostalgia & Technology

Simply defined, nostalgia is a yearning for something experienced in the past. For most people, its usually a yearning for the way things were in their childhood, or college years or something appropriately time-lined. But in the case of technology, the speed that it develops and changes significantly alters the time frame for nostalgia. My neighborhood did not change drastically in 5 years when i was a child, but the game world of Everquest changed significantly - to the point that many people picked up and moved. With all nostalgia, there is always the glossing over of the bad times and exagerration of the good - but isnt that always the way when we experience a great first of anything?

How does this quick paced nostalgia affect the way we perceive future technology and the worlds created by it? Is my yearning for a community lost 5 years ago any different then those from who talk about what the internet 'used to be' and how great it was back in the day of MUD's ...

Welcome 2005

Another year ahead, 2005 looks to be one of my more exciting years academically. First and foremost, i will be putting to bed my first degree in my academic career. I had started my bachelor of arts degree in the 1994-1995 academic year at the University of New Brunswick. My daughter had just turned two. After a year of single-parenthood and a full course-load, i decided that it was not the time to pursue my education and focus on taking care of her. 10 years, another lovely daughter and great spouse later, i will finally graduate in April.

This year proposes to be a challenging one nonetheless. With big academic aspirations, I have submitted two papers for the upcoming DiGRA conference; one by myself and one with a fellow gamecode member, Maude Bonenfant. We are also planning to submit for an upcoming issue of the journal Simulation and Gaming. I am applying to graduate school here in Montreal at Concordia to continue working on my research on video games and identity with Prof. Bart Simon. Prof. Simon, myself and a fellow student (Mark Silverman) are also working on a chapter for the forthcoming EQ Theory Reader - the work is due for June 2005, the book is due out in 2006.

And somewhere in there, I plan on fitting in some serious EverQuest data collection and research, finish my honour's thesis and spend time with my family - I am sure my daughters get tired of seeing my face in books!

I am both nervous and excited for this year to unfold, I can't remember my life path being this clear and on track! 2005 I am ready!