On January 28, 2025, Â鶹¾«Æ·hosted Dr. Ian Bogost, the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, as part of the Dean's Lecture Series. His talk, titled "Idle Hands: How Windows Solitaire Invented Contemporary Life," captivated faculty and students by exploring the cultural and technological impact of the widely recognized computer game.
Dr. Bogost traced Solitaire's history from its roots in Victorian patience games to its rise as the most widely distributed computer game through Microsoft Windows. He discussed how Solitaire represents a life where the act of operating a computer becomes an end in itself. He also shared personal reflections on waiting for research outcomes to materialize, drawing parallels between the game’s mechanics and academic work.
Faculty and students from Â鶹¾«Æ·found his talk both insightful and inspiring, sparking engaging conversations about gaming, culture, and technology.