Tools That Change the Way We Think

 

tools that change the way we think

Please read the following passage and respond to the questions below. Write your answers in a comment to this post. Then, cut/paste both the passage and your thoughts to your own blog in a post entitled, "Tools That Change the Way We Think."

"Back in 2004, I asked [Google founders] Page and Brin what they saw as the future of Google search. 'It will be included in people's brains,' said Page. 'When you think about something and don't really know much about it, you will automatically get information.'

'That's true,' said Brin. 'Ultimately I view Google as a way to augment your brain with the knowledge of the world. Right now you go into your computer and type a phrase, but you can imagine that it could be easier in the future, that you can have just devices you talk into, or you can have computers that pay attention to what's going on around them and suggest useful information.'

'Somebody introduces themselves to you, and your watch goes to your web page,' said Page. 'Or if you met this person two years ago, this is what they said to you... Eventually you'll have the implant, where if you think about a fact, it will just tell you the answer."

-From In the Plex by Steven Levy (p.67)


Answer this not-so-simple question: How does use of the Internet, media, and/or technology change the way you think? Focus on your memory, your ability to concentrate, your sense of time and priorities, and the subjects/topics that interest you most. If you find "thinking about your thinking" difficult to assess, try the following strategies: compare yourself with older people who did most of their formal learning before smart phones and 2.0 existed; compare yourself with contemporaries who don't use those tools much today; read up on what education leaders and thinkers have to say about generational differences in thinking (and remember to cite your sources).

 

 

It is undeniable that the internet and modern technology have changed and shaped society as we know it. What’s debatable is whether these changes have been beneficial or detrimental. Personally I believe the internet makes things simply infinitely easier. Instead of spending countless hours at the library researching as previous generations have done, the modern student can search the information he needs and have ample content within a matter of minutes. I see this easy access to knowledge as a positive because it means society is moving towards being more well informed. Although the internet provides us with knowledge it is also the sight of addictive distractions. Social media is a growing problem in our world today. Besides major issues such as cyber bullying and predators the internet also involves a lethal dose of unproductive possibilities. Sites such as Instagram and twitter seduce teens and adults alike into neglecting their duties and instead spending hours and hours clicking away and reading status updates. Many citizens have become dependent on such sites and their days seem incomplete without a status update or picture post. Social media seems to taking over but I see it as our own fault. The internet does not control how much time we spend on it; we do. Our misuse of our privileges has proven to be very detrimental to our society. Once we learn how to responsibly limit our internet use our society will be able to reap the benefits of our tech advances without suffering the non productive consequences.