Age of Internet

“We are gradually changing from a nation of calloused hands to a nation of agile brains.” – Marcel Just. (Begley 92) This quote really speaks to me. I find it to be very true as we are focusing more on developing new technology to do the work we might be doing with our hands. It is similar to the common expression “Work Smarter not Harder”. I think that this is what the internet is letting us do. However many authors and writers do not think this is the case. They believe that the internet is making us less intelligent as it is rewiring our brain to think in order of internet articles rather than books. I on the contrary believe the internet is giving us an easy opportunity to learn which is therefore making us more intelligent.

Obviously, amateur human brain can become weak to the annoying impact of the information overload, although the brain can adapt to the huge information flow and process the information selectively that leads to the adaptation of human way of thinking. So, internet can effect not only human brain and behavior but also the way users think. The information overload and the way the information is delivered to users cause consistent changes in the way of thinking.

On the other hand, Harvard experimental cognitive psychologist Dr. Pinker in his essay “Mind Over Mass Media” addresses the same issue, technology as a deterrent to concentration, but has a very different outlook. Although Dr. Pinker acknowledges that technology can be a distraction, he chooses to provide logical (albeit condescending) strategies to overcome the distractions rather than going into theatrics. Dr. Pinker states, “The solution is not to bemoan technology but to develop strategies of self-control, as we do with every other temptation in life. Turn off email or twitter when you work, put away your Blackberry at dinner time, ask your spouse to call you to bed at a designated hour” (Pinker par. 9). Essentially, Pinker asserts that if one takes simple preventative measures, there is no reason to believe technological distractions will hinder the mind.

Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains, questions the impact the technology has upon our lives. He argues that the internet prevents our ability to engage in deep reading and thus restricts our ability to think critically. He says this is due to the idea of neuroplasticity, which is where our brains change in order to adapt to the different stimuli it encounters. When books were first introduced, our brain had to rewire itself in order to achieve the ability to focus for long periods of time on text and to think deeply about it. This resulted in a literate deep thinker. However, the internet has forced our brain to rewire itself again. Carr says that “there is evidence that the cells of our brains literally develop and grow bigger with use, and atrophy or waste away with disuse” (22). Our brain has many structures that perform specific functions and the structures associated with deep thinking can decrease and eventually will serve no function if we don’t use it. We are much better thsn our ancestors. According to Carr, “the oral world of our distant ancestors may well have had emotional and intuitive depths we can no longer appreciate” (56). In other words, Carr believes that people in the past engaged in focused, immersed thinking. I believe that Nicholas Carr is right when he says that the internet is changing the way we think, however I don’t believe that we need to turn off the internet in order to reduce the chances of losing

The internet has revolutionized the world. The internet users can easily access from any data from around the world. However, the internet was also made the users less critical thinkers since the data obtain can be easily found online instead of reading it from a print book. Two sources in particular, Nicholas Carr, “Shallows” and Michael’s Aggers, interview with Clive Thompson “Smarter than you think” have recently argued how the internet has changed our memory and ways of thinking. The internet is bad for your brain because it limits your knowledge of memorization and XXXXXXX .In the book Shallows by Carr, he states. “The arrival of the limitless and easily searchable data banks of the Internet brought a further shift, not just in the way

In the book, The Shallows: What The Internet is Doing to Our Brains, by Nicholas Carr, they talk about ways the internet has changed the way we think and how we take in information. The internet is the space where everyone can be connected in one way or another. It has many positive effects but like anything with positive effects, it has some negative effects. The internet can be a great source of news, information, entertainment, and much more. But the way it is presented sometimes can have some negative effects on our brain. I do agree with the statement that the internet is affecting how we think and how we perceive things, but it isn’t always in the most negative way. In the book, The Shallows: What The Internet is Doing to Our Brains, by Nicholas Carr, he talks about how the brain functions and how the internet affecting us in a negative way. But later on, he goes on to state that it has in some ways made people smarter than they were before. I’d have to say that I do agree with everything that Nicholas Carr has to say about

Over the years, technology has developed into something that we cannot live without. Society is constantly being dictated and reshaped by the newest technology. In Nicholas Carr’s article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, he expounded on the uncomfortable sense that someone, or something was tinkering with his brain. He realized that he’s not thinking the way he used to. Additionally, he explains how our brains aren’t familiar with critical thinking anymore. He also introduces the idea that the Internet is doing more harm to us than good. I believe Carr’s ideas on the negative effects of the Internet are well founded. The validity surrounds us daily.

We may not think about is but when people uses technology they’re changing their brains pathways. In the article 10 Big Ways That Technology Affects Your Brain by Aniya Wells writs “Brains are malleable” and with our technology experiences “we’re actually changing the physical shape of our brains” which can lead “to a decrease in sense of

I believe that the Internet is changing how we as a society think and comprehend information because I have experienced this in my personal life. “My mind isn’t going--so far as I can tell-- but it’s changing” (Carr par. 2). Carr recognizes that his mind is changing and I recognize that as well because of such heavy Internet and technology use. When I was younger, I used to be a fairly avid reader. Then I was introduced to the Internet and became more dependent on it for schoolwork, projects and really just for everyday life. My affinity for reading is pretty much gone do to my dependence on the Internet. A lot of my friends experienced this too. “When I mention my troubles with reading to friends, many say they’re suffering from similar afflictions” (Carr par. 6). A great majority of my friends would agree with this quote as much as I do. My friend circle have given up reading because of their major dependence on the Internet. It also does not help that my generation was born into this world of overwhelming technology. We have grown up with the world at our fingertips, and reading books has become a secondary way to obtain information. It is even an annoyance to read sometimes because books are cumbersome and heavy. While the Internet is handy for many things, it appears to be altering our minds even if we are oblivious to it. It changes how information is presented and processed by our brains. The Internet is a great tool for finding information, but its distractions and sheer overwhelming volume of websites creates shortened attention spans and lack of

In Nicholas Carr’s book What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains the Shallows (2008) the author explains the cause and effects of the newly made Internet with individuals’ thought processing and the major impact the Net has had on the world. Carr supports his assertion by rectifying suspicions and using evidence derived from experiments and years of research to explain how “the brain’s thinking process is changing when the Internet is a deciding factor.” (Carr, 2010, p. 120) The writer implies that in order for the Net to completely envelop and change our thinking process, we mustn’t forget our original cognitive linear thought processing gained from reading and writing. Nicholas Carr establishes a personal basis to reach out to intended readers to touch all areas and aspects of the study.

Throughout the course of history, humans have made great technological advancements. During the Renaissance, the printing press had revolutionized all of Europe; the accessibility of books had become universal, and people learned how to read and write. Because of the printing press, people became smarter and humanity had made a huge advancement into the modern world. In the 21st century, however, there is a growing issue; even though humans are becoming smarter, the human brain has suffered a negative impact from the internet. In the book, "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains," by Nicholas Carr, Carr discusses how the internet completely changes the way people think. Because of the internet, our ability to think deeply,

In the essay “Multitasking can make you lose … Um … Focus” Alina Tugend exams why multitasking causes you to lose focus and how it is counterproductive. Tugend explains what multitasking is in the first section and that since the 90s we have widely accepted it into our daily lives. She also brings a credible professor named Earl Miller to elaborate on multitasking and how it is explained in a scientific manor. As this professor goes on he talks about how its misleading and that multitasking doesn’t actually benefit us, it actually hinders are ability to be productive. Tugend uses multiple case studies to back up this information and to even support her own argument that multitasking causes loss of focus.

Is The Internet Changing The Way We Think? Technology is advancing almost every day in some way shape or form. Technology is machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge. There are things we use every day that aren’t considered technology.

Is the internet making us smarter or dumber? People continuously argue whether this rise of electronic use and internet in our lives is a negative or positive aspect. In June 5, 2010 Wall Street Journal article, Nicholas Carr raises and answer the intriguing question,“Does the Internet Make You Dumber?”Nicholas Carr argues that the internet has bad effects on our brain. He says that the internet makes it harder to remember anything, and that is harder to move memories into long term memory. Those who are continually distracted by emails, alerts, and text messages understand less than a person who can concentrate. Nicholas Carr points that the internet can change the way our brain acts. He states that those who use the internet are shallow, and the internet is causing irreversible damage to our thought processes and making us stupid. A week later, Steven Pinker counters Nicholas Carr’s assertions in his own New York Time article,“Mind Over Mass Media.”He argues that electronic technologies are not as horrible as some may make it seem, and he starts his article by addressing how“New forms of media have always caused moral panics”(199). Throughout his article, Pinker explains why critics, who accuse electronic technology as harming to human intelligence, are wrong. He suggests that,“these technologies are the only things that will keep us smart”(200). Through media and social networking, the internet brings people closer together and provides convenience for people’s life.

Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way we think, as well as the way media has changed. Our minds no longer focus. When in conversation with people we are constantly distracted by the technological advances our era has brought. Text messages, emails, pop culture drama has all taken