Nicolas Carr says that intellectual
technology changes the way we think, including non-digital technologies like
the ‘map.’ “What historians of maps tell
us is that this, this technology changed the way we think. It gave us, in
general, a more abstract mind. We began to pay more attention to the abstract
patterns that lay behind what we saw and what we heard.” (See video below.)
Despite
many advantages the internet bombards us with distractions and the devices we
carry with us are sources of constant interruption. This must be affecting our brains in some way.
Carr agrees, saying “we never get any reward for concentrating and paying
attention to one thing without interruption… this encourages a more superficial
way of thinking.” This is the opposite of reading a printed page. The processes
required for that kind of focus and concentration have connections to creating
memories, contemplation and deep thinking.
Furthermore,
being able to look something up is not the same as remembering. Remembering
involves making connections with other facts, experiences and emotions – all required
for deep thinking and contemplation. Carr going on to addresses multitasking
and possible addiction to new information! Scary stuff!
Near
the end Carr acknowledges that you can, as some people do, make a case that
these losses (deep thinking, contemplation, focus) are acceptable because they no
longer having a place in this fast paced society.
What
do you think?
From Tanis:
ReplyDeleteI think that comments surrounding the internet and modern media tend to be resoundingly pessimistic and negative. There always seems to be a "kids these days" sentiment that permeates these types of discussions, but I've always wondered if it's truly warranted. I think his contrast with the printing press was actually very interesting. One could say that the reason the printing press was so influential was because it allowed for ideas to be quickly and efficiently spread; I no longer had to make every page of every book by hand, I could make one page and then a thousand copies. I think that the internet is essentially the printing press 2.0. I can find and share information globally; not only am I not restricted by the time it takes to make a book or paper, I am not even geographically restricted. So, in that sense, the internet was actually very revolutionary.
He does, however, make a point about distractions. Having the internet in my pocket surely does make me more prone to distraction, but I don't think that it can be appropriately extended to mean that I will lose my ability to think deeply, critically, and creatively. One of the big reasons is that just because I'm on the internet doesn't mean that I'm multitasking. I think one of the biggest flaws in this is that he assumes that there is no deep think going on when someone in online. What, really, is the different between a printed book and an electronic one?
If anything, we should take this barrage of information and use it to strengthen our critical thinking skills. We can use this as an opportunity to teach students how and why they should be looking at information on the internet with a critical eye. The world will never not need critical, creative, and deep thinking, no matter how "fast paced" it gets.
And on the point of "remembering"; of course remembering is not the same as looking it up, but we do need to give preference to some information over others, and I think it's important to do so. The argument can be made that remembering facts is generally quite useless, but remembering concepts is important. Saying that looking something up online won't lead to your brain making the connections in order to remember is, I think, short sighted. In most ways, I think looking something up online versus in a book is exactly the same. The difference with online resources is that I can find more information and related information online.
I guess my major point is that critical, conceptual, creative, and deep thinking will always be valued skills. No one will make any great achievements with out them. And if we're worried about being a distracted society then we should place an emphasis on these skills in schools. Surely we can develop these skills when using the internet.
I think it's a dangerous notion to deem the loss of any human trait as "acceptable" especially those termed "deep thinking" or even concentration! That said, human nature is not the most well-understood field of study. It could be that new technology isn't destroying or deteriorating these qualities inside us, but rather emphasizing one aspect of our character as people that has lain dormant. Certainly the hunger for information is no bad thing, and as time and technology progresses we will see more seamless methods of integrating the human mind with incoming information. While this process is not without its risks - risks we should be mindful of - I think it is overall a good thing, and would not be too quick to criticize it. Overall I suppose we have to go into this with our eyes open; that, I suppose, is the key to everything!
ReplyDelete-Andrew Parkin