Google iz Makeing Me Dummer?

This week’s reading of Web of Technology by Robert Burnett looked at the power of technology over society and the reshaping that come from that technological determinism. Google, smartphones, Spotify, memory chips, webcams- these are all a part of our society today and something we are accustomed to. But to someone without access or to people from the past these technologies would be quite foreign. The internet and the ideology of technology nowadays sets out an idea in society that makes whatever we currently have appear quite normal. Technology is constantly making progress that we don’t think twice about- and sometimes expect. Iphone 5? Ok, what’s next? Iphone 6? Ok cool, what about after that? We are constantly searching for more and looking forward to what technology can bring us, which can be quite dangerous when we rely on technology for everything and it in turn feeds our addiction. He discusses how the internet is “an extreme space biased civilization” (no longer needs to be in the same space to communicate). Information is able to move incredibly fast, but possesses a transient quality that does not allow for much permanence information wise. He also talks about the idea of a potential dystopian future where machines take over and we have no mind of our own.

I was able to connect these parts of the article to the video Is Google Making Us Stupid? by David Carr the address what the internet could possibly be doing to our brains. He suggests that our thinking patterns and the makeup of our brains have been altered from the power of technology by reprogramming them by changing our capacity for concentration and contemplation. Although I found myself negating some of his points, whether out of denial or me being abnormal, when I thought about it in the context that the medium shapes society, I found myself agreeing to his points. I think the internet may not have directly changed us, but through shaping society it in turn changed the way we do things, which is something I did not necessarily see the author arguing. He makes most of his points in the context of reading ability. He opens with a statement about trying to become immersed into a book or lengthy article with difficulty which is uncharacteristic of him as a book lover. I could relate to when he said your mind wanders, you get fidgety, lose your place, and then lose interest- kind of like this article to be honest. But as I thought about how relatable it was, it could be due to the higher rise in ADD and ADHD. But could this rise be in response to the rewiring of our brains changing our genetic susceptibility for this disorder? Perhaps. Although I do consider myself a very distracted person, if I can find a book I like, I will submerse myself in it-as long as I have time. The internet in the Post-Modern era may have changed our brains, but it most definitely changed society to become a fast paced and very demanding which then in turn requires you to use technology to cope. I simply do not have the time to spend on a 10 page academic article- particularly when I could sum it up for you in two paragraphs.

He uses the example of research that “once required days in the stacks or periodical rooms of libraries can now be done in minutes. ..[but] the advantages of having immediate access to such an incredibly rich store of information are many,…. but that boon comes at a price” of trying to stay focused. People’s reading styles have changed from a traditional reading style to skimming articles and titles, searching for what they want to read. I admittedly skim due to procrastination, disinterest, and to frankly save time in the high-paced life. With the large amount of information out in the world, if you spent a long amount of time on each, how do you expect to get through anything?

Although I did disagree with Carr’s essay at some points, I do agree that the internet affects our thinking patterns. I do find my memory going- whether it’s from a fully-loaded schedule, being overstimulated, ADD, or the internet itself- there is a profound effect on society. Reading has become a struggle, particularly when I hear my phone buzzing or even if I turn it off, what did I miss? It is an addiction that our brains have become accustomed to and that hinder our day to day life. This is a frightening thought that one day we could potentially be controlled by technology, not in the sense of robots or what not, but psychologically. But becoming aware of habits and technology’s power is important to be more cognizant of our changing technological lives.