Alexandra Reiner

2/12/18

ENGL110

The messages that Nicholas Carr presents in “Hal and Me” relates to how technology presents itself as helpful, and while it may be, technology can also be deceptive in its danger. Technology has become such an important part of our lives, and it changes our habits and routines until we eventually became dependent on it. This leads us to question if technology is actually hurting us while it helps us, as the way people read, study, think and act has changed as a result of technology. Some key words that Carr uses to present his message include internet, Mac, Windows, network, AOL, digital and books. He also uses personal stories and recollections of his past to influence his readers. He describes how before the internet, he would get caught up in reading, “…like a scuba diver in a sea of words”. Now, like most people, he struggles to stay focused when reading a long passage of text. He suggests that scouring the web for information has conditioned people towards skimming and picking out useful information, rather than taking the time to read a passage in its entirety.

On the other hand, the messages that Clive Thompson presents in “The Rise of the Centaurs” differ greatly from Carr’s ideas. Thompson believes that humans and technology compliment each other, and do best when working together. Humans can utilize their ability to apply intuition to a scenario, like chess, in order to win. Meanwhile, a computer can be programmed to calculate all the possible outcomes resulting in a chess move, leading itself towards victory. Although these are very different methods used to succeed at the same game, both humans and technology have disadvantages to their strategies. Therefore, both are better off working together than they are working alone, like a hybrid. Some key words that Thompson uses to present his messages include chess, calculation, hybrid and collaboration. He also uses the allegory of a chess game in order to help his readers further understand his ideas.