Tuesday 4 December 2012

What the World is Saying About Technology and Our Humanity: Do You Agree?

Hi gang, as we delve into some theories, facts, statistics and experiences based on how technology impacts our daily lives and broader world consider these views: Do you think they're correct? What critiques do you have?

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" The Atlantic

* An Ugly Toll of Technology: The NY Times

* "Growing Up Digital: Wired for Distraction": The New York Times

* Sherry Turkle: "Connected, but alone?"

Task: Read and view the following texts and comment
1.) What claims do the authors make that you agree with? Why? Explain
2.) What critiques do you have of any of their arguments or claims? What have they left out?

Due: Sunday, Dec. 9th

43 comments:

  1. 1) In the first article the author claims that google is making humanity stupid. I believe that it may be true to a certain extent, but it is also very beneficial. Google makes it much easier for one to do research or complete an assignment without having to go through all of the other unnecessary extra details. One can go to the main source that they are after rather than a hundred small other details that they have to read and understand first. The downside I believe is that sometimes people do not fully understand the topic they are researching anymore. The interest may die to a certain extent. People lose the excitement, because they know they can just go to google and find exzctly what they need whether its using sparknotes or yahoo answers. Reading a book on the other hand would compel you to read through the topic thoroughly and understand it.

    2)1) In the first article the author claims that google is making humanity stupid. I believe that it may be true to a certain extent, but it is also very beneficial. Google makes it much easier for one to do research or complete an assignment without having to go through all of the other unnecessary extra details. One can go to the main source that they are after rather than a hundred small other details that they have to read and understand first. The downside I believe is that sometimes people do not fully understand the topic they are researching anymore. The interest may die to a certain extent. People lose the excitement, because they know they can just go to google and find exzctly what they need whether its using sparknotes or yahoo answers. Reading a book on the other hand would compel you to read through the topic thoroughly and understand it.

    2)1) In the first article the author claims that google is making humanity stupid. I believe that it may be true to a certain extent, but it is also very beneficial. Google makes it much easier for one to do research or complete an assignment without having to go through all of the other unnecessary extra details. One can go to the main source that they are after rather than a hundred small other details that they have to read and understand first. The downside I believe is that sometimes people do not fully understand the topic they are researching anymore. The interest may die to a certain extent. People lose the excitement, because they know they can just go to google and find exzctly what they need whether its using sparknotes or yahoo answers. Reading a book on the other hand would compel you to read through the topic thoroughly and understand it.

    2)"An Ugly Toll of Technology", focus entirely on how devoted people are to their technological devices. I believe that the article failed to realize how much easier some of these devices have made everyday life for them. Writing this article in general and getting their opinion out to the public would not be possible. These critics fail to realize that they too do need some of these technologies to survive and even possibly keep their jobs. Many jobs nowadays for ex. cops, trucking, taxi,computer engineers, and even some ddoctors rely on these modern day technologies to advance forward. To a certain extent these can have negative affects, but they also do much good.

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    1. Well noted point Harsh, that the authors of these articles themselves also rely on the very technology they are concerned about.

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  2. iunno what i did but i copied and pasted it twice

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    1. You are forgiven, but not for the repeated editing errors. "I" not "i," and many more. Don't be a poster child for our "Corrections Community."

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  3. In the article's its shown that how technology affects our lifestyle. In today's lifestyle its proven that someone would rather research and get their information on internet rather than sitting there and reading through the books. People today have based their lifestyle on internet and technology. It has affected the younger generations big time. Today a 5 year old knows how to use a iphone or ipad better than an adult. Technology is taking over our lifestyle. Some people are addicts and some are just not into it but then there are some that have balanced their lifetstyle without letting it affect their daily life. They all are still dependent on it and use it but they managed to not base all the researches just on internet. Today a kid knows how to research internet better than reading a book. I am not saying technology is bad, its not bad till the usage is balanced and in order. Today the world we live in is all about technology like we can't live without it now. It's way too deep in our system's. It has made our lifestyle's much better, it hasn't made us dumb. If we research something on internet its just because its an easier and quicker way no one wants to sit and read through hundred's of pages and books just to get some information or a point on an article. That's much more time consuming and non useful. Technology is created by us it can't make us dumber. what we research and what we need is based on what we think is important and useful. yea in some ways technology has made life's difficult for some but those are only the people that use it for the wrong things. it is distracting because its so broad and has unlimited information but this is what makes it that much useful because this information increases our knowledge and gives us the opportunity to learn things that we have no knowledge thus increasing our knowledge. To my point i am greatly in favor of technology, this generation has grown up with all these great inventions and it has impacted us greatly aswell. To the one's that do not use it properly but just take advantage of it are getting affected badly. It's not that technology is making us dumber, its just increasing our knowledge but its more that what we do with it and how we use it affecting us.

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    1. Passionate reply Jasleen, but you needed to specifically address two articles, their specific ideas and answer the two questions listed above in the task. Review the articles and your specific ideas to their specific claims.

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  4. 1. In the article “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction”, the negative effects of the internet and gaming are talked about and how they take a toll on kids grades and how they function. I agree with the idea of counselling for those who have been negatively affected by the internet, especially if your grades are dropping. I personally have neglected my homework because I had to watch my T.V. show online or chat with my fiends instead. Also the fact that when teenagers go on the computer to do their homework, but never finish it because something more interesting took over is very true and that is reality. I don’t think there is any way to overcome distractions of the internet, which will only advance and become more addictive in the future.

    2. Nicki Dowling in the article “An Ugly Toll of Technology” mentions the interference and addition of the internet in kids lives is not an addiction after all but “Internet dependence”. It has been said that the internet and electronic devices distract us and lessens our time with family in friends. But, truly I believe the internet is proficient and quick at finding answers and looking up basically any information needed in our daily lives. Also the efficiency of electronic devices, like Dr. Aboujaode talks about in his book “Virtually You: The Internet and the Fracturing of the Self,” will and has benefited us as learners and improves the bases of where we find information from.

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    1. It's true, for all of its potential pitfalls, the internet is a tool for our empowerment and growth. Information is a lot easier to attain, but is that necessarily synonymous with learning?

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  5. 1) In the article "An Ugly Toll of Technology" by The NY Times, the author claims that the Internet, cellphones and other technologies can cause us to become more impatient,

    impulsive, forgetful and even more narcissistic. I completely agree with most if not all of the author's points because technology has taught us to become dependent at it at all

    times. We forgot to be creative and we became generally lazy because of it. And with the advancement of technology, we become less social in terms of real life interaction since we

    are obsess with electronics such as mobile phone and iPod. Even though Technology has provided positive aspects in our lives such as medicine and other innovations, it caused

    more harm to the average consumer

    2) In the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by The Atlantic, the author proposes that Google is making humanity stupid or inherently lazy. Even though there's somewhat

    validity in that statement, we can't ignore the fact that Google or other search engines in general supplied us a large amount of references and links to the things we're searching

    for. With Google, we have more freedom to easily get what we want regardless if it's looking for an idea or just shopping for the items we want to buy. There's basically no

    drawbacks for using Google, since it's quite effective to an extent that one can easily find out what a person is looking for with a few clicks of a button. Overall, it entirely depends

    on the consumer on how he or she uses it.

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    1. True, as with all technologies, it "entirely depends on the consumer [and] on how he or she uses it"; however, your earlier thoughts remain true, the potential for stifled creativity, laziness and narcissism. Therefore, the consumer is empowered by choice, but only if they realize their ability to critique and choose accordingly.

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  6. 1)I would like to start of by saying it is so difficult to read about not being able to focus when you read a lengthy article, while you're reading a lengthy article. I agree with a lot of the opinions in "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr. I believe that humans are getting to reliant on Google. Information is to easily accessible. I personally have felt that I can no longer read a lengthy article without taking breaks, because I can't focus. I do not know if this is because of technology, because that has always been the case for me. On the other hand, unlike the author I can read a novel without getting distracted. To me it all has to do with the material I am reading. I feel like a downfall the author failed to mention is that more is expected from us because information is so easy to find on Google. So much is expected from us that we do not remember all the information, because it is so overwhelming.

    2)In "Technology's Toll", a lot of what Tara Parker-Pope says is very real. I also agree that it is going further than a internet addiction, it can be an internet dependence. People do become more impatient and restless because of technology. The internet is a wonderful thing, if it is not abused. One should only use it when necessary, otherwise it could become a problem. I can relate to the keeping tons of storage on my computer for no reason. I keep hundreds of pictures on my computer, I feel like they lose there importance because of the number, but yet I can not bring myself to delete them. This article failed to bring up the positives about technology. There are many positives that come with technology. In my opinion the positives and negatives are equal to one another.

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    1. Kiren, I experienced the same thing while reading "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" My eyes and mind kept wandering to other prominent advertisements or thoughts laced throughout the margins of the article. Further, your point about the expectations of information retention being too massive, too cumbersome are valid. That's "infobesity"; as a result of our power to access masses of information, too much for anyone to fully "ingest," we purge a lot of information, although because of our access to it, many expect us to understand and hold all of that in our minds nonetheless.

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  7. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" claims that Google is at fault for the decrease in our capacity concentration. This comment does hold some truth to it, with the key word being "some." If anyone is at fault here, it's us. It is not as if someone has nailed all the books in the world to the ground or table(s). It is our unwillingness to pick up a book and actually reading it, as opposed to clicking on the Google icon and discovering everything we need to know. Or, in the case of Wikipedia, what we think we need to know. To us, Google is the easy way out and we waste no time in taking it. It is the solution to everything. The shortcut we all love to take. We've been doing it since the dawn of civilization and we'll be doing it at the end of it, too. As for those who claim that books provide useless bits of information, they must also realize that it is not difficult to flip through the pages or even sift the pieces of information. So the next time we point our finger at Google, we should notice that there are three fingers pointing back at us.

    2)"An Ugly Toll Of Technology" states that technology is controlling our life. This, like "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" does hold some truth to it. At the same time, it should be noted that it only controls us because we allow it to. Technology started out as an extremely useful and helpful tool. It's now become a parasite that has burrowed into our skin. And instead of attempting to take it out, we're simply letting it burrow further and further. Even adults, who once chastised their children for watching too much television or spending too much time on the computer, have fallen prey to technology. Instead of becoming so devoted to it, we should be using it in moderation. If and when this is done, it will once again become the useful tool it was made to be.

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    1. You make many valid points Darren, that as with all technologies (such as fossil fuels over coal) there is greater ease but numerous consequences. Moderation and knowledge to critically guide choices is what makes the difference. However, it is important to keep in mind that technology is evolving at such an exponential rate, and its impact in our society is just as exponential that at a break-neck pace its harder to accurately see potential consequences, let alone proactively react to them.

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  8. 1)Technology is an important aspect of today’s world, we all know that first had. Everyone is able to recognize the importance of it our lives today but what the general public is ceasing to realize is the fact that it is changing us for not only the better, but also the worst. Nicholas Carr as well as his colleagues in literature are realizing this first hand as their ability to read, one of their defining interests is slowly becoming eroded as they are losing the mental ability to read a long, multi-paragraph prose or even fully immerse themselves in a good book. Their attention span is slowly decreasing, which is affecting the ability to read larger pieces of writing. I have personally noticed this also. There are times when I am reading, but my mind is subconsciously distracted and I end up realizing the fact that I have no idea what I just finished reading. This is also evident in my experiences regarding reading. I am tending to find myself skimming through paragraphs near the climax as my brain is unwilling to be patient enough to wait to see what happens. Tara Pope recognizes many symptoms in the case of being heavily distracted also. We are slowly losing the ability to even prioritize according to importance in aspects of daily life due to the fact that our access to information and objects is next to infinite thanks to the internet today. We are not only too dependent on technology, but we are slowly becoming more and more anxious every day. Through personal experience, if my phone is taken away for even a few hours, I notice myself becoming more hyper as well as feeling the need to go and check my phone. It is beginning to consume us and really affects our emotions as well as our everyday behaviour.

    2)I don’t completely agree with is the concept of us becoming more stupid. Nicholas Carr effectively recognizes all of the negative influences technology is having but he does not seem to recognize its importance in how we are advancing and evolving as a modern civilization in today’s world. Access to all this information is making us much brighter; it is simply the fact that we don’t hold the capacity to manage all the available information at once. We honestly have an infinite amount of information available to us at the tips of our fingers. Compare a three year old in today’s world to one from the previous century. By the time they reach that stage in their life, they already know how to work a computer, laptop, and/or cellphone to a basic (and some even advanced) level. This does not support the idea of us becoming more stupid, it is just evidence of our brains adapting to what is available to us at that specific time and place. Vishal the 17 year old in Matt Richtel’s example isn’t becoming stupider, he’s simply learned to hold more importance to certain parts of his life (such as his media relations class) than others (such as his english and algebra class). The access to such vast deposits of information isn’t one that is dominantly good or bad, it simply depends on the individually person to be able to hold control over their usage as well as be able to prioritize what is actually important in times that require commitment to a single assignment or project. To a certain extent is extremely distracting but it is also a valuable component is how we became what we are today. I also don’t feel it is fair to generalize today’s youth saying everyone is having issues. There happen to be a lot of people who still to this day have not created a Facebook account and do hold the ability control certain demeanours of how involved they seem to have in the online social world. Although it is understandable to say most, it is wrong to say all.

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    1. Aditya, your criticisms are valid and articulate. Loss of focus is a major factor specialists and every-day citizens note in equal amount. There are other skills technology has increased nonetheless, such as collaboration skills, flexibility or adaptability to new information, and the ability to multi-task.

      However, it is still important to consider that Vishal may have learned to prioritize, as we all must in this "infobese" world. Yet when we exist in a techno-rich world, constantly inundated with ideas, images and information, what skills that lead to intelligence are lost? Are we losing the ability to creatively and critically focus and think for ourselves?

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  9. 1.)Reading ‘Is google making us stupid?’ was the most reading I have ever done on the internet and not be on a social networking site. I agree most when the author said ‘I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages.’ That quote completely explains my relationship with books. I have put down my books to go use the internet. I also agree with the author when he mentioned that we all use links and tabs instead of post it notes. Other then holding a page in my math textbook, I never use a post it note for reminders.


    2.)I found it interesting how the article mentioned that ‘popularity of text-messaging on cell phones, we may well be reading more today than we did in the 1970s or 1980s’ Guy says that is a good thing, but I think differently. I will admit it is a good thing that texting has lead to more reading than ever before. But, it is sad that we are reading off of a screen rather than out of a book. Also this article claims that digital clocks would have to be one of technologies best creation. But there not! I know it seems like a little thing but it’s something that we all use every day. Wouldn’t you agree that if we used analog clocks they would cause us to use our brain more, and help strengthen it?

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    1. The points in the articles that resonated with you Joyti spoke to me as well. I am an English teacher, and I worship the written word, but it is tragically becoming less natural for me. Although I still live by post-it notes, literally.

      We do seem to read more through text messages, compared to someone from the 1970s or 1980s, yet it's so superficial and abbreviated that I think it does more harm than good. Aditya mentioned increased anxiety, which numerous experts have mentioned as a effect of our perpetual communication/connection. And although we read, are we really thinking, are we really growing our minds and selves as books and in-depth reading is often meant to promote in us?

      Also, I especially appreciate your point about analog clocks. They do make us think more, and that's just one example of the ways technology has eased us away from really using our brains on a regular basis.

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  10. 1. In the article, "An Ugly Toll of Technology" mentions how conquering one's dependency on technology cannot simply be overcome. I agree with this concept simply because a habit that is embedded into our daily lives will be difficult to surpass. As time goes by, new technology will be out on the market that advertises how tasks can be done with just two clicks of a button or screen. This increases the dependency of people with technology in order to get things done. Although it makes life a little easier, reliance on technology to get almost everything completed will have negative effects later on. For example, The International Center for Media and the Public Agenda at the University of Maryland did a study on 200 students that refrained from the use of technology for a day. The study resulted in students having a difficult time functioning, even enabled them from connecting with others. These students relied on their devices in order to communicate with their friends via texting and IM-ing instead of communicating with them in person. Technology has a way of deeply rooting into our daily lives, and conquering this cannot easily be vanquished.

    2. In the article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" it talks about how technology has enabled us from thinking critically. I disagree to this idea to an extent because technology has its benefits and downsides. Technology has made it easily for people to access information whenever they want. If technology is making us "stupid", then why does it keep advancing? This progression is proof of how people's minds have been more complex and advanced compared to the decades before. Even though technology does have the tendency to overtake our lives, it is our self control and how we use it will determine the outcome in each individual.

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    1. That is a great question Marinela, "if technology is making us 'stupid,' then why does it keep advancing?" I would love to hear the class's perspective on this. You make a valid point about the advancement of society and human capacity, and the potential for immense growth, intellectually and otherwise, but I wonder what else are factors in this advancement, and if it is solely a reflection of our advanced minds.

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  11. 1) In his article, Nicolas Carr discusses the way we go through information and how we come across it. The internet has shortened and condensed encyclopaedia's to easy to read pages that we can skim through to find the answers one is looking for. I completely agree with him, because I find myself skimming through more than just the internet. The way I read anything has completely changed because I find myself quickly getting bored with details. This is also reflected in the way I communicate whether through text or talk because in both ways, I shorten my way of speech. Furthermore, I tune out of what people are saying to me if I find it lengthy and descriptive. Connecting and reading quickly is my new way of extending the amount of time I have daily to use. Although the time I find I have more of, is usually spent on the internet doing and learning absolutely nothing meaningful or useful. Sherry Tuckle expands on this idea of connecting in 'sips'. She says that little ways of communicating through technology don't add up to a real conversation, though some people may believe it does. I agree with her because communicating quickly through technology does not complete your understanding. It may satisfy a need for information and communication but overall, you wouldn't have truly learnt or understood each other's true feelings because the physical and emotional expressions are lost. Time for waiting for these feelings is lost too because fast fast fast fast is the new way of life.

    Another point that Sherry made that I agree on is the fact that people used to use the internet to make their realities better. Overtime, the usage has expanded far from increasing knowledge through a world of information, to using it for basically anything.
    For example, feeling that nobody is paying attention to you or listening, is quickly fixed by social networking sites. You find yourself entranced with what others are doing that you expect the same from them. Posting a picture or opinion makes me feel like someone will probably read it and consider my voice thoughtfully. Instead of having a couple of friends, I can come across many more people that share my interest and become friends which in turn can make me feel like I'm important or wanted and loved by many people. In reality, these people on-line are just robots and robots cant empathize. I can read what they write and I myself will generate a feeling that I would like to believe they are trying to present. I could be completely false and that what can trap a person to this online reality.

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    1. Your notion of the "fast, fast, fast" break-neck pace of life is insightful. Not only do we skim what we read and tune out to "gist" of things, we rush through so much of our lives because of the multi-tasking, humming-bird mode enabled to us through technology. It's unfortunate because it does often have us communicating more, and yet not at all, connecting less than if we took the time for each other and ourselves.

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  12. 2) Tara Parker-Pope made really good points on the effects of the internet on teenagers lives, but I feel that she was being rather narcissistic and forgot about how useful the internet and communicative technology can be. When she said "Typically, the concern about our dependence on technology is that it detracts from our time with family and friends in the real world", I disagreed. People do disconnect from family and connect with people elsewhere but in some situations, technology really helps friends and family to stay together. People who live far from their friends and family have a healthy dependence on technology when it comes to using it to stay in touch. A letter would have taken a long time to send back and forth and to reply to, but a text message or a conversation on skype is a quick way to feel connected to loved ones. Changes in life like moving away to somewhere completely isolated from people you know, can be easily dealt with when your still connected, using technology, with people you know. A picture or video can help someone cope with the feeling of loneliness and I feel Tara failed to mention that.

    Also, in Tara's article a woman named Nicki Dowling says "Technology use was clearly interfering with the students’ daily lives, but it may be going too far to call it an addiction." She prefers to call it "Internet Dependence". I feel that many people depend on the internet when it comes to their jobs, connectivity, information and to refer to it as a dependence is just generalizing everyone in the world. If it is refered to as a dependence, then those who actually are addicted to the internet will be forgotten and never helped as they further loose touch with reality.

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    1. Perhaps we need to redefine what addiction means when referring to the internet, as opposed to booze or drugs, because of the "dependence" our jobs and social lives require of us and technology. To truly unplug in today's world is a monumental thing.

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  13. 1) In the article “An Ugly Toll of Technology” the author makes some very valid points on the internet and its effect on our lives. The questions asked in the article makes a person think about how the technology has changed our lives; for good or bad, that is a question which still remains unanswered. I believe that Science and Technology has evolved a lot in few years and has definitely made our lives a lot easier. But I also agree with Tara Pope’s arguments on internet making us all impatient, anxious and forgetful. Everything we do today involves the use of internet, cell phone, ipad or any other technology. One cannot function efficiently without internet. Whether it’s a school assignment, project or just entertainment, internet is the rescuer. If we can’t find an answer to a question in Google, we start getting impatient and impulsive. Not texting for even an hour makes today’s generation hyper. We have become so dependent on it, that we don’t have time for even ourselves. A TV show or chatting with friends has taken the priority over our family and even sleep One does not realize but slowly, these gadgets are taking over our personal and social lives by making us addicted to its virtual land full of knowledge and entertainment. While one can agree on the fact that technology has made everything in the world more accessible and straightforward, one also has to agree that it comes with a price, which can turn a person into a machine, if caution is not taken.

    2) In “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Nicholas Carr claims that the extensive use of internet and websites like Google are making us “stupid” and lazy. Carr’s argument of Google deteriorating our thinking or creative ability, does hold some truth to it, but it fails to mention how the easy accessibility to so much information in the world is actually making people more knowledgeable. Yes, I agree that it has changed the way we read, write or think today, but I don’t agree that it has come to the point where we can call ourselves becoming ‘stupid’. Internet has not only opened the world for us to grasp but it has connected everyone together. The fact that people are losing the ability to read for longer periods of time or lengthy prose is becoming more common every day, but one shouldn't ignore that internet was made to make our lives a little easier, not to literally do everything for us. I think it depends on each individual if he/she utilizes the power of internet for its advantage or disadvantage.

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    1. I really appreciate your point that "[. . .] one shouldn't ignore that [the] internet was made to make our lives a little easier, not to literally do everything for us." It's true, ease is deserved. it allows us as individuals, and as society's to do more with our time, hopefully things that are of value. Yet, perhaps we become complacent with the convenience and so relax our brains, our critical and creative and tenacious tendencies, a little too much.

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  14. In the article “An ugly toll of technology”, the author describes how technology is influencing our lives negatively. For one he describes we spend a lot of our time on technology, which results us to neglect our homework and often lose sleep. Personally I have experienced this; I have wasted my time at night either talking to my friends or just watching my shows, resulting in spending less time on my homework. Except it seems the author is describing this too be far worse than an addiction, but I think we make this choice to spend our time on technology. When at the same time we have the will power to not waste our time on it.

    I don’t agree when the author of “An ugly toll of technology” states “exposure to technology may be slowly reshaping your personality”. I feel we make our own personalities, only our thoughts and feelings can cause change. Technology is always here with us, but at the same time we undergo much more in life to shape us. Also I feel the article “Is Google making us stupid” describes some valid points, but at the same time I think that technology only causes us to lose focus because we give it the chance to.

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    1. Interesting points Tina, so I guess we have to rise to the occasion, and become more cognizant and strong of will in order to resist the temptation of technology and its negative impacts. Your point about technology not really shaping our personality is interesting. Self-determination is one of the most critical aspects of an individual's life, so if technology is reducing this we should rally against it.

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  15. 1) Tara Parker-Pope, the author of "An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness, claims that an unreasonable use of technology may cause one to develop impatience, impulsiveness, forgetfulness and an egotisitical attitude. The article also claims that immoderate reliance on technology can result in an addiction (also refered to as "Internet dependence") and intervenes in people's everday lives. I agree with these claims, because we are used to typing a question on the internet to which we get an immediate answer. However, when it comes to asking a real human a question, who is unable to give an instantaneous answer, we become irritated and impatient, because of the lack of waiting required while using the internet. We become more impulsive, because we are accustomed to commenting on pictures, statuses, etc. on social network sites, such as facebook, where we can delete our comments before someone reads them. So everyone can say what they feel in the moment, but then take it back. I also agree that technology can increase forgetfulness, due to no one needing to remember what one said as it is saved on a phone or in facebook messages. Also, an egotistical attitude may result from receiving an immense amount of likes or praising comments for a certain picture on facebook or twitter, etc. I believe that technology can be addicting, because one can become addicted to anything that they can not seem to get enough of and can not live without. On the other hand, this article has left out many positive aspects on how technology makes everyone's lives easier and more efficient. It allows us to experience things that would not have been possible in the past. For example, people can get live news from different areas of the world. Global communication is now faster and easier than ever before. Technology also enables individuals to comprehend a wider variety of opinions and facts on different subjects, etc. Although, one has to consider both the negative and positive aspects of technology to fully understand the impact of it.

    2) In "Connected, but alone?", Sherry Turkle makes some very valid points about how we are constantly communicating through texts and messages, but have very few actual conversations. We may be sitting in the same room as our friends or family, but instead of talking to each other or going somewhere, everyone is sitting and texting. Although, we claim to be with our friends, when really we are somewhere else, such as an online community. I agree with the majority of Sherry Turkle's arguements, because I constantly see many of the problems she pointed out, like how everyone may be in class, but are texting meaningless things to each other instead of learning. However, as she mentioned, we do tend to stop to listen to the information that we deem as interesting or important to ourselves. On the other hand, I disagree with the point where Sherry said that no one listens to each other anymore. I believe it depends on the person and their use of technology, because many of us have at least one friend that takes the time to listen to our thoughts, opinions, and problems. We may be more involved with our devices, but that does not mean that we do not listen to each other and that we do not like to spend time with each other. For example, we still make plans to do activities with our friends and family, if not all the time anymore. I do think this will be a greater problem in the future, so nonetheless we should take extra precaution to our excessive use of phones and other devices to decrease the risk of relying only on robots and machines as our future companions.

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    1. Your analysis of the articles is articulate and thorough. I appreciate your attention to our lowered impulse control and the rise of the ego. These to me are truly scary notions. For it is acts of impulse and ego that often inflict the most harm.

      Your criticism of Turkle is duly noted. We do still connect with those who we are truly friends with, those who we truly love and care for. And yes, the notion of robots or machines as future companions is truly terrifying. Our humanity, our authentic human connection is worth much more than the convenience and efficiency afforded by technology

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  16. Thank you all thus far for your thoughtful and critical responses to the "experts'" opinions of technology and our lives.

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  17. Just want to say, I had a huge thing all typed out here and it got deleted. I'm just going to summarize what I had basically.

    1. It all seems pretty clear that all these authors believe that technology is screwing us over, like in "Is Google Making Me Stupid?" They say that the lack of focus is going down and that anxiety is sky rocketing. That Sherry Turkle says that "we go to the meeting but listen to only what we want to hear." I don't deny nor do I disagree. But in a sense, things must be challenged.

    2. It's not that I don't believe that technology is sort of making us lazy in a way and that we freak out when we cannot check our phones. On the flip side, that is what this world has come to. It is constantly progressing! Technologies include medicine, computers, cars, how to lead better lives, all of that stuff. So if we ever took away the concept of technology and the innovative life we all now live, we would still be living in caves and speaking in grunts. Technology helped during the World Wars, it has helped many people survive cancer, it has been that connection between family who live on the other side of the world from each other.

    Technology is like a frenemie, you can't help but love AND hate it.

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  19. I appreciate your point that without technology we'd "all be living in caves and speaking in grunts." True, technology advances and eases our existence immensely; although sometimes the plethora of abbreviations (YOLO for example) and disintegration of verbal communications does make me wonder if the grunts are nonetheless, just around the corner.

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  20. Tara Parker-Pope the author of “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness” makes some interesting but debatable points within her article. Instantly, Ms. Dowling’s reference to technology usage as “Internet dependence” is something I agree upon. Our capability to rely on each other is decreasing due to what I feel can be referred to as our addiction toward technology. Also, as Dr. Aboujaoude points out, unwanted memories can be saved up to a lifetime. However, I believe he is forgetting the fact we can use stored technology to our benefit. With cameras installed, emails saved and text messages sent we are able to find the whereabouts and conversations between people that can be used as evidence in court cases. Technology can feel like an invasion of privacy; on the other hand, several students find more comfort talking through technology rather in person. Personally, I feel we are losing touch with our social skills and would prefer an in person conversation rather than via text message. One key question I was constantly referring back to while reading through the articles was, who can be blamed for our dependence on technology?


    “The worry is we’re raising a generation of kids in front of screens whose brains are going to be wired differently.” While reading “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction” by Mike Ritchel I noticed concern for the youth. However, it seems to me that adults and older folks are having more problems adjusting to the new advances in technology whereas the kids seem to be fine. Taking in consideration “a profound new challenge to focusing and learning” I do not feel like there is anything wrong with depending on technology if it makes your life easier. Although our brains may be “wired differently” as an associate professor at Harvard Medical School points out, he needs to realize the advantages that comes along with this. In a way, with technology people are more independent. For example, rather than resorting to a mechanic right away they may try to fix their car on their own. In conclusion, technology comes with its flaws and advantages and I don’t feel like there can be a right or wrong opinion while judging our usage with it.

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    1. You put forward a profound question Aman, "who can is to blame?" We all invest and ingest our technology, and the conveniences it affords us. As you noted with decreasing social skills, it's simply important to stay vigilant and critically aware of what we lose in exchange for the gains we indulge in.

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  21. An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness
    1) It the present, nobody remembers phone numbers or birthdates. To remind our dead brains we always need the buzzing sound of our reminders set on our phones. There is no need for a phone book, or a post-it note, or even an alarm clock. With technology we experience an efficient and a very convenient life. However, this life only exists with technology. Would we actually become impatient and forgetful without the existence of technology in our lives.
    According to Tara Parker-Pope and her research, yes. Such as it “makes life logistically difficult, but also changes our ability to connect with others”. Then again, it “makes life logistically difficult, but also changes our ability to connect with others” while we have it in front of our faces. It influences the amount of time we spend with our family and friends. Our closest relationships become less intimate.
    Tara also brings up the issue of internet addiction, or as the author would call it “Internet dependence.” Most of us don’t even realize how much we use the internet and how less we use our brain. Our first instinct when told to solve a problem is “google it.” But why shouldn’t we? It is easy, comfortable and mostly reliable. On the other side, we fail to realize internet is slowly stealing our brain from us. This leads to Tara’s point of impatience as well. Subconsciously at the back of our heads we know that google has the answer to our problems, so we usualy give up and cheat.
    In a way technology also prevents us from making new memories as Tara mentiond. We save so much baggage on our computers like photos from vacations, outdated songs, documents from years ago etc. We keep them just because we have enough space of the computer to keep them. Overall, I agree with Tara and say that technology has impacted our relationships immensely. She says technology will reshape our future but I say that the time has already started ticking.
    2) Nicholas Carr (Is Google Making Us Stupid) points out that some people feel “an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with [their] brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory.” Honestly, I have felt that way as well and some of my friends have the same opinion. Some people may argue that it possibly can’t make us stupid if we keep advancing. Well, for instance, Apple only has 70,000 employees (most of them are not responsible for inventing) and they sell approximately 25 million products each year. There is no way that the millions of users know how to program an iphone. Mr. Carr also brings up the point of not being able to read longer articles. I have to admit I read the article over 2 days period therefore I completely agree with him. Although some people might say that we read more than we did before, most of us skim through the titles and subtitles. Another problem that I have noticed with myself is I always complain of not having enough free time yet I waste hours each day doing pointless things online.

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    1. Your critique is well-founded and well-connected to your personal experiences. Technology should make our lives easier, and of course we should use the tools available to us, like Google; however, as you pointed out, we must actively fight to "keep our brains" and to use the free time afforded for our betterment, not our waste.

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  22. 1) What surprises me the most is the amount of time we spend looking at a screen. As said in the power point, we spend 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen but because we do multitask it's more accurately 11.5 hours everyday. The reason this surprised me was because I have always thought that the only people who had spent most of their time in front of a screen was extreme gamer's, not everyday people. As you think about how many hours you spend texting, watching t.v., or on the internet, it all adds up. Even in classes now a days teachers are using technology as a means of making things easier and to connect with the students, to have them more focused.

    2) Technology has made life easier yet difficult. For example when a person is lying you can physically see that they are, by the fidgeting of their hands or darting of the eyes, through text it is so much easier to hide behind a screen. You lose that face to face interaction. Personally my opinion is that with the more texting and less physical interaction you might lose a sense of trust with that person you could trust everything with before. You lose that critical thinking of judging a persons character, "Is this the right person I should be talking to?" or "I'm sure this person is saying who they say they are.". Technology has significantly impacted my sleeping pattern, there are some nights were I am able to go to bed early and wake up on time, but most nights I'm kept awake by my phone buzzing and woken up early on weekends.

    3) I think technology is changing our future in every way possible, every day there is something more new, faster and brighter. From a Walkman to iPods, email to texting, cars that now drive themselves. It's not just objects that are changing but the way we communicate with one other, picking the fastest way to talk, abbreviating every word possible. Infobesity, information overload causing us to skim instead of fully read an article or a book, even poster signs, it's fast and easy. I find it ironic that we are talking about technology, through technology, again making things easier to communicate and read each others post and comment instead of writing it out on paper and handing it to one another. But how many people have actually read through each others work rather then skim and read the sentences that catch their eye?

    4) I am neither optimistic or pessimistic, but in between. As to every story there are two sides. Technology has helped a lot in ways such a medicine, talking to relatives across the country, and as well as learning new things, culture wise and information wise. There is a limit for everything though and the downside to technology is people do become dependent and addicted to extremes as a result having to go to rehab, like the little boy in "Digital nation". In my opinion I'd have to say technology is definitely running our lives.

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    1. Your point about people lying and "reading" people's social cues is interesting. In many ways technology can hold you accountable (showing times and places you were or when you were posting), but on the other hand technology can make it excessively easy to lie, manipulate and publish falsehoods, and diminish our social skills and moral sensibilities at the same time. I appreciate your critical note that technology is a double edged sword, and that even the careful thoughts you've constructed here may only be truly read, considered and reflected upon by myself. I hope not, but that is the reality.

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  23. In the article is google making us stupid i agree with a lot of there points on how its hard to keep focus when now reading a book or an article. I agree with that because ive actually been through it myself, ive had problems where an article can be so long that by the time im done reading i just realized that i hadnt even been paying attention so i have to now re-read it. In the article an ugly toll on technology i agree with the impatience part but not so much the forgetfulness. There have been several times when im looking for a quote in a book but instead of actually looking in the book ill just google quotes from that book. I believe that everyone has experienced the speed of the internet so when we actually have to flip through pages its a little bit unbearable.


    Some critiques that id have with there arguments or claims would have to be that in technologys toll they refer to technology being like a eating disorder when its taken away from you. I think thats completely off and there trying to turn technology into something its not, into a evil monster. None of the articles really focused on any of the good that technology has done for us and how far we've actually become, I mean the only reason i was able to read these peoples articles was because of technology. As for technology being the reason we loose or cant really focus i dont believe that technology should really be the blame for that because when your doing something fun, noone wants to go and finish there homework or do any work that is and that could be with anything like if someone rather play basketball for example but some would rather sit on the computer. So there seemed to be a lot of positives they left out.

    -simran sandhu

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  24. Response to Sherry Turkle.
    I agree with much of what Sherry Turkle had to say. She is clearly an intelligent and observant woman. One particular point that stood out to me is the reality that for many people, social networking creates automatic listeners. It makes ordinary individuals feel relevant and heard. People then develop the need to post about every minute detail of their life. This is worrisome. As Ms. Turkle suggests, “I share, therefore I am.” This publication to a forced audience increases our tendency to become infatuated and addicted to the internet. While it makes us feel important, it also allows us to control our contact with our peers, which adds to our sense of power. Another statement I agreed with is that when we are alone, we panic for connection. This panic became predominant to me a few weeks ago, when my phone broke. Waiting for the bus, or sitting in a silent car ride, or walking between classes, I would often be startled to find my fingers fidgeting and yearning for technological contact. This preference to distanced communication over real live conversation frightens me, especially our increasing inability to converse in person or via the telephone. We are admittedly lonely, but afraid of intimacy. We are losing our capacity for solitude, while at the same time we are not willing to put ourselves out there and build real bonds. This leads to desperate and shallow relationships. Ms. Turkle, along with others, has identified the way in which avatars enable us to present edited, ideal versions of ourselves to our peers. We can improve our lives and impress others with minimal effort. However, when we hesitate and stutter in normal speech for example, that is when genuine connections are made. It is these falters and incongruences that reveal our true selves and develop bonds and relationships.
    A few of Ms. Turkle’s struck me as me as questionable. She suggested that when we want a feeling, we feel an urge to text. I don’t think this is accurate. People text message to preoccupy themselves and develop shallow relationships. When people want a feeling, they are more likely to act or communicate in another way. She also relayed a certain man’s reluctance to interrupt his own technological connections with real life interaction. As worrisome as this is, I do not believe it is commonplace. Turkle called our various devices sociable robotic companions. This makes me think of a pet, and I think it is a slightly different situation. Computers, for example, are capable of much more than social networking. Technology makes research, education, communication etc. easier. Towards the end of her lecture, Turkle suggested that we reserve sacred spaces for conversation. While I agree that texting should be forbidden at the dinner table, I do not completely support her idea. People should know when and how to socialize appropriately. We should want to spend time with one another, rather than setting aside a fixed time period to converse. This seems slightly absurd. I hope we have not arrived at that point.
    Haley Kreutz

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  25. Tara Parker-Pope’s short but sweet article, "An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness," provided a wide range of ideas. I do agree with the rebuttal against the idea of “Internet addiction,” and the adjustment that Nicki Dowling made, renaming it “dependence.” Addiction is a serious disease, and I do not believe we have arrived at that point with the Internet. The dictionary definition of an “addict” is a person who is unable to stop taking narcotic drugs. (I resisted the urge to Google this definition, and rather, walked to my bookshelf, to make a point. Standing up to “dependence.”) Generally, addiction involves something harmful. The Internet is rarely harmful; its main purpose is to communicate and share ideas. Dependence is an accurate word choice on Ms. Dowling’s part, because we do rely on the usefulness of the Internet. On another personal note, I mentioned above that I have been cell phoneless for the past few weeks. Although it had an uncomfortable impact at first, I have grown used to it. My phone has become a foreign object to me. I have found equally sufficient methods of communication. Dr. Aboujaoude notes the vast amounts of data we are now able to store, and questions whether or not things are losing value. I find this personally relevant, and frighteningly true. Currently, I have 135 gigabytes of photos (131,880 pictures), many of which I save, and then rarely bother to review or enjoy again. Thankfully I make a point to print out copies of my favourite photos. But the worry remains. We may be losing our sense of value due to the immense volume at which technology allows us to function. We transfer our memories and thoughts onto the computer, and then move on.
    Dr. Aboujaoude mentions that technology’s immediacy, efficiency, and anonymity are beginning to alter the very core of our personalities. While the convenience is appreciated, I doubt that it has this ability. Instead, technology tends to empower us to reveal our ideal selves. The accuracy of avatars, statuses, etc. may be questionable at times, but bragging and exaggeration are human nature. Both in person and online, people have the tendency to strive to impress their peers. Dr. Kimberly Young compares Internet “addiction” to eating disorders; and states that both Internet and food are “essential parts of daily life.” I strongly disagree with Dr. Young’s suggestion. The Internet, in fact, is far from necessary for human survival. It helps us learn and grow, so we become infatuated and perhaps dependent on it. Food however, is a basic human need. Eating disorders stem from completely different reasons. The two should not be compared. After a study at the University of Maryland, a student found living without electronic communication unbearable. I disagree, and in fact I pity this student. Being without a phone should not make you feel alone. Rather, it enables you to be present with whoever you are physically with, and fully enjoy their company. It allows for your full attention and taking part of genuine relations, instead of distractedly multitasking.
    Haley Kreutz

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