Clive Thompson argues that technology is making our lives better and changing the way our brains work. All of us use GOOGLE every day to look up facts that we used to remember. Like printing, the computer is changing the what we remember. Who needs to memorize facts when our computers will remember them for us. Thompson also provides examples were humans and computers working together are better than just humans or just computers. His example of chess players who use computers to beat computers is impressive. Thompson predicts education will radically change as online classes dominate. There’s plenty of factors to ponder in Smarter than You Think. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Rise of the Centaurs
Public Thinking
The New Literacies
The Art of Finding
The Puzzle-Hungry World
Digital School
Ambient Awareness
The Connnected Society
Epilogue
Nice to hear the opposite of what I often hear.
Patti, you’re right. Much of what Thompson says is counter-intuitive. But he makes some solid arguments and marshals some impressive evidence to support his claims.
Well, there’s knowledge, especially quick facts, which computers certainly facilitate, and then there’s wisdom, which I don’t believe technology can impart. I don’t buy the “technology makes us better” argument in cases of intuition, judgement, personal interactions, creativity or insight.
Rick, I was astonished by the advances in chess playing with humans and computers working together. That was news to me. I think computers can take a lot of drudgery out of making judgments, personal interactions, and creativity.
Then why can’t kids spell?
Bob, I can’t spell either. I rely on spell checkers and auto-correcting software.
They have served you well.