Response to Nicholas Carrs Is Google Making Us Stupid...

The internet is a technology which has had a significant impact on the way many people conduct their lives. Information once contained in massive volumes at libraries or in private collections is now available by typing words into a search engine and clicking â€Å"search.† One must no longer pick up a phone to call a friend, relative or colleague; e-mail, instant messaging, Skype and the like, have enabled people to communicate in non-traditional ways and across boundaries previously inaccessible. Nicholas Carr addresses the wonder that is the internet in his article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† The general direction of the article is a discussion of how intelligent thought patterns seem to be changing; attention spans and critical†¦show more content†¦According to the International Adult Literacy Survey there are a great number of people in Canada that do not have the required literacy skills to fully comprehend written material (Statistics Canada, 2007: 17). However, the internet has a solution. Imbedded within informative websites are often links to activities, videos and simulations which may serve to enable those with lower literacy levels better comprehension of the material at hand. This is evidenced by findings of the International Adult Literacy survey that determined that individuals who use computers generally scored higher in prose literacy defined as the ability to understand and apply concepts learned from text (Statistics Canada, 2005). The internet has the potential to provide these individuals with a better understand the concepts contained within text through the use of multimedia beyond the one dimensional pictures contained in a traditional book. Therefore, the internet serves as a means of transferring knowledge that is more inclusive than traditional print media. Although the internet facilitates the transfer of information, there are concerns about how this information is interpreted and understood. The information derived from the internet and the way in which it is interpreted differs very little fromShow MoreRelatedCarrs Argument in Vital Paths1823 Words   |  8 PagesSpencer Woo Professor Losh Cat 1 6 November 2012 Carrs Argument in Vital Paths I. Introduction Vital Paths is the title of the second chapter in Nicolas G. Carrs book, The Shallows. This chapter continues Carrs argument, posed in chapter one, in highlighting the dangers of the internet, regarding our cognitive abilities. Specifically on format, this chapter argues for our brains neurological flexibility through an array of examples, ranging from historical observations to scientific experimentsRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1048 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Is Google making us stupid? Three authors weigh in One of the most common clichÃÆ' ©s is that the Internet has robbed us of our attention spans and impeded our ability to communicate effectively. Once we could write properly, now we only text. 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In his article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid† he describes how our critical thinking skills and attention spans are degrading the process of our mental capacities and internet is reprogramming us become more robotics. Although, he does not see a positive side on the internet he recognizes the researchRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1972 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysis essay for â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† Among the era of rapid development of science and technology, information technology, which is internet influences our lives, studies, and communications and works in every moment. We could use the internet to look for the required knowledge and help anytime we needed. In his essay Is Google Making Us Stupid?Nicholas Carr uses his personal experience and research results to illustrate the impact internet create on its user. 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