Has technology affected our lives? In the article “Hal and me”, Nicolas Carr describes attributes to our lives that come from the evolving technology we use every day. By introducing several educated men with literature background had found themselves changed from the constant usage of the internet. The way they lived their lives have changed, now they have become depended on the technology and their minds have changed, they expected everything to function as the same way technology does, faster. There is a loss of independence in us every time we use technology, the ability to stay focus is taken away by internet. A Canadian philosopher, Herbert McLuhan believes that “the Net seems to be doing is chipping away his capacity for concentration and contemplation”. (P.349 paragraph 5). This capacities made them be less capable of reading long articles or books. …show more content…
Such as Scott Karp, a writer who used to work for a magazine and now writes a blog about online media talks about the he has stopped reading books. Another blogger who confesses this happening is Bruce Friedman, he says “I can’t read War and Peace anymore…I’ve lost the ability to do that. Even blog post of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb. I skim it”. Blogger, Philip Davis writes “I skim. I scroll. I have very little patience for long, drawn-out, nuanced arguments, even though I accuse others of painting the too simply.” Even with their literature background it is hard for them, they are accustomed to the speed of the internet the way blogging works
Therefore, I believe in Nicholas Carr’s intentions of his article and agree upon what he is stating. Nicholas Carr feels as if someone has rewired his brain. His brain isn’t thinking the way it use to think and he strongly feels it when he reads. He was able to read for hours through long stretches of prose but over the years that has changed. (Carr, 557) Nicholas’s concentration now starts to fade after reading just two or three pages.
Our concentration and contemplative skills have diminished thanks to our internet usage. Carr states that: “For me, as for others, the Net is becoming a universal medium, the conduit for most of the information.” Information is easily accessible and no longer requires deep research. You can easily find the idea of something on the internet by skimming it. Carr believes that our mind can be shaped by using the internet daily and could be completely different than those who read books/magazines/newspapers etcetera.
One of the most compelling claims Carr makes to support his arguments is on the damaging consequences of continuously high usage of the internet which inadvertently diminishes one’s ability to focus and read long passages. Although, the internet has many benefits from quickly gathering information for research, versus the lengthy time it takes using books, Carr asserts reading on the internet is depleting his level of deep concentration. The effects of skimming the surface of articles are draining and robbing our brain’s process of thought patterns.
Carr could have not said it any better, “what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away at my capacity for concentration and contemplation.” It has immobilized my ability to think on my own and read in-depth. Once again, technology has wiggled its way back into my life. Since reading this article, I have caught myself becoming dependent on the Internet. If I ever have questions,I automatically take out one of my devices and look up the question.
He writes about a feeling of a change of thought process he gets when he reads. Reading books or lengthy articles came easily to Carr, but now he cannot stay focused on what he reads for more than a few pages. He believes his struggle to concentrate on long texts originates from spending too much time online, saying that any kind of research he needs can be found and fulfilled in minutes. Carr also explains that reading online has been converted to skimming pages and searching for summaries of his desired info, instead of reading full length articles. When an author, such as Carr, can directly relate to the subject, it makes his writing much more sincere and
The ability to read simple text for a long period of time is fading away, which brings light to how much of an impact technology is making, and how society is losing complex thinkers. Carr uses himself as an example and claims, “now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do… The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.” The future of this generation is in danger, because people are developing a low attention span and low interest to delve deep and research different topics properly.
Carr begins his article by giving a personal experience on how the internet has made him a poor reader. He illustrates how it was initially easy for him to read through a lengthy book or article without losing attention or getting bored. Irrespective of how long the narrative was, Carr would get caught up in the pose and turn from one page to another at ease (Carr1). But his problems began when he started spending too much time on
Carr’s essay is not biased because he appreciates some points of the web as a writer, and he says “The web has been a godsend to me as a writer” (57). He explains his idea briefly about how we read by using ethos to show his audience that he is a credible source. For example, he tells his past reading ability by telling the reader that his mind would engaged in the narrative or the argument, he would give much time in reading long articles. To expand his idea, he said “That is rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages” (57).
(346) This example proves Thompson’s main point that there is a fine line between using our own brain and having technology aid us. One of Carr’s main supporting arguments is the fact that we, as humans, cannot read as deeply and effectively as our ancestors could and blames this mainly on the Internet. We have adapted skimming as an effective method of reading and use “power browsing” to avoid having to read long articles in a traditional sense (Carr 317). Carr wants us to see how this new form of reading is “a style that puts “efficiency” and “immediacy” above all else” and also how “the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction remain largely disengaged”
Nicholas Carr, What the Internet is doing to Our Brains The Shallows (2010) asserts that, “The price we pay to assume technology’s power is alienation.” He supports this assertion by saying, “They both ultimately achieve their mental and behavioral effects by shaping the synaptic organization of the brain.” Also by, “ We long to keep it activated.” The writer concludes in order for people to improve their thoughts, they will have to cope with the new technology and how they think. Carr believes that technology is taking over how people interact with each other.
He starts his argument by telling us the effect the internet has had on him and others he has come across. The internet has changed his train of thought and his ability to focus and concentrate. He believes our brains have been reprogramed over time to adjust to the speed and convenience of the internet. Our ability to retain and digest traditional media has also been compromised since we are used to receiving information so rapidly. This is a strong opening argument for his essay.
Our way of thinking is beginning to change to the way that computers do. Advancements are made everyday. These new advancements are attempting to make life in general easier for everyone. Nicholas Carr makes the claim that, “as the internet because our primary source of the information it is affecting our ability to read books and other long narratives.” Carr suggests that using the internet is altering the way that our minds operate.
Imagine living in a world without any internet. Imagine the amount of trouble a person would require to go through in order to find out the simplest things. The internet nowadays has become an essential part of almost every human being’s life. Cutting the internet off for just one day my actually leave the world in a state of commotion. Every type of technology may be used in either a way that benefit’s a person, or a way that may harm a person.
Nowadays, the internet is the biggest marketing and media tool that people can use today. It can have various effects on people’s daily life ranging from bad to beneficial. In the essay “Is Google making us stupid” by Nicholas Carr writes about how internet usage in the 21st century is changing people’s reading habit and a cognitive concentration. Particularly, he emphasizes on Google’s role in this matter and its consequences on making people machine like. Carr also stated that the online reading largely contributes to people’s way of reading a book.
We all use it. Whether it is a text to your significant other, a hard work day on the job, a quick drive to the store, even something as simple as going to church, no matter where we are we always seem to be using technology. Technology is a growing issue with each passing day and even though there are positive effects it also has its negative side. It affects the things we do such as communication and playing, but most importantly affects our brain with our daily thought process. Today, Im going to inform you on how technology has affected you and your daily lifestyle habits.