Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Short Term Memory and Technology
At one point in the book The Shallows by Nicholas Carr, Carr mentions how modern technology has affected our short term memory. Carr also mentions that when we learn something we are more likely to forget it immediately. This was something that I realized right away. As soon as I finished a chapter of one of my books, I would immediately forget most of the chapter forcing me to read the whole chapter again. Also I noticed that every time I needed water I would go to the kitchen and forget that I needed water and get some macaroni and cheese instead. Does anyone really think that technology really affects our short term memory? I believe so. Take internet articles for example, if you look at any article on the internet you will notice that they are only a few paragraphs long. That's so people these days can remember these articles better due to technology affecting our short term memory.
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Wow, I find that really interesting! I haven't started reading that novel yet, but for some time now, I've been noticing a decline in my short term memory. I didn't know what the cause of it was, but now I do! I constantly find myself forgetting little bits of information. For example, I will often forget what I had for a previous meal, or, like you, I will set out to get a snack and end up forgetting what I planned to eat. Another example is that now, if I ask my mother where we are going for a birthday party, she won't tell me because she says that I'll "just forget right away" and end up asking her again.
ReplyDeleteWith this new information, I would have to agree that technology does indeed affect one's short term memory. This is just another one of the negative effects of technology that we must be aware of in order to prevent it from causing any more damage to us.
I have also noticed that I tend to forget things very easily. Even after I have thought about something over and over I still forget what I was supposed to do, and I believe it draws back to the technology we are using. In chapter nine of The Shallows, a writer named Peter Suderman claims, "It's no longer terribly efficient to use our brains to store information" (181). We don't have to rely as much on our brains to remember things because we have the technology to do so for us. I can honestly relate to this, for when I need to remember something fairly simple, such as an easy math problem, I merely insert the problem in a calculator or computer because it's already there for me. Therefore, I forget how to solve problems using my plain memory. In general, I am having a hard time remembering things due to the effects of modern technology.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, i find this to be true. like you said ". As soon as I finished a chapter of one of my books, I would immediately forget most of the chapter forcing me to read the whole chapter again". I have also found myself forgetting many things once I started to use more technology, i would forget what i read in magazines, i would ask questions twice because I would forget what they told me the first time. When i first saw that technology was really affecting me like that (negativley) i didnt like it so, im still trying to reduce all of it just so that my brain can catch up. so to answer your question yes technology really affects our short term memory!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I am also one of the victims that have lost to the effects of technology. I was reading a paragraph in the book, the Shallows, the other day. After reading that paragraph, I had gotten up to walk to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. When I came back, I had forgotten what that paragraph was about and had to read it again. That paragraph which I had just read minutes ago was already forgotten. I realized that my concentration had not been on the paragraph and I was just reading the words without comprehending them. Whether this is short term memory loss or just unfocused reading, it is shocking to realize how short my memory became.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed another thing about my memory. During the school year it is much sharper than in the summer. With the added fact that I exercise my brain more in the school year than the summer, my memory becomes a lot more capable. However, it is possible that another fact contributes to my duller memory in the summer. For one, during the summer I use technology more often than I do in the school year. I have more time to use the Internet, text, or even watch television. As disturbing as it seems, this new found short term memory proves that technology has a great effect on your memory capability.
It really is sad how true your statement is. However, I find this short term memory loss, in my case, to be very subjective. If I want to remember something, I will. In the case of this summer reading, if I don't find it extremely interesting, it won't stick. Therefore, as a fiction-inspired mind, I find the non-fiction books difficult to remember, having to read and re-read and re-read again. Taking a step further, it has to be bright, quiet, and I have to be sitting straight up in order to remember anything. It really is shocking to see what technology has created of us.
ReplyDeleteWe expect it all to be straight-forward and fast. Even 3G doesn't cut it anymore, and soon, 4G won't either. People are just searching for a faster way to get information. If a page takes more than five seconds to load, we refresh, or exit and try again. Our dependence on the fast track is increasing each year.
Books are just too wordy, spinning circles around concepts that could be explained in two or three sentences. "It's not about the destination, but the journey to it." You learn more than just the information you want to learn when you read. You learn about yourself as a person along the way. I find it truly sad to think that one day, this beauty will be lost to technology and its crude, cold answers.
Excellent observation! I've noticed that sometimes when I'm reading, I miss the point that an author is trying to reach or I fail to remember recent information. It usually occurs in the presence of the computer, TV , or my iPod. My mind is drawing me to these devices.
ReplyDeleteThere must be some sort of correlation between technology and its impact on memory. Possibly the growth of technology is causing the rise of ADHD among America's youth. According to the CDC, about 1 out of 10 kids ages 1-18 are diagnosed with this disorder and it keeps growing.
This information overload must be overwhelming our brains and reducing our focus. The best cure would be to avoid these distractions and find some solace outdoors or in a book.