The Ultimate Utility of Nonutility

Summary: The author of this article, Lisa Colleta, is writing about the importance of liberal arts education in the face of its decline in popularity. It has become more and more common to view such an education as antiquated and impractical, and even should be obsolete. Colleta argues that it greatly enhances individuals ability to think critically and creatively, thus making them better workers and people as a whole.

Reaction: I am actually in a unique position to react to this article because I attended a liberal arts school for three years, and now I am attending Rowan in a program with a far more vocational, practical basis. I think you can definitely get by in life and be happy without studying classic authors, learning a foreign language, or writing thesis papers. However, expanding ones horizons can only be beneficial and a better understanding of the world as a whole and well as respect for differences is crucial to improving the conditions of our world.

As someone who was exposed to many ideas, I did adopt very liberal, accepting views regarding various schools of thought, cultures, and historical events. And though I believe I became a more “well-rounded” person, it did not prepare me very well for the challenges I would face in daily life. Yes, reading, or attempting to read Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan was intellectually beneficially, I was still rendered useless when trying to understand/deal with health insurance claims or understand human anatomy and physiology to be able to explain a medical problem to a doctor. Admittedly though, most of my peers at my previous are able to do these things.

Tie-in to Carr, Cascio

The main connection that I see here with Colleta’s article and the other two is the worth of a cultivated mind. Carr definitely recognizes that human minds are changing and is unsettled by this. He also describes how people generally, including intellectuals, are becoming highly superficial in their thinking. He laments this turn of events and fears the potential consequences of the turn. He doesn’t really put forth a detailed argument for a deeply thinking mind, but focuses more on how we are getting away from deep thought and his concern about it, thus validating the worth of reflective thinking much in the same way that Colletta does in her article.

Cascio writes that are minds are changing, but that the may ultimately change for the better. He stresses that despite being somewhat overwhelmed by our the current onslaught of information and distraction, we are only at the beginning stages of our mental transformation and will most likely adapt. He also champions the idea that having computers augment or perhaps even replace an individual’s intelligence is fantastic and that technology will be powerful enough to think for us and solve our problems. Colleta and I disagree with Cascio here because we see the value of an individual coming to his or her own conclusions about the world through deep thinking, not just operating on algorithms. A profound education is essential to making us better people and deciding how best to use the technological tools at our disposal.

Teaching the iGeneration

Summary:

Larry D. Rosen's article "Teaching the iGeneration" talks about the increasing use of media and technology with current and younger generations. It points out that there is a large difference in media/tech use, mainly separated by which generation someone was born in. Baby Boomers spend the least amount of time per day with media/tech use, while every generation after theirs seems to use media/tech anywhere from 2.5 to 3 times more hours per day. Rosen also describes young children being able to use smartphones or hook up bluetooth devices that older or unfamiliar individuals cannot, and that it seems people who grow up into technology have already integrated it into their lives. Rosen goes on saying that since technology becoming a part of everything, schools and the society need to conform to facilitate these changes.

Reaction:

I thought that this article had similar views on technology as my other source, Get Smarter by Jamais Cascio. Rosen makes some very good points about technology already having an effect on younger people and that they are already growing up into technology, as opposed to current generations that only recently saw technology's rise. Seeing very younger children being able to navigate a smartphone better than an adult helps shed some light on where the future is taking us, and that instead of fighting it, we should accept technology and find ways to counter the negative effects Carr states.

Tie-in with Carr:

Rosen and Cascio are opposites to Carr's view on technology. Having more support from either sides only helps in making a clearly decision as to what technology is really doing to us. Carr points out the negative impacts, and for the most part he may be correct. But Cascio and Rosen talk about how to cope with those detrimental effects of technology, and that rather than seeing all the mistakes and downfalls, there is opportunity. This article helped clear up and support my argument that technology doesn't have as bad a reputation as Carr says.

Get Smarter

Summary:

The article "Get Smarter" written by Jamais Cascio has a different opinion in contrast to Carr's article about Google. Cascio seems to be in favor of accepting technology into our lives, and believes it is not reducing people's cognitive capacity, but allowing us to think differently. He states that we are getting "smarter" in terms of becoming quicker and more efficient in terms of thinking with today's high levels of technology use. He describes people in terms of adapting to changes. For example, he uses the printing press, telegraph, and radio to describe the effect it had on people, claiming that it "increased our functional memory and our ability to share insights and knowledge across time and space." The rise of current technology and media access is analogous to the aforementioned inventions that revolutionized communication and media.

Cascio continues to elaborate on the potential technology has to offer. By embracing newer tech, solving a vast array of problems is possible. He also talks about the economic applications of embracing technology as it develops.

Reaction:

For the most part I agree with the Cascio's article. A similar article showed collected data of different generations starting back from the Baby Boomers and showed an increasing trend of media usage per day. Soon enough everyone will be using technology and that simply is the way our future is heading. Granted, there are several drawbacks and negative impacts technology reliance, but increased tech use is somewhat recent due to the fact that there is a great difference in opinions and traditional views between generations before the millennium.

Tie-in with Carr:

Cascio's article is supportive of what Carr is trying to discourage: the increased use of technology and the effect it has on people. Both articles are great material and have relevant opinions. Carr seems to be in favor of more traditional approaches and sees heavy technology use as a hindrance, slowly draining our mental abilities. While Carr does make a good point that it seems more and more people find it more difficult to sit down and just read a long article/book, Cascio points out that doing so would either be impractical, or is not needed. Cascio's article helps see both sides of the argument that involve Carr and Cascio. Knowing the benefits and risks of using technology so widely within our lives becomes clearly.

Third Source Reaction, Summary and Comparision

• This Is Your Brain On Facebook Summary:
This Is Your Brain On Facebook is an article by Rob Mitchum. It talks about how people have always worried about the latest technology ruining the minds of our society. This has went from comic books to computers. Mitchum also states how the internet is beneficial to society and counters several statements from “Is Google Making us Stupid?” It provides examples and quotes from scientists and other figures.



• Reaction
I though this article was even better then “Get Smarter” in debunking the whole internet is ruining our society idea. It references “Is Google making us stupid?” and provides a lot of professional opinions, studies and facts that disprove Carr’s statements. It went hand in hand with “Get Smarter” too.

• Comparision
“This Is Your Brain On Facebook” is less about the authors opinion and more based on facts and actual studies done. In “Get Smarter” I feel like a huge amount of it is just the author’s opinion. Also this article has much more facts and credible sources to back up its statements and it also takes the opposite view of Carr’s article.

"The Net Effect" Is life on the Internet having a disastrous effect on out children's minds?

Summary: "The Net Effect" by Juan Pablo Conti discusses the negative effect brought on by technology and the Internet focusing specifically on children. He elaborates on the fact that children are being introduced to technology at too young of an age. The child's brain is not yet developed enough to be able to handle the flashing lights and high speed of modern day technology. Parents think they are helping their children with their educational values and social status but in reality they are only causing harm. Conti also discusses how technology and the Internet could have a positive impact on children whose brains are developed enough to handle it. He says that it could improve their multitasking skills and educational values.

Reaction: I really agree with Conti and the way he went about explaining his point-of-view. I strongly believe that children are being introduced to technology and the internet at too young of an age to fully comprehend what they are seeing. I think that parents need to realize that by trying to "help" their children get a head start with their education, they are harming them by introducing it at too young of an age. Technology is also veering young children away from libraries and doing physical research because everything they need can be found on the Internet.

Tie-In: Carr's article talked about the negative and positive impacts of technology and today's society. Conti and Carr both discussed how the Internet and technology have been taking us away from doing real research and reading. Both articles discussed how our generation has turned to the Internet (i.e. google) for anything they might need. Whether you need to look something up, find a new recipe, or research a paper, you can find it all through various forms of technology. Both writers agreed that technology and the Internet are taking away from our social interactions with each other and with the world.

Student 'addiction' to technology 'similar to drug cravings', study finds

Summary: Andrew Hough discusses for a recent study fouund that students are rather addicted to technology so much so they are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms are very similar to how a drug addict would feel if they recently had quit. Many folks could admit freely that they are addicted to their modern devices. Students were unable to stop using their gadget for 24 hours.

Reaction: I wasn't surprised when I read the article because I see how people are with their gadgets nowadays. It really has become an addiction for most. I have mentioned a few times now how people can't seem to have an one-on-one with others anymore. They are either on their phones texting or constantly checking their social networking sites. It seems rather alarming that students aren't able to stop using these devices for more 24 hours. I remember in high school I had to go on this Antioch Retreat where phones taken away, we had no computers or TVs. At first it seemed impossible but it wasn't as hard as I would have imagined. I feel the world needs to really learn how to take time away from these things and remember what is most important.

Tie-in: Both Carr and Pope alluded to the fact that technology has become our addiction even if they didn't use those words. Hough's article confirmed it among the student population. However, through reading Carr it is very clear that technology has had a really big impact on the older generation. They have a hard time concentrating on reading long articles and people aren't reading books or newspapers anymore. It just seems that there is a device for almost everything now and it is conventient but some old-fashioned things should have been left alone. Reading a book is one of my favorite passtimes and refuse to use a Kindle or Nook because it takes away from the feel of it. Pope mentioned the fact that we have become more impatient and that is evident in Hough's article if someone can't voluntarily give up technology for a lousy 24 hours.

Matt Adams Third Article: When Gadgets Get In The Way

“When Gadgets Get In the Way” is a New York Times article discussing the effects computers have on schools, particularly the way teachers are combatting the distractions of technology in the classrooms with technology of their own. The article focuses on five methods specific to teachers you have come up with genius ways to get their lectures across. While reading this article, I couldn’t help but think, “I wish I had this teacher.” The methods used are innovative and interesting, improving on methods already used, like using video games. One method involved showing the students old style film strips. The teacher, Nancy Kemp, said that the effectiveness of her method was in the newness of the medium. When students have never seen them before, they get interested watching how it works. It’s not an everyday thing because the newness wears off, but they students are like moths to the flame for the few days she does use it. Another interesting method is used by Professor Eric Hudson. He has teaching assistants walk around and observed everyone to make sure there are no cell phones or computers bringing up email, an uncomfortable but effective atmosphere. The article also mentions that high school teachers can take control over student’s computers to record just where students have been online when they have conferences with parents about their student’s grades or behavior. “When Gadgets get In the Way” does not just blame technology as the sole reason for student distractions. Distractions were around long before cellphones and computers invaded the classrooms, and teachers have always had to cope with them. This article relates to Nicholas Carr’s article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid” by not just citing a cause and effect. The widespread use of technology is creating a society where people have short attention spans and are constantly looking for multiple things to do. It also mentions multiple solutions ordinary people have come up with to combat the distractions of everyday life. Technology has made reaching out to people much easier, but reaching in much harder at the same time. People can send mail and messages instantly, but the amount of relatively useless information can flood out important notices at any time. But just like in every era in history, the most successful people are the ones who can reach out in the most creative ways. Don’t just talk about space. Show them interactive images on the Hubble Telescope. Give a self-programmed game that relates to the class and maybe they’ll miss that vibration in their pocket. Technology may have made being distracted a lot easier, but there have never been more tools to combat those distractions either. Put in a little originality and you’ll be rewarded with increased attention to the lectures and less texting under the desk.

Internet Overuse and EDS in Adolescents

Summary

For my third source, I chose this article for one of the many symptoms Internet Addiction can cause to teenagers and young adults in college. This article is mostly a study based in South Korea and focuses on college students who not only go out and party but use the Internet too much. More than half the amount of students in the study stayed on the Internet longer than they should and less than half partied too much. The study resulted in poor school performance and loss of sleep at night, causing excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS.

Reaction

When I read this article, I could not believe so many students using the Internet. South Korea does have a smaller population so in the United States, the amount would be much larger in the study. As Choi said, this social phenomenon needs to be analyzed in psychiatric or psychological terms. Not only poor school performance, but the feelings of loneliness just from using the Internet too long is outrageous. I wish that would never happen to me. My roommate seems to think that being on Facebook all night and sleeping all day is a good thing to do at college. While I am trying to sleep she's on the computer and when I am up all day she sleeps. I now know she has an addiction to the Internet and mostly Facebook. I have also noticed that her health is becoming more sickly as she has bottles and boxes of medicine and tissues all over her desk. It is a sin that she cannot stay off the Internet. I know understand since reading the articles what it means to be "Internet Dependent."

Tie-in with Carr/Pope

Choi makes the point of saying that this "phenomenon" should be analyzed by psychiatrists. I believe to an extent that one could be addicted. Carr believes that this is getting out of hand as well and will never stop. Pope believes that it can be moderated and I'm sure that with help by doctors it could be. Choi's article says that Internet overuse is strongly associated with sleep problems and probably concentration as well, as in Carr's article he says that he loses concentration very easily and needs to move on to something else. Pope says that technology is clearly affecting students' lives and according to Choi, that is a fact. Students' lives are changing dramatically from the addiction and their health is becoming the problem.

Signature Essay Third Source

Jeffrey McQuillen wrote “The Influence of Technology on the Initiation of Interpersonal Relationships” and discussed how technology is negatively affecting relationships today. He focused a lot on on-line relationships and how they allow people to present a false identity which misleads the person on the other side of the message. This is something that people are becoming much more comfortable doing and are relying on. One in three relationships is developed through the internet, and it seems that soon all relationships will be built this way. I agree with everything the McQuillen says in this article. I personally am very against online dating websites because I feel as if there are more cons than pros. The mere idea that someone can pretend to be someone they are not is scary in itself. In person someone may exaggerate about a job or income, but everything else is yours to see. You are not just taking someone’s word for it. Online they can be a 60 year old man and pretend to be a 23 year old woman. It may be that I watch too many crime shows to believe that people are who they are and trust to meet them alone. I know someone that started an account with one of these websites, found a match, went out to finally meet this person that the website said she was very compatible with, and came to find that her match was actually her brother. That is why they were compatible and had many of the same ideas and likings. This story, along with the many horror stories of meeting strangers alone, will forever keep me away from online databases. I believe that McQuillen does a good job of convincing his reader of the negative impacts of online dating. McQuillen and Carr have the same basis belief within their essays. Carr discusses how technology, specifically internet, has affected everyone’s brains. He says that whether it may be for the good or the bad, our brains are altered which therefor alters our actions as a whole. People are adapting to the overcoming of technology and becoming comfortable with the outcomes. This is seen in McQuillen’s essay because he thinks that people are becoming too comfortable finding a partner online. They are changing who they are to make themselves appear better then they truly are. People are than allowed to change their personalities to do this all of the time. This is how our brains are being biologically changed to adapt to the changes in society. Technology has made each generation change slightly, so the next generation is already adapted to this change and then adapts to a new change. All from technology. It is clear that although Carr and McQuillen spoke of different things in their essays, they have the same underlining concept that technology is in fact changing our world today.

My Kingdom for Contentment

Summary

This article describes the writer’s short stay in Bhutan, a hereditary monarchy that is slowly incorporating some democratic measures. The country is unique in that its policies are guided by attempting to maximize the Gross National Happiness (GNH). The GNH is basically the highest level of wellbeing for the greatest number of people and promotes equitable land distribution, free medical care, and maintaining extended families.


Reaction

I’ve been to places similar to Bhutan and found myself, as well as others to be quite happy in these places. This article definitely emphasizes how simplicity and lack of material goods can lead to just as satisfying a life as one full of the latest technologies. Conversely, I also know in places that lack resources there is a yearning for something more. They realize that new technologies and goods exist and that they don’t have them. Externally, they seem so jovial, but there may be an underlying dissatisfaction cloaked by cultural mores. This makes me think of the “grass is always greener” phenomenon because there are many caught up in fast-paced, cluttered lives who pine for greater freedom and tranquility.

One somewhat disturbing aspect of the story was only mentioned briefly. There is a mandatory dress in Bhutan in which all men were identical clothing as do the women and freedom of speech is restricted. While the lifestyle there seems idealic in so many ways, lack of freedom is a fairly heavy price.


Tie-in to Carr, Cascio

The tie-in to the other two articles is a bit loose. What I mostly saw was the juxtaposition of the serene climate of Bhutan with our hectic, technology-laiden lives and the toll it seems to be taking as described by Carr. Carr is arguing that our minds are being rewired and not in a good way.

In Cascio’s article, he agrees with Carr that our minds are changing, but he says the changes are only in their incipient stages and that it’s too quick to judge the changes as either good or bad. He writes that it’s just another step in human evolution and touts the quixotic possibilities that man and ever increasingly powerful machines can create. Cascio paints a Utopian future ushered in by technology, but as Trey Popp describes in My Kingdom for Contentment, such Utopia’s can exist in today’s world and in much simpler forms. Rather than always trying to faster and better via technology, perhaps Bhutan has the right idea in seeking the highest Gross National Happiness.

"Kids Really are Different These Days"

Summary:
Dianna Coyl discusses in "Kids Really are Different These days" how over time and especially recently that kids have changed. She goes on to talk about how kids have changed with physical development, media and technology, self understanding, and emotional competence. However, i mostly will speak about how media and technology has changed kids today by altering the way they may think and do things.

Reflection:
The meaning behind this article is that over time kids have changed. Specifically, media and technology have been a big part of this rapid change among kids because according to the article, with increased importance of technology in a kid's life impacts social and communicative development. Today, nearly 82 % of kids are online by the 7th grade. Also have approximately 6.5 hours of media exposure every day. To me that is remarkable how all these kids not only have access but are allowed to spend a ridiculous amount of time on the internet. This also has a direct impact on the physically development of kids in my opinion. I say this because the more time kids are inside on the internet, playing video games, watching TV, or just sitting there texting, is less time that they are outside doing something. Any type of physical activity whether its baseball, soccer, tag, etc. would be better. Also the article goes on to explain how the brain isn't capable of multitasking, like a lot of people thought. I agree with that because i find it very hard to focus one more than one thing. When you try to do more than one thing at time you actually aren't saving time you are losing time.

Tie In:
This article ties in with the other two in that they all speak to how media and technology are altering the way people think, act, and or develop. In this article it speaks to how technology affects social and communicative development. Moreover, how multitasking actually slows you down and increases you chance of errors. Like Kord Campbell in "Attached to Technology and Paying A Price," when he didn't even notice an email about an offer that eventually made him a millionaire for 12 days because he was so distracted with all of his technology. Due to his multitasking he nearly cost himself all that money. Then of course in "Is Google making us Stupid," Carr talks about how technology is changing the way people do things. More specifically how they read. In order to be able to process all of the information available to us now, our brains have been altered to only skim through articles instead of reading them thoroughly. Then in Coyl's article she talks about how media multitasking forces the brain to perform sequential processing. Rather it is like skim reading in order to get through all of the information. Through all of this, technology is changing the way people think and act.

"Internet Addiction"

Summary
My third source is “Internet Addiction,” which was published in CNS Drugs by Martha Shaw and Donald W. Black. This article establishes the classification, symptoms, and effects of an Internet addiction. This article defines Internet addiction as an uncontrollable urge in relation to computer use that can cause in problematic effects. There is no medicines or official cures, but like any addiction, self-help books and therapy are proven as effective, and rehabilitation centers for Internet addiction have been created.

Reaction
I found this article very helpful when it came to understanding the true classification of an Internet addiction. This article explains how an Internet addiction can develop, and now I understand how easily one can develop an addiction. One major symptom was staying online for longer than intended. I don’t think there is one person who hasn’t experienced that. Most students take a break from homework to go on Facebook, and only realize how much time they’ve wasted when they look at the clock an hour later. The Internet is addicting; there is so many different sites and so much to do. There are so many ways to get lost in the Internet and waste your entire day on the computer. This is a major problem for students, because they neglect their school work and friends to stay online. As easy as it is to develop an Internet addiction, I think it would be pretty hard to kick it the habit. Technology is almost like a basic need in the modern way; it’s an important way to communicate with others. So if you have a past with an Internet addiction and you need to check your e-mail for a message from your boss, you’re going to be very tempted to stay on for a while.

Relation to Carr
In relation to Carr, this article explains some of Carr’s symptoms. Carr discusses some of the problems people face from being dependent on the article, while this article elaborates on the effects. For example, Carr says that he can no longer focus on longer pieces of writing. If someone has an Internet addiction, they cannot focus on anything while off the Internet. Carr may not be addicted completely to the Internet, but he is experiencing lesser symptoms. Both articles are aimed toward the common theme that the Internet may do more harm than good. People don’t look at the consequences of spending hours online. People may not think that spending 4 hours online a few days a week is bad, but if they go away for a week and have no access, they almost go through withdrawal. Poor concentration is definitely an effect of excessive Internet usage. Who wants to sit down a read an entire book when you could go online and get a summary of the book, which is a lot shorter? Most people cannot even concentrate while reading because the Internet and technology is on their mind. I often take breaks from reading a book to check my Facebook or text. And some people only plan on taking a break for five minutes, until they get lost in Facebook. Most people cannot even go a class period without texting or going on Facebook. People in my classes post statuses on Facebook about the class before it is even over.

"The Brain, the Biology Classroom and Kids with Video Games"

Summary:
MacKenzie admits that our brains are changing. She discusses how our brains continuily evolve and has been doing so for centuries. She discusses the change our brain went through when music, art and tool making were first introduced. She admits that kids today have completely different brains than kids used to have. She discusses the positive impact that video games contribute to this change. She backs up her ideas with research that shows that students who play video games can problem solve, recognize patterns, and think more strategically than children who do not play video games. She then discusses how incorporating videogames in the classroom, specifically the Biology classroom, can help students learn easier.

Reaction:
I agree with MacKenzie because I see it first hand everyday. I grew up in the eighties when video games did not exist and technology over all was primitive, specially growing up in Panama. I have two sons, a four and a six year old. They have only known the world as it is right now, the internet, video games, and so on. I could not do a third of what my children do at their age. I can't even do some of it at my age. I try to sit down and play video games with them and get frustrated because they are too complicated for me. Not just the technology part of it (good luck turning it on!), but the problem solving, decision making and the memorization skills that they require are far more complex than my brain could have handled at age six. Kids brains now have to be more complex because everything around them is more extensive than it used to be.

Tie in:
MacKenzie like Cascio and Carr all discuss the brain changing. MacKenzie and Cascio discuss evolution and both agree that the brain has been changing for decades and it is something necessary and beneficial

Online Flow Experiences, Problematic Internet Use and Internet Procrastination

Summary

For my third source, I decided to research the overuse or addiction of the internet. Using academic search premier, I found this article for Science Direct. This talks about the distinction between online flow, problematic internet use, and internet procrastination. People get so addicted to the internet that it can result in withdrawal symptoms. Its a huge distraction in the workplace and companies have to monitor their employees to make sure they are doing work-related activities.

Related to Carr's

This article relates clearly to Nicholas Carr's "Is google making us stupid?"because it shares how all this technology that is supposed to be helpful and advancing society is actually slowing us down. We spend hours on the internet trying to do one task, then become distracted because something else come up and we multitask. In the workplace, this is extremely common to do because internet flow occurs and hours will go by without even realizing it. Also, instead of researching for a work presentation, the group could easily just look up something on Google and be done in minutes. We also have a tough time concentrating on long pieces of information. This is bad for reading long papers at work and then being easily distracted to result in the work not being done. The real issue is that no one can do anything about this addiction. People continue to use the internet and read small pieces of writing so they are not able to change back to old ways. The New York Times has shortened their articles so this can appeal to more readers due to that fact that people will not read multiple pages of an article. This is a popular epidemic.

Reaction

I agree with these articles and I have been affected by these new forms of reading. I cannot sit for long periods of time reading one article on the internet. I also am not a big reader of any books and cannot remember the last time that I have read a book. I hate that I cannot complete a simple task such as writing a paper for a class or writing an email without being somewhat tempted to go on facebook or some other distracting site. Years ago this was not the issue for me but no everything is a difficult task. I also cannot function without my phone for a day and hate when people have a tough time having face to face interaction without checking their phone. I think that all these social networks are a big issue and going to be worst in the future. I do not think I have an addiction but it is definitely a distraction issue. As a student, it only affects how fast I get my schoolwork done but when I go to get a job in the business world, it will be a challenge to stay focus on task. We need to stop this before it is too late.

“Reading on the Internet: Link Between Literacy and Technology”

My third source for the signature essay is called “Reading on the Internet: Link Between Literacy and Technology” an article that talks about the new found skills it takes to be able to find certain subjects. As well as find good information and filter out the bad, to read through articles quickly but sufficiently, and finally about strategies for Internet reading comprehension.

The article is very interesting and shows how people can learn to use the knowledge that they already know to find certain subjects on the Internet. Also, the article breaks down ways that we can comprehend certain massive amounts of information on the Internet. The author makes a list of steps that must be taken to truly understand the texts on the Internet, there is such an extensive set of vocabulary out there that you may not be able to understand a lot of what is being said. Furthermore, the article talks about the link between literacy and technology, how they converge when children read on the Internet while searching for a subject for a paper or just for the information. Finally the reading talks about the connections with reading print text and applying them to reading Internet text.

The articles main tie in with Carr’s “Is Google Making Us Stupid” would have to be that they both talk about the new reading techniques there are to reading on the Internet. Initially it can be very difficult to use a search engine and to read through tons of information that is constantly taking you to more places, either getting you closer or further to your goal. To be able to read on the Internet is much more difficult, what I like about the article is it basically answers Carr’s question of why he cannot read certain long articles or how to avoid those situations.

The Age of Distraction: The Professor or the Processor? [Third Source for signature assignment]

Michael Bugeja writes about how people are coming to rely on mediated communication (or communication based on call phones and computers) rather than face-to-face communication. The technologies that keep us constantly connected with everyone are keeping us constantly distracted. These digital distractions are keeping us from dealing with the real issues of everyday life. He believes that the standards of higher education have been lowered, because of new information and technology. Universities are investing in “online virtual worlds.” Soon people will be relying on the processor instead of the professor. These digital distractions affect both students and workers. Everyone use digital devices in some way, whether it being to send a memo or a text message. He asks the question, what can be done? and answers it by saying that all incoming college students should be informed of digital distractions to help them adapt. Students can also monitor their use throughout the term and see how it effects their behaviors. Finally, he states that we must remind ourselves that the issue of digital distractions pivots on student attitudes and distractions. Critical thinking is important to our life, especially in the classroom. We must deprogram ourselves from technology to remember the beauty and benefits of the community that surrounds us.

It is true that we are relying too much on media to communicate with others. It is rare that I can talk to someone without them texting someone else or being distracted by some other form of technology such as the television. School also has a tendency to reinforce the dependency on technology. How many times do teachers assign their students to go online to look something up or to watch a certain program? This happens all the time. The teacher does not realize that they are reinforcing the issue of technology. However, they are. Students start to use technology more and more because they are becoming used to having to use it. It then becomes a distraction when they aren’t supposed to be using it in the classroom. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with.

Carr discusses that the internet has altered his mental habits. For example, he can no longer sit down and read a long novel. This ties in with Bugeja’s idea that people are relying too much on technology, especially in the class room. Teachers are now expecting their students to go online and search for an article instead of getting an actual book. Thus the students run a Google search, print the first article they find and continue with their social networking. No longer do they go to the library, look up a book and sit down and read it. People are losing the mental capacity to sit down and read because they no longer have to. Like Carr said, the internet alters people’s habits.

Signature Essay (Third Source

My 3rd and final article for the Signature Essay is by the Vice President of google. It is titled 'The Disruptive Power of Networks.' The vice president starts off by saying how incredibly disruptive the internet is to the old way of doing things. The author then lists several things the internet has already changed. After he states that this is only 1% of the things the internet is capable of, then continues to list the things the internet will be able to eventually do, whether for better or worse.
My personal response to this article is shock. The fact that somebody has made there entire fortune of the internet and still considers several negative effects of it, and is willing to list them in an article is just unbelievable. I mean, that's kinda like a teacher making a full article about the negative effects of organized schooling. Hell, even most drug dealers don't tell people about how drugs are, even though everyone knows how bad they are. When the people closest to a controversial subject are talking about how bad it is, then that's when you should know something's not right. I've found a trend as well on these articles about how everyone seems to take the side of the negative, but also tries to throw some positive effects in their as well. Another thing that shocked me was what he was saying the internet is capable of. Some of the ideas he has for the future, someone with the intelligence and the means to make them happen, are quite startling.
How I plan to tie this article in with my other sources is quite simple. It takes the same approach as the other two. The fact that the vice president of google is talking about how bad the internet is, is a convincing enough piece of evidence, but also it ties in greatly with the main message of my paper. One of the biggest points I plan on pushing is that technology is limitless, it's only been what, 10 years since the internet has been popular? Has it even been 10? And, look at all of the changes we've seen in our psychi, what are those kids growing up now going to be like when they grow up not know life before the internet world. What are their kids going to be like, when they grow up never knowing what life is like before robots, smart toasters, and all of the other shenanigans this guy talks about in his article. Sure, the good may outway the bad, until the whole system comes crashing down, overrides or something bad happens.

Third Source for Signature Essay

The Mobile Family Gallery? Gender, Memory and the Cameraphone: Anna Reading


Summary

The article by Anna Reading, The Mobile Family Gallery, talked about how we were using mobile devices as personal diaries and galleries for the storage of memories and future endeavors. In her article, she compares camera phones to diaries, since we take countless photographs day after day of random items and faces, and forward them to a community of friends. The friends that receive the messages are creating memories along with the photographer, and are contributing to the power of technology. She compares the use of mobile devices as a diary- it contains all of the personal information of an individual, such as birthdays, addresses, phone numbers, pictures, and notes to oneself that if this device were to be lost, it would be comparable to amnesia: a total loss of their memory.


Reaction
I agree with Reading completely. Many people do not commit any specific dates to memory, but yet store every ounce of information into their phones, or PDAs. Their phones are their lifelines. Our memories are being changed into conceptual ideas, where our memories are more than just a thought; they are committed to actual things within our technological accessories. If these were lost, we would lose ourselves, a sense of time and feel lost.


Relationship

This article relates to Carr’s Is Google Making Us Stupid? because both authors discuss the changes that are occurring to our brains and our ways of thinking. Each author discusses how we are altering what we used to know, believe and the way we remember and are replacing it with new, more inventive and controlling technology. With this technology we are becoming engrossed and entranced, we are refusing to commit specific ideas and experiences to memory- we conceptualize dates, information and numbers.

Attached to Technology and Paying a Price

“Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” is about the relationship of multi-tasking people and the technology around them. It often uses the Campbell family as an example of the many Americans who constantly check on their e-mail and social networking sites. However more than the family it focuses on, the important message is in the issues it presents. Many people believe that the ability to multi-task technology provides us with makes us more productive, but the reality is that, while we can monitor multiple streams of information at a time, our ability to focus on those streams diminishes. We miss important information and easily get distracted from what we are supposed to be doing. I am not one of these multi-taskers. I get distracted easily enough without adding multiple media sources to the mix. However, because I find holding my attention to any one thing at a time difficult, I can relate to the people who believe they have to constantly divide their attention between their facebook, phone, and whatever else they may be doing at the time, at least in certain respects. People who find they are constantly switching between what they’re doing actually waste time while they refocus from task to task. They have to reanalyze to figure out where they left off and what they were going to do next. Also, switching between tasks constantly means that you are not giving your full and undivided attention to anything. You may be looking at one screen; it may be the only thing you have up on your computer screen, but multi-tasking tendencies are habits and persist from your work to your personal life and vice-versa. The mind wanders and strays looking for something else to do. You may think that you are giving your full and undivided attention to the project at hand, but really, your mind is always looking for the next thing and you may not even realize it. Both “Is Google Making Us Stupid” and “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” focus on the diminishing attention spans of the people who frequently use technology and, to an extent, the effects it has on their social lives. Both articles notice that more Americans are constantly spending their free time online, whether it is for research or to check e-mail. They both mention from studies that a lot of people find websites, but don’t read the entire thing through and that people are constantly looking for something else to occupy their attention when they are trying to concentrate on a single task put in front of them. The articles also both blame the increase in daily internet use as the source for the mass attention deficit. The differences are in the effects the two articles see happening. “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” sees a disconnection away from the family and what is happening away from the computer screen. When they are disconnected from the internet, they are constantly looking for the next chance to get online. “Is Google Making Us Stupid” sees a massive reprogramming of the brain. The massive amount of information is reworking the way we think to better handle the larger loads at once.

getting smarter

Summary:

In this article, Get Smarter by Jamais Casio, he talks about the many ways that humans have evolved and "gotten smarter" over time because of challenges we've gone through. He says that instead of waiting for evolutionary changes to come, we can make them happen. For example, the issue of global warming is very prevalent in the world today. Instead of waiting for evolution to take over to help us survive, we can do it ourselves. With the use of technological advancements in medicine and the internet, it is proof that we have become smarter as a human race.

Reflection:

Jamais Casio does an excellent job in showing how technology is actually proof that as a whole, we have become smarter. He talks about medicine and different forms of technological advancements throughout the article. He also uses examples from the past to make his point. I agree with what he is saying. How could technology make us stupid if we're the ones that created it? The way we evolve is by adapting to our environment and through his article, he explains that the advancement of technology is just the way we have adapted.

Tie in With Carr:

This article was in direct response to Carr's "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" He refutes all of Carr's points about how technology makes us lazy and neglect things we used to do. He says that this is just a way we're changing as people and using technology just makes things we used to do easier. He says that its impossible to get rid of technology now that it's here so it's better to embrace what we have made and the people we have become. There is no way to call technology a bad thing since it has become a part of our everyday lives.

Attached to Technology

Summary

In the article, Attached to Technology and Paying a Price, by Matt Richtels, he starts out describing what technology has done to the Cambell family and how its running their lives. He then goes into explaining the working of our brain and how its effected how we think and process information. It views both sides but leans on how technology might not be so good for us as we use it.

Reflection

After reading this I came even more to realize that its not the substance but the user. The family depicted here can in no way be assumed to be a normal picture of what technology does to you. This in my interpretation is like saying alcohol is bad for you and then showing you a family of alcoholics. This view distorts the real picture, in which moderation is the key. In my example lets say alcohol isn't generally a bad substance if used in moderation, it helps interactions around people, makes them more social, and is a fun activity, in moderation. Technology can be looked at the same way. It does very much the same things as a drug and is even compared to one in the article, but in moderation, as most people use it, its not that bad of a thing. The reason its becoming a problem is because no one sees it as that. If we could look at it from an addiction standpoint it changes a lot. The reason kids are so hooked on technology now is because of their parents using it. Since the parent shows no control the child can't be assumed to learn any control. Using my prior example, if your raised in a family of alcoholics and given alcohol what to stop you from abusing it, if everyone, not even just your family, is just as hooked on it as you.

Connection to Carr

The article connects directly to Carr in the belief that technology is somehow rewiring our brains. In both articles they writer notices that attentions spans have decreased among heavy technology users as well as other cognitive abilities. They also both share the idea that our brain is open to change even past adolescence, a theory many doctors now hold true. In both they believe the internet is making us less focused on the world around us. They believe it absorbs us and takes us away, so we neglect the things we have to do as humans. We forget meeting and put off other things because technology as such a grip on our minds. They would both probably agree that we are on a path to become thoughtless, emotionless beings controlled by the circuitry that makes up computers. That we are doomed to be robots, constantly wired in, unless something is done.

Signature Essay (Is Google Making us Stupid and Second source

Matt Richtell's article Attached to Computers and Paying the Price was largely about the Campbell family. Using this family as a prime example Richtel explains the negative effects computers are having on us. Mr. Campbell, the family's father, is a computer programmer that is defined as having a slightly severe techology addiction. According to family members he can never stay off his computer and is constantly checking his e-mail. One of the main points driven home is that he almost overlooked a 1.3 million dollar deal for several days because he just skimmed through his e-mail. The rest of the family is experiencing similar problems. The son in the family got a C in school for the first time because of the internet distracting him, the daughter of the family is fairly active, however once she begins browsing on her computer she can't be interrupted by the goings on in the rest of the 'real world.' Even Mrs. Campbell says she's becoming more and more intertwined with technology. If you can take anything from this article it'd be that the internet and the new wave of technology is changing us and making us less capable of focus.
My personal response to this article is agreement. Richtell tells a tale of an everyday family that's getting addicted to technology. It's starting to interfere with their work and it's interfering with family time. The author of the article doesn't come out and say that "technology is bad," but he illustrates the point that it most certainly is changing us, and not for the better. It's a rude awakening for people when they realize how addicted almost everyone is becoming to technology. Personally, I'm not a technological person. I use a computer pretty much just to do my homework and I'm almost never on Facebook, though I do have one because my friends made me one. It's apparent that people are becoming addicted to facebook, social networking, and the internet as a whole. Instead of spending quality time with family, friends, or learning new skills people instead bumble around on the internet doing absolutely nothing. It's obvious people need to learn technology responsibly instead of just using it willy nilly. Maybe people should learn to balance their lives out.
I plan on writing my article about one of Carr's statements about how technology has progressed. He states how Socrates thought the written word would take away from true human wisdom and people would be less capable of remembering things on their own. Then, he talks about how Hieronimo Squarciafico thought Guttenberg's printing press would lead to making people less studious. I plan to take that points and beg the question "Where does technological advance end?" Is the internet the end all of pure human experience or is it just another step in the direction of conveniance. When will we completely sell the great feeling of accomplishment of finding knowledge instead of just 'Googling' it. When do people begin to shallow out from society when instead of going to a friend, family member, or respected member of society and turn to their monitor instead. I plan on using Richtell's article to show the way that people have already begun changing. The internet is a recent invention and yet it's changed us more thoroughly than any invention in the history of man. If this is just a small glimpse of how the internet can change us than how different will society be in 20 years? 50 years? How different will society be when mankind invents something more advanced than the internet?

Signature Essay

Attached to Technology and Paying a Price: Matt Richtel

In Matt Richtels article entitled “Attached to Technology and Paying the Price” he goes into detail about a particular family and their relationships with technology along with one another. While reading the article I constantly found myself thinking how similar to my family the Campbell’s sounded. In both Richtel and Carr’s articles technology is entirely consuming the lives of people while they become more and more detached from what is going on around them. I agree with both authors in that the population is becoming less focused as well as less capable to complete tasks. Tasks as simple as baking cookies in Mrs. Campbell’s case in which she burned two batches being distracted with technology. I find that the majority of my generation can barely go ten minutes without checking their smartphones. In the articles the authors both agree that there are pros and cons to the world we now live in. Within “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” the family dynamic revolves around, computers, Ipads, laptops, and phones- even over breakfast. This profoundly takes away from communicating personally and simply enjoying time together. The ability to completely unplug is one few have these days, and those that are able to are constantly thinking about whether they have a missed call, text, or email. I full heartedly agree how being so engaged within technology takes away from truly connecting with other people and interacting among them. I had the perfect example yesterday, when approximately ten of my friends were over. I walked out of my bedroom only to see each and every one of them on their phones texting other people rather than talking to one another. This scene is unfortunately very common these days.

Summary of An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness By TARA PARKER-POPE

Summary

Parker-Pope talks about the toll technology is taking on people in two days world and the downside of having some technology so readily available. She says the internet is re-shaping our personalities. She talks about the internet and technology in general as being addictive. She says according to a survey that more people showed signs of internet addiction then addiction to gambling. She also quotes a student who stopped using technology for one day, the student said that a lack of technology made her feel alone because she was unable to connect instantly with her friends.

Reflection

Technology is an essential part of modern day life. It is impossible to get rid of it. I feel bad for the student who Parker-Pope talks about at the end of the column. The student was part of a study to see how students handle not using technology for one day. The student said she felt disconnected and alone because she did not have texts or I.M.s. I hope I could make it without technology and not feel this disconnect from society. I agree with Parker-Pope that the internet and technologies are overused by a majority of people everyday. I am guilty of overuse myself. But it is hard to say how much is too much in regards to internet and technology use because it is so new and studies are just being conducted. I do not think that an addiction to the internet is ruining as many lives as other addiction but it can be a serious problem. And in today’s world it would be difficult to not use the internet or technology at all. So for the people who are severely overuse these technology it can be hard to change what they are doing. I also agree technology is one hundred percent changing our personalities. It would be impossible for us as humans not to change with so much new technology at our fingertips.

Connection to Carr

Parker-Pope echoes Carr thoughts very closely. Parker-Pope and Carr would both agree that the internet is changing people’s personalities. They both write about a lack of patience in people today in comparison to people of the past. They also write about a need for people to want to fast-forward through things. Carr puts himself into this group but Parker-Pope does not discuss herself at all in her column. Carr looks at some of the positive effects that technology is having on people where as Parker-Pope only sheds light on the negative effects of too much technology. Carr does not believe that technology is ruining people but simply changing them. Parker-Pope’s column comes across as if she is denouncing internet and technology. But they both think that technology is being abused and overused and Parker-Pope spends much of her writing discussing how to treat addiction to technology. She even quotes Carr who says “The deeper a technology is woven into the patterns of everyday life, the less choice we have about whether and how we use that technology”. Carr says we may not be able to control how we use technology but Parker-Pope believes that therapy can help reduce somebody’s dependence on technology.

Step 2 of SIgnature Essay

In Attached to Technology Paying the Price, it talks mostly about how Mr. Campbell has changed due to technology. The article goes on to explain in the beginning how Mr. Campbell overlook an email for 12 days due lack of paying attention. He almost missed a 1.3 million dollar deal that he was offered to one of his start up internet companies. Later in the article it talks about him at home with his family. His family is based around technology. Even when he went away on vacation he was playing with his devices. He Landed another multi-million dollar deal that his wife said was okay but didn’t like the fact he was playing games though. In the article it talked about a study how multitaskers didn’t do as well on a test that tested to see details compared to people who weren’t multi tasking.
The article shows how people can be so distracted due to technology. It goes on to explain how Mr Campbells life is over taken from technology. In the article it said how he would know the exact time that his devices would be offline. Also there was a study that showed that he would change rapidly several times from program to program during work and when they asked him about it he changed back and forth only a couple times. The article was also saying how people who multi task do not pay attention and much as others because they didn’t notice placement of rectangles when people who weren’t multi taksing did very well on that topic. I think it very true because when I don’t focus on something to the fullest I don’t have as much recognition on it as I would if I really focused. It also shows how there is neural addictions due to sudden rush of a dopamine ejection from the mind. I also believe that because when I play video games because I feel a sense of relief whole playing and it makes me want to keep playing.
It ties in with Carr’s article because it was talking about the disadvantages that are happening from technology. People are changing there state of minds, and in both articles it talks about how it is mentally rewiring your brain. It says that the changes in the neural circuits to a different state and from it being so constant, it starts to adapt, wanting more. Carr’s article also talks about how technology is making people change into people there not and in Attached to Technology Paying the price says how Mrs. Campbell says that she is noticing a difference in her husband from using technology almost 24/7. They also both talked about some advantages. Carrs article spoke about how we have access to information in minutes at our finger tips that we would have to find in hours in the past and the other article spoke about how Mr. Campbell could do so many multiple things at once rapidly that would almost be impossible in the past. Also in Attached to Technology Paying the Price said how the use of technology and multi tasking is making peoples imagination better.

Matt Richtel's Attatched to Technology and Paying the Price

In Matt Richtel’s Attatched to Technology and Paying the Price, he uses experiences of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell to describe how technology has affected their life. He explains how Mr. Campbell gets distracted so easily, and this even made him forget an important email for 12 days; something he never would have done before. Even his wife noticed a change in his behavior. She said that it was as if he was never fully emerged in a conversation. Richtel also speaks of an experiment at Stanford where multitaskers and non-multitaskers were tested. This information is very interesting because I believe it relates to everyone in today’s society. It is as if everyone is consumed by technology everywhere we go, and the world as whole relies on technology. What is scary is thinking about what would happen if technology shut down for a day. There would be mass chaos. Everyone lives in the shoes of Mr. Campbell; they surf the internet, text, watch tv, fall asleep with their phone by their side, and wake up to do it all over again. These people are considered the multitaskers in Stanford’s experiment. Although these people are mostly young, who grew up with the technology surrounding them, there are still older people being slowly introduced and consumed by the technology. The experiment showed both ups and downs for the multitaskers, which shows the ups and downs of technology in society. I believe that the media is changing everyone and causing humans to adapt as the generations continue. Living in this environment and living in the environment 50 years ago is a whole other world. It is obvious how Richtel’s Attatched to Technology and Paying the Price and Carr’s Is Google Making Us Stupid are very similar. In both texts, Carr and Mr. Campbell find themselves consumed in the technology and letting it affect their lives. Both see that the technology affects them positively and negatively. It allows them to multitask and take in many different streams of information at once and process it. On the other hand, it keeps them permanently distracted and uninterested in anything not involving the technology. Both of these men are in the typical position that the rest of society is in. Although Carr does not speak too much about the upside of technology, Carr and Richtel’s essays are very similar. For example, Carr speaks of how our minds now work “like computers” even when we are not using the technology. This parallels to when Richtel speaks of how Mr. Campbell is distracted and his wife refers to him as “no longer fully in the moment.” Richtel calls this “your brain on computers.” Both believe that the computer can change your mind and personality on a constant basis, causing your brain to transform to permanently be like that.

"An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness"

Summary
This article by Tara Parker-Pope describes the impact that technology has had on our everyday lives. She brings attention to the fact that we have become so dependent upon technology that many people have become forgetful, impatient, self-absorbed, and entirely incapable of functioning without it. She includes information about studies that have been conducted at various colleges throughout the country in which results showed that a portion of college students can actually be considered "addicted" to technology in the way that people are addicted to gambling.

Reflection
The article truly shows how much technology has impacted our lives in a negative way over the last few decades. It’s true that the world is completely dependent upon the everyday use of things such as the internet, e-mail, and cell phones. In one of the studies that were discussed in the article, students were asked to not use any form of technology for an entire day. One of the students who was interviewed at the end said that their life was miserable for that twenty-four hour period because they felt secluded not being able to contact others via either the internet or their cell phone. The fact that we have become so dependent on virtual communication as opposed to face to face communication has definitely altered the way in which we are able to form and maintain our relationships with others. One of the main points of the article was that the high-speed communication and instant retrieval of information that is made available to us through the use of technology has made us completely forgetful and impatient. We have become so attached to the ease of getting things done instantly through the internet, and I don’t believe that problem is going to be solved any time soon because the world of technology is only going to grow from here.

Tie in with Carr
Both this article and the article by Carr reflect upon the negative impact of technology on our everyday lives. While it is true that technology makes our lives a great deal easier and has improved us as a society, it is also true that it has detrimentally affected our ability to grow as intellectuals at times. Carr discusses in his article how the internet has made him almost incapable of sitting down and reading a full book or even ready a lengthy article in a magazine or newspaper. This concept seems almost ridiculous to fathom when Carr himself is an author and journalist. But his reasoning for why he cannot focus on something for a long period of time makes sense: we are bombarded with an overload of information at the click of the mouse at all times when we are online. There are advertisements all over, there are links upon links upon links of related information at the bottom of every webpage, and as Parker-Pope discusses in her article, there is an endless hole of storage on the computer that takes up our ability to replace things of our past with things of our future. Both of the articles depict the effects that internet use has had on us: our inability to focus, our impatience when things are not able to be done immediately, and they way in which we have become so completely absorbed in the cyberworld that at times, it is almost as if we have forgotten who we are as individuals.

"An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness"

Summary
The article “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness” by Tara Parker-Pope describes how technology warps the mind of the person using it. Although technology may be helpful in many cases, it can also be misused in many ways, which can lead to addiction. Many who suffer from this may feel that there internet relationships are more important than their reality. They often find themselves trying to fast forward real life situations before realizing they have a problem. People also seem to be unable to detach themselves from many older memories, and this is bad because it makes it more difficult to retain new ones. This makes it hard to be sociable with one's family and friends off the internet.


Reflection
This article focuses on the negative effects of technology on a person's mind. People who are often checking their e-mails, going on Facebook, and shopping online seem to neglect their duties in the real world. I completely agree with this argument the article presents. Children feel like they are often being ignored by their elders, who are too consumed with their cell phones, computers, and other internet resources. Families spend less time bonding with one another. Even at the dinner table, you will see paretns and children answering their cell phones and checking their Facebooks on their blackberry. When someone's cell phone dies, they seem to become flustered. The internet is also distracting during work hours. Adults agree to shopping online while working, as well as spending time in chat rooms and paying their bills. Schools all have a "no cell- phone" policy, because their students are too distracted with all that technology has to offer. Even when you try to hang out with a friend, they are constantly preoccupied talking to other friends with some form of technology. Technology has made it harder to reatin friendships in the real world.


Tie-In
Nicholas Carr's article describes the effects of excessive internet use on the human mind. He states that he notices his own personality has changed a bit since he started using technology. For instance, he began skimming through articles rather than actually sitting down and enjoying a good book once in a while. It has become rather difficult for people to read novels or even text messages that are longer than one hundred and fourty characters. This can greatly affect one's school studies when they are trying to research a topic. Tara Parker-Pope's article shows that too much internet use can lead to addiction. She proves that technology may begin to interfere with a person's daily life, this including their work, schooling, and social time. She discusses how the average student can procrastinate while doing their work for hours just sitting on Facebook. However, there are many sites that one may use to procrastinate, such as Stumbleupon, Twitter, and Tumblr. What it comes down to is although technology may be very useful in connecting with old friends, relaying information, and retrieving information, it also makes it very difficult for a person to know how to act in real life situations. Technology is remolding our minds and our personalities, and this proves that we have become dependent on it.

“Your Brain on Computers-Attached to Technology and Paying a Price

Summary

In the article “Your Brain on Computers-Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” Matt Richet initially refers to the Campbell family as an average family of technology users and the part it plays in their life. The Campbell’s all have their devices (IPods, Ipads, laptops, etc.) that always occupies there time and is always almost impossible to put down. The daughter and son even have times in which they must do their homework at the table without any distractions. The father who uses all his time even vacations checking email and playing games on his iPad, while the mother goes on Facebook and Twitter. The article goes on to talk about why we all have this need to always be talking via Facebook or Twitter, the slight “excitement” it gives us. Describing how these distractions can cause harm to the people around us for, instance driving or even a marriage perhaps. Also, Richet speaks of studies done to prove that, for some people, all this multitasking increases stress or the ability to multitask. The effects that this addiction to technology for children was also explained in the text, in conclusion, Mrs. Campbell says when families are “unplugged” from their machines, there is a better environment for everyone.

Reflection

Throughout the text there are many ideas of how technology can affect society, as well as how our society depends on technology. This is an extremely true statement and concept that we all must stop being in denial about. Everyone must have their facebook fix of the day, everyone must call, text, play games on their iPad or iTouch, and check their email. The article focuses on the effects it has on families and the effects it can have on our neurological pathways, or how we learn. How technology affects how society is taking in information and how we learn. We no longer can go on a vacation with the family and spend one hundred percent of the time with each other, there is always an email or calls to be made. In the article, Richter also speaks on the topic of how the internet makes it almost impossible for us to work, there are many distractions that are a finger slide away from what we are doing, constantly thinking about what else there is to do on the computer instead of doing work.

Tie in Carr

A major tie in between the two articles would have to be how both of them talk about the effects that the Internet can have on our neurological pathways, the way we think, and the way we take in information. Both showing the research behind their hypothesis, including tests from universities and studies done throughout the world, scientists, professors, neurologists, psychologists, and many more. They each greatly show the reliance society has on technology for everyday activities and how it affects our daily lives. Richet talks about how technology, at times, may strengthen or decrease your ability to multitask, while Carr talks about how technology and the Internet can or may decrease your ability to read longer pieces of literature because we are so used to reading quickly or skimming due to such an excessive amount of information being thrown at us. Another topic that ties these articles together is how easy it is to become distracted on the internet, Carr saying he becomes “fidgety” and wants to do something else, while Richets speaks about Mr. Campbell being distracted while “frantically” trying to create a program from a news pop-up about a man killed at his business. These articles had some very similar points that tied in together.

Getting Smarter

Summary:
Jamais Cascio argues in “Getting Smarter” that our current technology is the next step in our evolutionary process. In his view, the net and our modern devices are not retarding human progress, but may be aiding it substantially. In fact, technology and its ability to enhance our collective understanding may be what leads to our survival as a species by providing answers to the long-term, extremely complex problems that we face.
Reflection:
On the whole, what Cascio talks about is plausible because it makes sense that ever-better technology begets ever-better technology. The complexity and power of current computer models gives credence to his vision of the future, and science fiction also often becomes reality. So much of what he talks about though, is pretty outlandish and pure supposition. For instance he talks about people using sophisticated computer modeling for something as simplistic as choosing a hairstyle, but I doubt changes will be so far reaching.
One point that I really agree with is that there will be moral and cultural hurdles in creating and implementing the advanced technologies Cascio describes. So much of our current technological/scientific capabilities have been stifled due to these impediments. Stem cell research and cloning are just two that immediately come to mind. This said, some of Caisco’s machinations may come to fruition, but they will take a long time. However, a loss of accumulated knowledge is not unprecedented and we could regress into another Dark Ages also.
Tie-In:
To compare Carr with Cascio, they fundamentally disagree over the impact our technology will have. Carr expresses concern that our brains are being rewired to handle to fast-flowing information and to multi-task. He fears that this alteration is resulting in our diminished capacity to think deeply and reflectively. Cascio also believes that our brains are changing as a result of our technological habits, but he states that the jury is still out as to the impact. He feels that given enough time our brains will catch up to the pace of the technology rather than being somewhat overwhelmed in the way that they currently are. Furthermore, he has more faith in the advance in human individual intelligence than does Carr.
Basically, all of Carr’s fears are addressed by Cascio in that he feels the technological advances will lift up humanity as a whole. All of the negative cognitive changes Carr discusses will be resolved over time. One thing where the two see eye to eye is the blurring of the lines between human and machine. Carr note’s this blurring in 2001: A Space Odyssey by observing the humans’ machine like behavior and the computer’s emotional, human-like responses. Cascio addresses this when he envisions the possibility of a person’s mind being run by a computer.

"Getting Smarter" by Jamais Cascio

Summary: Cascio talks about how technology is not necessarily hurting us, but rather expanding our knowledge. Throughout the years of humanity, technological advances have also advanced humanity, making us have more knowledge and manual labor less important. He talks about how our attention span is clouded and short but its only because we have more things so easily available to us and could have tabs of information open at the same time. He talks about ADD that is given to us by technology, but how certain legal drugs could keep us super focused. He does not think that the web, or even video games, hurts our minds or makes us dumb.

Meaning/reaction: by this article, Cascio means that for the entirety of human existence, we have been expanding our knowledge by being approached with problems that we create solutions for the future. Technology that we create is for always for the use of something, even if that something is not information, but rather for entertainment. Even in that case, he argues that even videogames have great detail in them and relate to things in a bigger picture. In today’s world we have so many things at our fingertips, so much information, people’s opinions from all over the world. He does not think that this technology is making us dumber, although agrees that our attention span is now flawed due to the fact that we don’t just need to have one book in front of us, we could have whatever it is that we want to look up at that particular time. Even for me to read this whole article took a while because it was hard to pay attention, but I don’t think that that makes me stupid, it just makes me uninterested. There are plenty articles on the internet on subjects that I find interesting that I would be able to read straight through without stopping or having to go over a sentence twice. I agree with him, I don’t think our technology makes us more stupid, especially if used the right way. Often times people use technology stupidly, but that doesn’t make us stupid. We have grown and developed as human beings, and will continue to grow and develop as we are faced with new problems that need new solutions. The internet gives us a sort of awareness that we never had before by being able to have insight from all over the world, articles and even games. We should consider the technology that we have an advancement rather than a handicap. It is useful. Anything that I want to know I could just type into google, and with the right source, find my answer. I think that makes me know MORE then the generations before me, not less.

Tie in: This article ties in with Carr’s article because Cascio does agree that technology gives us a sort of “ADD”, and references Carr’s article because of this. He thinks that a lot of people have the same fear as Carr, in the sense that since he is of a generation before the intense use of the internet, it made him think differently or clouded his brain. However, Cascio does not thoroughly agree with Carr’s argument because he thinks on the opposite side, that although it may be affecting attention span somewhat, it is not making us stupid. He argues that the voices on the internet could often be mistaken as “noise”, meaning that peoples logical opinions on things could be mistaken as junk. He argues that this is not junk, and that the extra opinions could actually improve our way of thinking.

"Your Brain on Computers- Attached to Technology and Paying A Price"

Summary:
In "Your Brain on Computers- Attached to Technology and Paying A Price", Matt Richtel the author, describes the Campbell family and the role that technology plays in their lives. Kord Campbell, husband and father, constantly has some sort of technology with him. Whether its his i pad, i pod, cell phone or laptop. He becomes so preoccupied that he nearly missed a business email that he didn't realize was there for 12 days, landed him 1.3 million dollars. Along with Kord, his wife Brenda can't make cookies any more without checking her phone, their son Connor blames his C's on his gadgets distracting him, and their 8 year old daughter Lily can't concentrate on anything around her while she is on her laptop.

Reflection:
The main idea behind "Your Brain on Computers- Attached to Technology and Paying A Price" is how society is becoming more and more dependent on technology. And without it, people don't seem to know what to do with themselves. I couldn't agree more with the idea in this article about technology taking over our lives. For me, it is hard to concentrate on doing my assignments when there is so many distractions available. From surfing the web, checking e-mail, cell phone, Facebook, ESPN, and many more. In this article, it talks about the Campbell family and their experiences with technology. They cant even go on vacation without going on their gadgets and going on the internet. This is an example of how dangerous abusing technology can be. The Campbell family rarely just sits down and interacts with each any more. Ritchel writes how Kord has trouble remembering dinner plans and has trouble focusing on the kids. The reason is because his, and society's, ability to focus is being challenged from a continuous flow of information says Ritchel. And like society if he doesn't have his gadgets with him checking the internet, or his email, Kord becomes bored and uninterested. So society is being greatly affected by technology. And whether you only being slightly affected like me, or find yourself unable to function like Kord Campbell, society is being changed by technology.

Tie in with Carr:
The way in which this article ties in with Carr's is that they both believe that technology is altering the way we do things. For example, in both Carr's and Richtel's article they both discuss how our brains are always evolving and learning based upon what we are doing and how we are doing it. How Carr says he used to be able to read long articles and books and now just skims. That is because his brain has evolved in order for him to be able to read all the information he has coming into him. Moreover, in both articles it discusses the change in society. How society is relying more and more on technology than ever before. In Richtel's article it is stated that in 2008, people took in 3 times as much information each day as they did in 1960. It seems like more and more people are becoming more and more dependent on technology. also in Richtel's article technology is compared to food and sex addiction. There is a need for it, however the overuse of it can cause serve problems. In all both articles state how society is using technology more and more and explains how it is altering the way we do things.

"An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness"

Summary
The article “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness” by Tara Parker-Pope describes the impact that technology has on the mind and personality, and how it ultimately can lead to an addiction. It distracts many from doing normal tasks, and they can go through technology withdrawal when deprived of it. Technology can also cause many to hold onto unnecessary past knowledge because everything is saved on computers now. People can become so engulfed in technology that they lose concentration on other aspects of life, like their family and friends.

Reflection
This article focuses on the ways that technology can affect people in a negative way. Avid users can become addicted to the Internet, which means they are too concentrated on the Internet. This causes them to neglect other aspects of their life, like family, friends, and work. I completely agree with the argument in this article. The country is becoming extremely reliant on technology and when it is unavailable, people become very flustered. Most people panic when their phone dies or they don’t have Internet access for an hour. Many restaurants offer free Internet while you eat. What happened to the importance of bonding with your family during your meal? If you go into any restaurant, you will see children playing video games on their portable players, teenagers texting, and parents checking their e-mail on their Blackberrys. The Internet also affects work habits. How many adults admit to shopping online or paying their bills online during work hours? Ask any college student how their paper is going and they’re sure to say that they’ve been distracted by Facebook. While social networking sites and texting are great ways of keeping in touch, they cut into people’s daily lives. Schools have strict anti-phone policies, because texting in class distracts the students from learning. People would rather talk to their friends on Facebook than spend actual time together. Technology is extremely beneficial, but it affects other crucial aspects of life.

Tie-In
The article by Tara Parker-Pope establishes that excessive use of the Internet and technology can lead to “Internet dependence.” Nicholas Carr’s article describes that effects that excessive use can cause. So in relation, Parker-Pope’s article describes what excessive Internet use can cause, primarily an addiction to the Internet, and Carr describes the effects of excessive Internet use, such as difficulties with reading. Internet addiction is caused when the use of Internet gets in the way with people’s daily lives. The Internet and technology can interfere with family, friends, and work. Nicholas Carr also believes that long-term use of the Internet can affect people’s minds. He tells in his article about his troubles with reading. Many people can encounter problems with reading, like being unable to read and digest long pieces of work. People are so used to reading short articles online that they lose the patience to sit down and actually read a novel. It also affects the way people think. People just browse though articles now, instead of reading the entire text to understand fully what the work is about. In Parker-Pope’s article, Dr. Aboujaoude believes that because everything is saved on computers now, it is hard for people to de-clutter their minds from all their stored information. This prevents them from being able to retain new information. Not only is the Internet making us lazy when it comes to reading, but it affects the way we think.

An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness - Summary, Reflection, and Tie-in

SUMMARY:

Some of the key points I found in "An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness" by Pope were that the exposure to the new technologies in the world causes a reshape in personalities, and people have become dependent of the Internet, and some "addicted." Popes says that some students get a comfortable feeling by texting and emailing their friends and without technology they would feel alone and secluded from life. Using the Internet is a way of life.

REFLECTION:

I agree with what Pope is saying about technology today. Many people find the use of the Internet as a way of "escaping" and it is true because I find myself going on my computer many times during the day when I am bored and checking my Facebook to see who is doing what and where. I do agree that the Internet is distracting. While I do my homework at night I constantly go on the computer and stop my homework and stay on the computer for hours on end. Sometimes I have to deactivate my Facebook just so I can finish my homework for the week. I find it crazy that people have become dependent of the Internet but it is true. No one really reads the newspaper anymore, no one talks on the phone for hours at a time anymore, and the news basically talks about what has been on the Internet for days now. The Internet is the way people get information anymore without asking anyone but Google. I find that Pope's statements are true to the fact that the Internet is becoming a dependency, making people impatient to finish their work, and seeming to forget everything going on around them other than the screen in front of them.

TIE-IN:

Pope and Carr's articles are very similar because they both talk about the changing of people's personalities when using the Internet. Pope talks about how the Internet makes our personalities more "high speed" and impatient when it comes to young children whose brains function slower than adults. Carr talks about how using the Internet has made him have trouble reading lengthy articles and his ability to stay focused for long periods of time has decreased since using the Internet. Pope and Carr both agree that people have become addicted to the Internet and are using it way too much. Pope thinks that the Internet is like an eating disorder where people can learn to control their use and moderate their time. Carr believes that the usage and change is just going to get worse in the generations to come. Both articles represent the Internet's effects on society and both authors know that the problem cannot be solved and will only get worse.

Better Late then Never. Summary, tie in and reaction to Getting Smarter by Jamais Cascio

Getting Smarter by Jamais Cascio

Summary: Cascio makes the imperitave point that it is within human nature to adapt and get smarter. Millions of years ago humans got better at hunting not by being predictors, but by getting smarter. He talks about how human's surroundings inevitably change though this time around we do not need to rely on the natural surroundings to show us change. We don't need to wait for evolutionary change or anything so drastic, rather, we can rely upon ourselves to become smarter. He makes mention of Carr's piece Is Google Making Us Stupid? and rather, making the point that while there are downfalls (ie. the ADD that comes with it) that we just have access to so much more information. Finally he closes the article with saying that new technology such as robots and other exceptionally different and brilliant inventions will be part of our future lives, and that we just need to accept it.

Reaction: I loved everything Cascio had to say. I enjoyed the points he made about our evolution as man. Possibly my favorite point of the whole article was proving how irrational some people's fears truly are. He specifically talks about today's Best Buy customer and how they're aware how today's technology is just tomorrow's junk. It kind of brought me around to agreeing with him, I even smiled a little because you just realize how absurd some people truly are. He also talks about Twitter, one of the most predominant tools in my daily life. He talks about how it can evolve to attention filters and we can see the things we want to see most. Furthermore that these tools are garnered to help us and will along the line, be filtered more precisely. Overall, I think the article is full of information that doesn't make one and only one point, rather it has a million things to focus and build upon. He talks about Twitter, Wikipedia, how quickly things change and the pace of human nature amongst a slew of other incredibly useful things. His points will only further inspire my Signature Essay.

Tie In: Is Google Making Us Stupid? Written by Nicholas Carr was a significant part of Cascio's piece. He makes mention of how yes, things are changing and our brains are acting significantly different than in the past. Cascio brings it back to talk about how there is so much more for us to use. There are echo's of Cascio's voice in talking about how it is human nature to change and adapt, and we are smart enough now to do it ourselves. Most importantly Cascio talks about how there is a cure for Carr's "self induced ADD" chemically. (Is that the answer to everything, medicine? Remains to be seen.) Overall, it is human nature to go with what has been presented. When the heards of food moved, so did the nomads of the past. With technology, we accept with what is being presented to us and learning how to use it properly and to our advantage. It is our nature and instincts to do what is best for our survival and learn change.