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.