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.