“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.