For a long time now I have had this idea about technology changing our brains... but maybe what I really mean is that it changes the way we think. I guess I would have to be a neuro-scientist to talk about changing the pathways that messages take when they go through the brain, so I will just talk about changing the way we think. This last week I have been really struck by a few things and I want to note them here so that I can go back to them later:
- Mentality-For example cutting and pasting used to involve scissors and paste and I only thought of it when I had paper, scissors, and paste. Now I do it ALL of the time to fix things. I find myself thinking that cutting and pasting might be a solution to all kinds of problems, but it isn't always possible.
- Communication-Cell Phones and answering machines have changed our total way of thinking about communicating. I see it intergenerationally. My mother's generation thinks it is rude that some people use their answering machine to filter their calls. Her generation thinks it is rude to call someone after 9 pm in the evening because it might bother them. My son's generation thinks that it is rude to answer a call if you really don't want to talk at that time.
- Availability of Answers-My mother's generation thinks that it is OK not to know something and that there is a lot that is unknowable. They do not value asking questions. They are VERY protective of their private information. My son's generation thinks that EVERYTHING is knowable and that there are no secrets really. In any conversation when there is a question they go right to Google. They wear their lives on their sleeves and assume that it is not a big deal (just look at My Space).
- Accuracy of Information-My mother's generation thinks that public information MUST be accurate and correct. Politicians must be VERY careful what they say in public (i.e. the Edwards blogging scandal) Computer programmers decry the lack of careful documentation. My son's generation is moving too fast to care about how accurate public information is. It is OK to say what you think and to change your mind. Misspelling is not a big deal. Programmers are rushing to keep up with what is new and do not have time or inclination to document everything.
2 comments:
Janice,
I think your observations are very on-target.
I'd add that kids are moving cell phone use to another level. Most of the ones I know text one another rather than talk on the phone. Or they im or post on their Facebook where and when they are getting together for the evening. I wonder how this changes the conversational opportunities when it's so much more text based than verbal?
From my own experiences instant messaging, I can say that sometimes the text-based conversation can be more meaningful--somehow having to communicate in just one dimension adds creativity and sometimes depth to your communications.
Now, certainly that's not necessarily true for text-messaging. The other thing that strikes me about that is that students are choosing NOT to interrupt the flow of what they are doing. Phone calls, to be sure, are disruptive. You can read a text message, respond, and go on. So in a way, they are controlling their time in a completely different manner than in the past.
Interesting concepts. Thanks for the thoughts.
Thanks for your insights. I had not thought about how much texting changes things. I think the issue of how time is used is HUGE. Interesting...
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