The author contends that technological advancement is making humans “smarter” by expanding their capacity for cooperative thought.
We’ve reached a level of conversational thought that makes it possible for us to share our perspectives. Thompson cites numerous prominent minds throughout time, Socrates, in particular, because he was a proponent for the interchange of ideas and discourse.
Contents
Smarter than You Think: How Technology is Changing Our Minds for the Better
The topic of memory is explored in depth by Thompson. Technology gives us the means to capture our moments and ideas and the abillity to save all of data is “upending” the way we remember, both as individuals and communities.
Computers and search engines are assisting in the process of memory enhancement. Of course, there is also an abundance of data, and the challenge is to discover the data we need.
“Our predecessors learned how to recall; we’ll learn how to forget,” Thompson says, and in doing so, we’re training ourselves to prioritise and focus on what really matters.
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The Craft of Writing is also a Major Focus.
Thompson argues that the Internet has made it possible for him and others to write more frequently because of the accessibility it provides. Internet activities such as emailing, using social networks, blogging, and commenting on blog postings keep us actively engaged in writing.
Of course, the question remains as to the quality of what we are writing and reading, but Thompson puts forth compelling and numerous arguments for his case, including the proliferation of access to reading via eBooks, the Internet, etc.
(I, also, have to admit, that I am reading more on my eReader than I read before, simply because of the immediate and easy accessibility of eBooks.)
Thompson extends his topic of the “social thinking” side to technology throughout the book. The ability to examine anything in detail goes hand in hand with the ability to have an in-depth debate about concepts.
In the realm of entertainment, he gives the example of a watcher of the programme Breaking Bad who, by watching online recaps and employing other Internet resources, uncovered the truth about how one of the main characters had caused a child’s illness. The viewer then started a discussion about his observation online, where it was verified that he was correct.
Thompson shifts gears from showbiz to international politics, providing examples of how the Internet’s social discourse has tipped off the globe to acts of political repression. Again, Thompson remains with a positive theme, but we have to be wary of the darker side to social internet collaboration, where people could use it to achieve their own harmful purposes.
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Conclusion
A intriguing read that should stimulate debate about the pervasiveness of technology in our lives. In one way or another, we are all connected to this topic. Thanks for read our Article Smarter than You Think: How Technology is Changing Our Minds for the Better.