Wednesday, May 29, 2013
nicholas carr - the shallows
clocks, separated and allowed us to measure
the book, reading, word space - freed our minds up to go very deep into the text
10 min - paying attention to one thing for a long period of time - unnatural - the book allowed that to be changed
the internet has the opposite effect.. it inundates us with distraction - a hypermedia - hypertext system - multi-media, can bring all together simultaneously, powerful messaging/interrupting system - instantaneous, promotes multi-tasking
we crave new info, we like to be interrupted
problem with distractions - overrides the mental processes that are important to the formation of deep thoughts, moving from short term memory into long term memory - only in long term memory do we make rich connections
if constantly distracted, we never pay enough attention
even if you don't click on a hyper link - it interrupts because you have to decide if you are going to link.
[what if rich critical thinking needs more of the zoom out, non-linear connections]
benefits - increase visual acuity, helps expand the capacity of short term memory
brains are always adapting - at a deep level - plasticity -
[what if the connected existence is more attentive.. what if it brings us closer to people.. less with our nose in books.. in writing.. more doing/being.... ?? ]
31 - adaption to the internet -
[what if the brain is naturally more similar to the internet, than to the book.., the perpetual beta - ness]
look at how inhua
34 - giving up -
[what-- what we're giving up today has been manufactured... no?]
35 - maybe we're losing something important - at the individual level - you need to decide
36 - [not sure that the internet is the means behind our focus on efficiency.. what if it's our way out]
37 - sophisticated forms of empathy - takes time to form - constant distractions could prevent us from having those deep emotions
38 - clifford nass research -
[what if the distraction help us find what matters most... and then ongoingly - decision every second refines what matters]
40 - if attentive ability is rare - that makes him want to make sure everyone is exposed to it to see if it's them?
41:50 - moving from the page to the stream
42 - the discipline to think when all the distractions are going on -
43:57 - able to follow a link - keep adding features - cripple device
[what if that's what helps us go deep - rabbit hole deep]
48 - keep computers out of schools for earlier grades..
49 - texting all day
[what's that about - isn't it about connection]