The internet – the decisive technology of the Information Age – is making its way in an attempt to make life easier for people and undeniably, it is very effective in doing so. However, in the article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Nicholas Carr talks about how that artificial intelligence is taking over our own genuine intelligence. He discusses the changes that have occurred in people since the internet became a universal medium to access information. Carr’s main purpose is to make us aware that the internet is having negative effects that diminish our capacity of concentration and contemplation. In his thesis he states that “as we come to rely on computers to meditate out understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens …show more content…
As a faculty member of the University of Michigan Medical School and a pathologist, Bruce Freidman elaborates that he had once been able to read War and Peace, but now even a “blog post of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb.” That he had lost the ability to concentrate and he had the habit to skim through pieces of literature to get the point across. Carr uses this story to induce disbelief and doubt in the reader. This proves that, a person who was once able to read full-length substances, showing a high level of brain function, no longer has the capability to even read a page of a full length novel. Whereas, on the other hand, Scott Karp admits to have stop reading altogether. Although there are people who do not read at all, it is shocking to believe that Karp had once been a literature major in college. Karp mentions that his lack of desire to read maybe because of the way he thinks has …show more content…
Although it is not as much present in the article, the slightest bit is seen when he depicts his own experience to the readers. He mentions that the net seems to be chipping away his capacity for concentration and contemplation. Then Carr uses reliable sources to support his claims such as Friedman, a pathologist at the University of Michigan, Marynne Wolf, a developmental psychologist at Tufts University, James Olds, a professor of neuroscience, and even the founders of Google. This makes the reader realize that Carr has read widely and thought deeply about this topic. Which also reflects to the dedication he has put in this
The researchers looked at the behavior of visitors to some popular sites. They stated: Of course users are not reading online in the traditional sense; in fact, there are signs that new forms of "reading" are available as users "navigate into power" horizontally through titles, content pages, and summaries for quick winnings. It almost seems like th Carr's explanation for what is happening is that he says that the human brain is manageable, and how the internet might shapping by rewiring the brain network. He created a concept called "intellectual technologies," which means that we essentially incorporate the technology we possess. Carr uses the mechanical clock as an example of this, saying "helped create the belief in an independent world of mathematically measurable sequences." (Carr). I have explained that this and other techonologies created a powerful division. "By deciding when to eat, work, sleep, climb, stop listening to our senses and begin to obey the clock.ey are online to avoid reading in the traditional
Carr has a more negative opinion about new technology than Cascio. Carr believes the internet and previous technological advancements have caused many changes in society, including reducing people’s ability to focus. Carr says, “What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation.” This is just one of the many times that he blames the internet for the changes that have occurred in the past decade.
The internet is a technology which has had a significant impact on the way many people conduct their lives. Information once contained in massive volumes at libraries or in private collections is now available by typing words into a search engine and clicking “search.” One must no longer pick up a phone to call a friend, relative or colleague; e-mail, instant messaging, Skype and the like, have enabled people to communicate in non-traditional ways and across boundaries previously inaccessible. Nicholas Carr addresses the wonder that is the internet in his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The general direction of the article is a discussion of how intelligent thought patterns seem to be changing; attention spans and critical
Carr attempts to get all of us who read this to really think about this by stating “Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory” (2). He goes on to say that he doesn’t feel like that his brain is working as well as it used to, and attributes it to constant use of the internet. Understandably, most people use the internet more in this day and age, and it can very easily be assumed that this technology is hurting us in some way. Even Clive Thompson said “We're running out of memory. I don't mean computer memory... No, I'm talking about human memory, stored by the gray matter inside our heads. According to recent research, we're remembering
Is Google making us Stupid? Outline Introduction: I. . In the 2008 article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr, he clarifies his views on how he believes the internet is opening the risk of making people full of false knowledge. A. Day after day there stands approximately innovative technological expansion creating its method keen on the world in an effort to create life easier for folks.
Bsically what Carr is trying to say is due to his increase of reading multiple things off the internet, his attentiveness and patience is very slim when reading a book. I can relate to this issue because, when I was a child I would read books all the time. My mother and I would constanly go to the library and check out 4 or 5 books. When I would come home after school and finish my homework ,immediately I wouldgo and grab a book and a snack and just read for hours. My mother was the exact same way. She would lie in bed and read her books about murders and mysteries and next thing you know its 6 going on 7 and she hadn’t even started dinner yet. At that time our minds were captivated by the details and the thrill of what was going to happen next. Now I’m in college and haven’t even been inside the library on campus. Only books I have are the ones I was forced to get for school. My mom only goes to the library to get her books on tape , because she says she can never finish them in time. You would think that this realization would make me stop relying on the internet for
He explains how when reading on the Internet, we go from page to page affecting our concentration. Carr believes that the Internet has caused a lack of concentration in people’s ability to read long articles. Carr gives many examples of the studies that had been done on the enduring effects of the Internet on concentration and contemplation. People’s minds expect to process high speed data like the way the Internet hands out it, so the Internet is doing the work of their minds. Carr admits that the Internet had covered the other intellectual technologies that people use. As a result; it is becoming more important and valuable. Moreover, Carr discusses the role of Google in Internet usage, and its work on building an artificial intelligence which has the potential to display human agency in a variety of industries because of its ability to complete tasks in a much shorter time. Ultimately, Carr concludes that people should not rely on computers because it will demolish their own intelligence with relying so much on the artificial
For over fifteen years, Google has placed countless amounts of information right at the fingertips of people all around the world. With this vast amount of information that Google provides, the opportunity to expand our intellect is very prominent. However, many believe that Google is actually hindering our intellect. In Nicholas Carr’s, Is Google Making Us Stupid, Carr evaluates the effect Google has on learning and acquiring knowledge, and argues that Google is, in fact, hindering our intellect. Google is making us stupid by replacing our own knowledge with an “artificial intelligence,” creates almost a self pride on various issues, and takes away from the value of opening your mind to reading a good book.
Carr brings in Maryanne Wolf a psychologist at a University also a writer to speak on her opinion of matter. Wolf directly said “we are how we read” (Carr), Meaning that if we continue to put technology and that efficiency over education and understanding our mental capabilities will continue to decrease over time, we are seeing people struggling with their abilities to understand the words printed before them, people can't make the same kind of connections from one topic to the other like they used to be and no one can read an entire book let alone an article like this one without getting distracted by the smallest
A little bit about our author Nicholas Carr, he is a well-known American writer, interest in technology and culture. He has published books, essays and blog posts, his work “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” was a 2011 Pulitzer Prize finalist and a New York Times bestseller. He is also a former member of the Encyclopedia Britannica’s editorial board of advisors, he got an M.A., in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University. In “Is Google Making Us Stupid” Carr writes about the impact that the Internet is having on his brains as well as everybody’s brains, by giving himself as an example “I can feel it, too. Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has
In “Is Google Making us stupid”, Carr explains how the brain is malleable and how the internet might be shaping it by literally rewiring the brains network. Carr gives a brief example of how neurons can be made and broke depending on what things shape the way things are done. By being used to instant searching and internet preferences, the brain reprograms itself in being used that certain way. He thinks by using the internet so much, we will become more and more objective and quick thinkers, and ultimately emotionless computers. He also gives examples of how the clock and typewriter changed our way of thinking in the past. Adapting this way will rewire thought processes and continue to dictate how we act. Carr’s theory may be more obvious as we continue to be reliant on technology. (Carr)
The main idea that Carr tries to support throughout his article is that of alteration. Carr takes a stand for the idea that technology, specifically the internet, is the cause of the recent change in the way people think. Throughout Carr’s article, it is clear that the change being referenced is the way people think, read, and ultimately understand what they read in books, magazines, internet, and media. In the article, the author uses his own experiences and detailed accounts of how others feel about the way their minds work since the
The internet has made an immense impact on every generation since its existence as it continues to grow throughout time. Its effectiveness is prodigious; the internet allows people to gain information that once took days to retrieve it in a few minutes (Carr 1). Writer Nicholas Carr, in his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, explains that the use of internet and technology causes harm to people and their brains. Carr’s purpose is to address to internet users that Google (or any electronic helpers) is making them “stupid” and lazy because it minimizes their concentration and willingness to think. He attempts to adapt to his audience, dedicated internet users, as he uses the rhetorical appeals to try to convince them of his purpose. However, this was not enough. Nicholas Carr’s article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?,” is ineffective because of his poor use of ethos and logos despite his good use of pathos.
Humans are becoming more technologically-efficient every day. New inventions and innovations are constantly being made. The Internet is becoming more “reliable” every day. However, how much do we really get from the constant advancement of Internet use and smarter technology? Should we look at their contributions to the world as a benefactor or a curse? The common effect of “artificial intelligence” in the technology we use every day is examined by two brilliant authors, Nicholas Carr and Jamias Cascio. In Carr’s article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, he explains the effects of the Internet and technology in our society and claims that the overuse of technology is dangerous and can affect how our mind operates. Jamias Cascio, on the other
In the article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, the main argument the author, Nicholas Carr is trying to make is to explain how the Internet becomes our only source of information. Carr is also trying to warn oncoming generations in how the Internet has affected our ability to read long pieces or to be able to retain information for a long period of time. Carr provides personal experience, imagery, and a professional analysis that is backed by research to hook the audience in and persuade them that in today’s society, the Internet is only causing problems rather than any solutions.Throughout the article Carr provides an abundant amount of rhetorical modes by giving examples and studies from different organizations . Carr gives an insight on the positive ways the Internet had influenced his life.