In the Nicholas Carr clip around 15:00, what he says about memory and thought processes in a brain is a very similar idea to a computer process. Computers have a hierarchy of data storages (large storage is slower, and vice versa), and a sufficiently complex program typically has to manage/organize the large data structures by processing a little bit at a time (by means of an algorithm). For example, if the processor lost some data it was using to sort the larger data, the program would likely fail.
Brains are cooler than computer chips because when the brain runs any program, it will restructure itself to be more efficient at that program. In contrast to a chip, the wires are soldered on and require an imperfect programmer to tune the algorithm. Modern digital computers also have a very limited set of inputs and outputs, whereas a brain receives data from a well-connected nervous system, and can output through a very complex biological body.
As for short-term, shallow thought, I think many games do inculcate such a style of thinking. But there are some games that do the opposite! Most of my favorite games have many moments of quick and broad thinking, but also have parts where the player is encouraged to do some deeper thinking.
that is exactly what i am experiencing myself. I still know my first fone number and that of my grandma an aunt (05205-6852, 174714, 175117...) and I had every number of my friends present all the time. Since the smartphone, this ability is gone, most people do not even know their own number. And I have problems to remember the numbers, because it is not neccessary anymore. In former times, when i met somebody that was interesting, I just had to listen to the number one time and it was there.
Same with information. So much information ever day, that i do not remember stuff from 2 days ago. And why should I? I could go back on the interenet and read it again or listen too....if I could remember where I read it :( Yes, we are dumbed down, we do not learn to use our brains as a storing device anymore and we are not capable of storing memory. That is very bad. We even lost our familly memory. We hardly know our grandparents, but that´s it.
Well stated problem, but without the completeness of an actual article - where are the suggested solutions? Where are the rebuttals of the benefits of data at your fingertips?
excellent, well articulated and pure fact.
In the Nicholas Carr clip around 15:00, what he says about memory and thought processes in a brain is a very similar idea to a computer process. Computers have a hierarchy of data storages (large storage is slower, and vice versa), and a sufficiently complex program typically has to manage/organize the large data structures by processing a little bit at a time (by means of an algorithm). For example, if the processor lost some data it was using to sort the larger data, the program would likely fail.
Brains are cooler than computer chips because when the brain runs any program, it will restructure itself to be more efficient at that program. In contrast to a chip, the wires are soldered on and require an imperfect programmer to tune the algorithm. Modern digital computers also have a very limited set of inputs and outputs, whereas a brain receives data from a well-connected nervous system, and can output through a very complex biological body.
As for short-term, shallow thought, I think many games do inculcate such a style of thinking. But there are some games that do the opposite! Most of my favorite games have many moments of quick and broad thinking, but also have parts where the player is encouraged to do some deeper thinking.
A quick, thought provoking article, thanks!
that is exactly what i am experiencing myself. I still know my first fone number and that of my grandma an aunt (05205-6852, 174714, 175117...) and I had every number of my friends present all the time. Since the smartphone, this ability is gone, most people do not even know their own number. And I have problems to remember the numbers, because it is not neccessary anymore. In former times, when i met somebody that was interesting, I just had to listen to the number one time and it was there.
Same with information. So much information ever day, that i do not remember stuff from 2 days ago. And why should I? I could go back on the interenet and read it again or listen too....if I could remember where I read it :( Yes, we are dumbed down, we do not learn to use our brains as a storing device anymore and we are not capable of storing memory. That is very bad. We even lost our familly memory. We hardly know our grandparents, but that´s it.
Well stated problem, but without the completeness of an actual article - where are the suggested solutions? Where are the rebuttals of the benefits of data at your fingertips?