Great commentary, and quite provocative for thought. I see so many people, not just young people, but all ages, walking around my world with their attention focused on a smartphone. Mostly texting. I see some, who have the smartphone capable, texting a conversation with one person and talking with an earpiece to another, and shopping at the mall. A recent study suggests that such multitasking causes brain deformation and destruction of certain parts of the creative side of the brain. It robs imagination. I have long contended that watching movies and television, rather than reading books robs us of our intellectual creativity. And I think I am right. When we read, we imagine the vision that the words provoke in our minds. But when we watch it all on the big screen at home or in the theatre, how much imagination is required? Like anything else, lack of use causes deterioration. Now to technology, social media and texting, and staying plugged into these media while living our daily routines of work and life: Just like texting while driving, our mind will focus more greatly on one thing than others. It generally focuses most on what we like best. Therefore, it is a bad idea to try to carry on a conversation or text while trying to drive a car at highway speeds or in the city traffic. Distraction can kill. Move that thought to the workplace or the classroom. Distraction again. How much work can a person get done if theyre busy texting friends and checking their social media? How much can a student truly learn in a lecture if he or she is busy texting? It goes back to the good old days when I was young and rocks were new. We had rules in class against passing notes, whispering to each other, or doing anything that distracted our attention from what we needed to learn. Even gum chewing seemed to disengage the brain. Bottom line: Some old ideas are still good ideas. I see more and more workplaces that ban use of personal devices such as smartphones and digital notepads. They distract the employees focus from the primary mission--work. It is only logical that even in a class that explores the ideas of social media and new media and tomorrows communications that students ought to remain focused on the work, not play.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:20:56 +0000