Question Is internet making us lose our skills to exercise our brain ? Human brain is an amazing thing. What we call intelligence puzzled scientists for decades. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not reach any level close to a human brain any time soon. Humans are amazing at things like object-oriented recognition. Our ability to recognize faces is a daunting task for a computer. With conferences, and journals dedicated to this topics, 100s of researchers couldnt even get us to the point, where there is a pattern recognition system that is as good as a human ... On the other hand, human brain is pathetic at tasks like multiplying two three- digit numbers. Who can calculate the result of 467*342 in less than a minute ? A computer can do a billion of these in a second ! Why so ? Because, human brain is simply not designed for these tasks, since it is not vital to survival. Object recognition is ... If you cant immediately recognize a lion attacking you, you have much bigger problems than knowing that, the lion is 1% bigger than the average ! With the internet, we now have a perfect world. We can do internet searches, we barely have to go to libraries anymore, we have our smartphones telling us when an appointment is due, and remember phone numbers. I wouldnt know my wifes phone number, if it wasnt programmed into my smartphone. If my smartphone died, I wouldnt be able to call my wife !!! Being so reliant on computers is great, in that, we are using the technology to help us. But, I cant stop asking myself, if this is making us lose the ability of our brain to perform other functions that we would otherwise be good at ? For example, remembering things. Even being responsible for remembering things ? Or, am I over-thinking this? Oct 18, 2013 TOPICS Internet Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Education Answer Share 37 / 1 · 106 ANSWERS · 925 VIEWS POPULAR ANSWERS Sanjib Das Sanjib Das · 3.79 · University of Tennessee One of the best things about internet is that we can communicate, give/take feedback too fast. For example, using ResearchGate, I can ask about some particular topic related to my research and get important feedback/suggestions from experienced people all over the world and think about those suggestions. Using internet, I can easily get to know the most recent developments on a particular field of research and better think of further development instead of doing the same thing somebody else has already did. There are many ways Internet helps us brainstorm, think better on new and good ideas. 14 / 0 · Oct 31, 2013 · Flag Mohammad Firoz Khan Mohammad Firoz Khan · 56.58 · Jamia Millia Islamia To me internet interactions sharpen ones skills from expertise and experience of others, if one follow them earnestly as experiences shared by elderly with children make them wise in their life. 12 / 0 · Dec 12, 2013 · Flag ALL ANSWERS (106) Show full discussion Show previous comments Bridget Akin-Otiko Bridget Akin-Otiko · 5.28 · 1.44 · University of KwaZulu-Natal I think the use of internet might have weakened the ‘manual numerical skills’ of some of us who were previously not inclined towards manually handling numbers but definitely it has enhanced our skills in appreciating and manipulating numbers through the use of various applications thus demystifying calculations. I agree with the previous comments on mismanagement of time saved from use of internet by the younger ones; probably program developers should ensure that their products build the total-man (mental, physical, social and spiritual) such that every activity on the internet positively affects the user all-round. 4 / 0 · 14 hours ago Andrzej Szymanski Andrzej Szymanski · 71.38 · 193.86 · Poznan University of Technology Hanno, Like you, I agree with the analysis carried out by Muhammad Bhatti. I believe, however, that for clarity the case, the additional comment is needed here. The situation which concerns the analysis of Muhammad (analysis, with which we agree), is a pathological situation. Unfortunately, the people (usually those of the younger generation, for which wine to some extent also falls on the elderly people - that is also on us), make wrong choices and wrong assessment of the usefulness of the Internet, voluntarily. From the Internet, the people selected what is light, easy and fun, intentionally abandoning his content, which is ambitious, creative and expanding the thought horizons. 5 / 1 · 13 hours ago Irena White Irena White · 2.84 · Flinders University I feel that we are over-thinking this question and, indeed, heading for analysis paralysis in this discussion. The many wonderful research tools available online help us to organise information like never before. To exploit what the Internet enables what we need are better research skills and less reliance on memory, which at best has never been a totally reliable source unless of course you are one of those rare people who has an Eidetic memory. Rather than becoming reliant on computers and our often flawed memories alone, becoming more reliant on and effective with our skills to source, organise and analyse information is where we need to direct our own and our students use of the Internet. Sadly, the digital literacy competencies for this are not well understood, rarely taught in our schools and when they are, they are taught briefly and by librarians rather than teachers. 3 / 0 · 11 hours ago Hansika Kapoor Hansika Kapoor · 16.00 · Monk Prayogshala @Tolga: Thanks for the question share :) The way technological advancements are affecting our cognitive faculties has been bothering me as well. Memory, attention, concentration, planning and even problem-solving are becoming more malleable and their development is being influenced by technology - whether hand-held or not. Evolutionarily speaking, yes we were better at certain faculties than others, since they had been hardwired into our systems. And i think weve retained them in todays world too. For instance, object localisation can apply to finding your smartphone too. Although the content and contexts in which these faculties are being used is changing, perhaps the underlying process is still the same? 3 / 0 · 9 hours ago Naveen Sathyan Naveen Sathyan · 23.86 · 1.13 · Cochin University of Science and Technology I think most of us have made up their minds to blame the Internet and advancement in technology for making us lazy. But may I ask, is it not we who decide how to use a tool. If you think remembering phone numbers is a good exercise for you brain, dont feed the numbers to your mobile phones, just memorize it. If you feel going to library is better than surfing on net, go to library. Being lazy or depending too much on technology is purely a personal choice, we only have ourselves to blame for it..... @Tolga...Good one...I forgot about the apps. Stop using all the apps in the market my friend..... Regards. Modified 7 hours ago by the author 3 / 0 · 7 hours ago Mohamed Essa Musthafa Mohamed Essa Musthafa · 25.63 · 57.03 · Sultan Qaboos University Hello I think the internet, technology and other apps made us lazy. Also our brain is not utilizing for the storage of numbers or names or contacts due to these applications. All the time the technologies have advantage and disadvantage. We have to think and choose which is really needed for us. 3 / 0 · 7 hours ago Patrick Low Patrick Low · 26.23 · 13.13 · University of the South Pacific Greetings. For me, whether we become LAZY or otherwise and use our brains more depends very much on each of us, You make the choice. You decide whether you want to learn and exercise your brain or lose your brains - not exercising it. You have your OWN CHOICE. You are the master of your destiny. 5 / 0 · 7 hours ago Roger Achkar Roger Achkar · 12.98 · 3.85 · American University of Science and Technology Lebanon I agree with Patrick. Internet can be a very rich source of knowledge. It is up to us to use it in a good way and to help our brain evolve or to use it in a very bad way. 3 / 0 · 5 hours ago Dhiraj Nikumbh Dhiraj Nikumbh · 5.07 · ACPM Medical College i agree with Mohammad,,but its a two edge sword you can used it by proper ways to increase the depth of knowledge,,, communicate with people,, but surely the reading is decreased now a days...... 2 / 0 · 5 hours ago · Flag Tobias Ntuli Tobias Ntuli · 17.72 · 15.44 · University of South Africa The internet is only making work more comfortable and/or convenient! Intelligence - thoughts: ideas, information and/or knowledge and/or analysis and/or thought processes: logic; assumption, conclusion deduction, induction, inference, presumption etc. - will possibly and/or probably be not affected! Modified Just now by the author 4 / 0 · an hour ago
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:17:33 +0000
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