TOOLS THAT CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK

"Back in 2004, I asked [Google founders] Page and Brin what they saw as the future of Google search. 'It will be included in people's brains,' said Page. 'When you think about something and don't really know much about it, you will automatically get information.'

'That's true,' said Brin. 'Ultimately I view Google as a way to augment your brain with the knowledge of the world. Right now you go into your computer and type a phrase, but you can imagine that it could be easier in the future, that you can have just devices you talk into, or you can have computers that pay attention to what's going on around them and suggest useful information.'

'Somebody introduces themselves to you, and your watch goes to your web page,' said Page. 'Or if you met this person two years ago, this is what they said to you... Eventually you'll have the implant, where if you think about a fact, it will just tell you the answer."

-From In the Plex by Steven Levy (p.67)

Modern technology has changed the way I think; in good and bad ways. It has definitely made my patience shorter. When I want to know something I can type it into a Google search and get a plethora of answers in less than a second. The real world isn't like that and I think it has messed with my problem solving skills a little bit. In AP classes, we are constantly told to be critical thinking problem solvers. When trying to solve a problem, it's much easier to take the easy route and look up a solution, or a road to the solution, online. Instead of taking the time to sit with a homework problem for awhile and use problem solving skills to work it out, I find myself often going to the Internet for a quicker solution. My Iphone doesn't help my memory at all. I don't have any phone numbers memorized because I don't need to since they're all saved in my phone. Birthdays, deadlines, and other important calendar items aren't stored in my memory but are stored in my phone. I don't actively remember as much because my phone does that job for me. Multitasking is another thing that has changed with my use of the internet and technology. I'm usually always multitasking. I'm on social media while I do homework and I do homework on the computer while watching TV. Focusing on one thing at a time is a little more difficult.
Of course there are many positive effects as well. I am open to a world of information (or what's in my filter bubble at least) and I can learn about whatever I want. I can instantly learn the meaning of a word I don't know while reading on a kindle. I can participate in an open source learning course. I can have a broader view of the world because I can find every opinion on everything. Being a responsible technology holder is what's important. I can use Facebook for productive purposes or I can use it to waste time (maybe I do a little of both..). The Internet is a tremendously helpful resource but it's up to the individual how harmful or hurtful they make it. Using the Internet has made me more proficient in a lot of areas. If my mom doesn't know how to do something or fix something she will wait for someone else to do it. As a younger person, I know the resources that are available online and I will always try to fix something or figure it out on my own, using the internet before I ask for help.