When Richtel quotes Volkow in saying, “the technology is rewiring our brains” he does so for multiple reasons. First off the quote is a play on words, using the term ”rewiring” to allude to the technology itself. Although our brains do not have physical wires within them, they way they function is being altered by the constant use of technology and the abilities that given technology offers. Our minds have been changed to desire technology and gadgets as much as food, drinks, alcohol, sex and even drugs. The stimulus that people get from the instant burst of information when using new technology is becoming addictive. People who use technology multiple times on a daily basis are no longer able to just unplug. They are constantly interrupted and distracted from tasks at hand either to check e-mail, Facebook, text messages etc. In essence, technology is changing the way we think, and not necessarily in a positive way.
Throughout the piece, Richtel uses the entire Campbell family and specifically Mr. Campbell to drive home his argument that technology is addictive and is pulling us further and further out of reality. He details Mr. Campbell’s disconnect with his family due to technology. He has become so engrossed in building his business and even video games that he rarely can focus solely on interacting with his family. His son too has become obsessed with his computers to the point where he is falling behind in school. Even while I write this response, I am constantly back and forth between Word, Facebook, my phone and even making food, that what should have taken me 30 minutes has now consumed well over an hour. Many of todays youth can relate to being constantly distracted and not being able to completely focus on the task at hand, similar to what has happened to both Mr. Campbell and his son. Overall the entire family has become too engrossed with technology and it is beginning to impact their lives in a negative fashion.
Richtel also covers the belief that people who are constantly on their technological devices are better multi-taskers and can get more things accomplished at a time. In the piece he uses research done by Mr. Orphir proves that the so called “multi-taskers” are actually less proficient at filtering out irrelevant information. Although I’ve always considered myself a good multi-tasker, this is making me second guess that. I’ve never really struggled in school either. So I guess in the end it has not had a negative effect on my brain but it also may not have had a positive one. Overall Richtel tries to get across his point that technology has a negative outcome on our ability to function in practical circumstances and that there are many misconceptions about abilities that are gained from the use of technology.
No comments:
Post a Comment