Regarding how technology is shaping neural processing. check out this David Brooks article, The Outsourced Brain, from one year ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/opinion/26brooks.html <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/opinion/26brooks.html> "...I had thought that the magic of the information age was that it allowed us to know more, but then I realized the magic of the information age is that it allows us to know less. It provides us with external cognitive servants - silicon memory systems, collaborative online filters, consumer preference algorithms and networked knowledge. We can burden these servants and liberate ourselves." And now that we are liberated, there are smart phone memory games and Web apps popping up to help us exercise our brains and mitigate memory loss. - Joel Tachau
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Joel Eden Sent: Thu 12/4/2008 10:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alterationof the Modern Mind I would recommend Andy Clark's book Natural Born Cyborgs, where he discusses the idea that "technology" has always been so tightly integrated as part of all levels of thinking, cognition, etc, and it's just that with digital, or "high tech" technology it becomes more visible. Natural Born Cyborgs is the popular science version of his work, so for those further interested, I would recommend his more academic treatments of it, e.g. his new book, Supersizing the Mind. Natural Born Cyborgs: Minds, Technologies, and the Future of Human Intelligence http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Born-Cyborgs-Technologies-Future-Intelligence/dp/0195177517/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228404504&sr=8-3 Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension http://www.amazon.com/Supersizing-Mind-Embodiment-Cognitive-Philosophy/dp/0195333217/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228404541&sr=8-1 Joel On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have recently come across a book written by Gary Small called "iBrain: > Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind". > The book is about the technologies that have become part of our daily > lives are changing the way we think. According to a local newspaper the > book tells us that ggogle and youtube actually makes us dumber. > > Key concepts of the book: > *The brain's plasticity-its ability to change in response to stimuli from > the environment-is well known. What has been less appreciated is how the > expanding use of technology is shaping neural processing. > > *Young people are exposed to digital stimulation for several hours every > day, and many older adults are not far behind. > > *Even using a computer for Web searches for just an hour a day changes the > way the brain processes information. A constant barrage of e-contacts is > both stimulating-sharpening certain cognitive skills-and draining, studies > show. > > I have NOT yet bought the book but WILL do very soon. After reading its > reviews, I highly recommend it. > -- ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
