Comments on: Are Machines Dumbing Us Down? http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/09/are-machines-dumbing-us-down/ How human ingenuity is changing the way we live Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Kathy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/09/are-machines-dumbing-us-down/comment-page-1/#comment-429 Kathy Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:36:58 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=436#comment-429 I work with young brains aged 12-14 that have grown up with technology. They have the same general cognitive ability as generations that grew up before them. What has changed IMO is their skill set and methods. I believe that there are pros and cons to both a high tech learning environment and a low tech learning environment. Hopefully, we can harness the advantages of both environments. I have noticed that many drivers these days seem to ignore signs. I don't know if this is due to low reading skills, paying attention to a GPS and ignoring road signs, or an attitude that they don't have to adhere to the rules. It is probably a combination of all three. I work with young brains aged 12-14 that have grown up with technology. They have the same general cognitive ability as generations that grew up before them. What has changed IMO is their skill set and methods. I believe that there are pros and cons to both a high tech learning environment and a low tech learning environment.
Hopefully, we can harness the advantages of both environments.

I have noticed that many drivers these days seem to ignore signs. I don’t know if this is due to low reading skills, paying attention to a GPS and ignoring road signs, or an attitude that they don’t have to adhere to the rules. It is probably a combination of all three.

]]> By: PrescottAuburn http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2011/09/are-machines-dumbing-us-down/comment-page-1/#comment-428 PrescottAuburn Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:30:59 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=436#comment-428 I just attended a lecture at U.C.S.D. Medical school on aging and the brain. (See: Gary Small) They addressed the Atlantic article specifically. They did research to look into whether or not this was neurologically true, at least, and found that the elderly that were using the internet, and such, were better off in terms of brain function, than those that were not. Measured brain function in brain scans showed more activity. A number of us high fived each other. I just attended a lecture at U.C.S.D. Medical school on aging and the brain. (See: Gary Small) They addressed the Atlantic article specifically. They did research to look into whether or not this was neurologically true, at least, and found that the elderly that were using the internet, and such, were better off in terms of brain function, than those that were not. Measured brain function in brain scans showed more activity. A number of us high fived each other.

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