W7.2 Is the Internet Making Us Stupid or Smarter?
Is the Internet Making Us Stupid or Smarter?
Like all popular press books, The Shallows Links to an external site. (by Nicholas Carr) has certainly gotten its share of media hype for its catch phrase: Is the Internet Making Us Stupid? With every book like this, I think it's important to balance your reading with a book that tries to prove the opposite point. For this book, I'd recommend Clay Shirky's book, Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age Links to an external site.. They are both good books. Both authors make valid points. But the world is not so black and white.
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Below are 1-hour talks from both authors. Consider each of these a summary of their points in the book.
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Description (from WGHBForum): Technology commentator Nicholas Carr discusses his book, "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains," presented by Harvard Book Store. Is use of the Internet causing us to lose the ability to concentrate and think deeply? Drawing from philosophy, neuroscience, and history, "The Shallows" explores how the Internet may be rerouting neural pathways. The Shallows - What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
Links to an external site.
Description (from SingularityU): During his lecture at Singularity University's 2011 Graduate Studies Program, Shirky talked about the emergence of global interconnectedness and its effects on business, culture and human rights. Individuals are now able to transcend their immediate environment to work with people around the world based on shared interests and ideals. It's led to platforms like Ushahidi, which collects, aggregates, and mines data about inhumane and corrupt political events; and Linux, the operating system developed under the model of free and open source software distribution. Platforms that constrain themselves to people "in house' are missing out, as Sun Microsystem co-counder Bill Joy famously remarked: "no matter who you are, most of the smartest people work for someone else." Clay Shirky on the Potential of Cognitive Surplus
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