1. A HIGH-TECH WORLD, GOOD OR BAD?
Criticar cualquier avance no es nada nuevo. En tiempos de los romanos ya
ocurría. Los primeros teatros, por ejemplo, se consideraron lugares
peligrosos. Más tarde fue la imprenta lo que causó pánico. Ahora toca a las
nuevas tecnologías.
CAN TECHNOLOGY CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK?
Absolutely. Computers’ effects on the mind are still controversial, but the
advent of literacy was also dramatic. Pre-literate epic poets, from Homer to
the Hebrides, remembered countless hours of poetry. Since reading became
common, however, we don’t need to remember so much: we can download
information and stories into written text, saving brainpower for other things.
IS WEB BROWSING BAD FOR US?
Newspapers, teachers and parents complain that children are glued to
computer screens they can’t concentrate, can’t write, and indulge in moronic
chat, dumb gamesand sick websites.
Neuroscientist Susan Greenfield believes technology is turning us into
“nobodies”, absorbed in abstract surfing, gaming and chatting, and losing
contact with ourselves.
“People take on more than they can handle and lose the ability to think in
depth” warns Edward Hallowell, author of the book Crazybusy. Cognitive
scientist David E. Mayer agrees: “Multitasking slows you down. It increases
the chances of mistakes.”
Others worry about moral content: China censors Google, and Venezuela
recently banned TV show The Simpsons as “bad for kids” (replacing it with
repeats” of Baywatch).