aspects of technology and how they affects the brain as well as personal development.

1. HOW TECHNOLOGY IS
AFFECTING US
BY:JESSIE LETTS

2. Technology definition
- the branch of knowledge that
deals with the creation and use of
technical means and their
interrelation with life, society, and
the environment, drawing upon
such subjects as industrial arts,
engineering, applied science, and
pure science.

3. Negative Effects• shallow knowledge
• using technology right after learning something new does not allow the brain to soak
in all the information
• inefficient multitasking
• studies show our ability to judge information as irrelevant is lessened as well as our
ability to manage problems
• fractured attention
• people do not give others full attention due to the amount on time spent on their
devices
• cursory reading
• we no longer read into depth, we skim through readings and rarely have the
patience to read lengthy texts anymore. This does not allow for us to get the full
thought someone was trying to portray

4. Truth
• the problem is not
necessarily in the
technology, it is how
often we use the
technology

5. brain plasticity
• Brain plasticity refers
to the extraordinary
ability of the brain to
modify its own
structure and function
following changes
within the body or in
the external
environment
(BrainFacts, 2012).

6. brain plasticity• Our brains morph with extensive use of technology among
other things
• changes our ability to make accurate judgements
• changes the way we feel emotions
• may become “less human” due to our brains becoming
cognitive machines
• what makes us human is the connections between the
mind and body, our experiences that shape our
memory, thinking and emotion.
• to avoid this, complete tasks that involve wisdom, do
not use your smartphone for every question you need
an answer to

7. Social interaction
• technology closes that gap between distant people,
and increases distance in close people
• oral communication is becoming less evident
• people spend their time on social media rather than
communicate
• cannot tell the tone of people voices via social media
which can cause negative altercations
• technology has lots of negative effects but it is very
good for business advertisements due to the level of
activity on social media

8. personal development• less interaction means less experiences to
base your thoughts on
• interaction is a major part of personal
development
• it shapes our personality
• it allows for us to build relationships with
others

9. Education
• education levels are deteriorating
• time that should be spent listening in class or
doing homework is spent using technology
• all the answers are found online, lessening the
odds of people having to actually think of the
answers
• less respect for lectures because the same
information can be found online

10. social media
• social media causes
problems such as cyber
bullying
• people share their personal
opinions via social media. If
someone disagrees with this
opinion it could spark an
argument.
• if opinions were shared in
person, the altercation likely
would not happen. People
tend to feel more confident
online

11. symbolic interactionism
theory

12. symbolic interactionism
theory
• a sociological perspective
that emphasizes that
human behaviour is
influenced by definitions
and meanings that are
created and maintained
through symbolic
interaction with others

13. Cont.
• this theory suggests that we are shaped by social
interaction
• we find ourselves by the way others interact with
each other and the way they label us
• technology takes away this social interaction
therefore does not allow us to shape our
personalities properly
• technology affects our memory, attention, what
we focus on, and our sleep (the Age, 2015).

14. Labelling theory
• as long as something is labelled as “fun” or “in
style”, people will continue with that fad
• technology is not only a fad, but it creates
more
• if people do not take part in social media
for example, they may get made fun of, or
miss out on the new “cool” thing

15. CONT.
• this can create social problems because the
more fortunate people may be able to afford
more therefore a higher social rank
• example: someone may have a laptop of the
HP brand, but the person with the macbook
will look down on the HP

16. Probable solutions
• do not make wifi available for free
• set ground rules as a family. Only allowed
phones at certain times, only allowed certain
amount of television

17. References
• Horvath, A. (2015, June 4). How does technology affect our brains? Retrieved April 03,
2016, from http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/voice/how-does-technology-
affect-our-brains-20150604-3x5uq.html
• Is Technology Destroying our Brains? | Mystera. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
http://www.mystera-magazine.com/article/technology-destroying-our-brains
• Lewis, T. (2015). Here's what science says about how digital technology REALLY affects
our brains. Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.businessinsider.com/how-digital-
technology-affects-our-brains-2015-8
• The effect of smart phones on social interaction. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
http://www.academia.edu/4661907/The_effect_of_smart_phones_on_social_interaction
• What is brain plasticity, and can it help relieve psychiatric or degenerative
brain disorders? (2012, April 23). Retrieved April 3, 2016 from
http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-
expert/articles/2012/what-is-brain-plasticity