Nicholas Carr (6/23/10)

What's the Internet Doing to Our Brains?

Nicholas Carr, Author, The Shallows

In conversation with Peter Norvig, Director of Research, Google

"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski." Carr uses this allegory in his Atlantic Monthly cover story "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" and makes the case that the Internet has diminished our ability to think deeply. Carr, an outspoken anti-Wikipedia activist, will share his theory on the Internet as the culprit against civilization's progress. Are our brains re-routed? What is the cost of information efficiency? Join us as this best-selling author presents his perspective on the side effects of the World Wide Web.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Commonwealth Club
• Nicholas Carr
• internet
• google
• the shallows

[Iphinia]

im reading Carr's The Shallows, it's a great book ! Also reading Wajcman, Granovetter, Boyd and Ellison's researches...fantastic...and thinking about STS, SNSs, weak ties...

[Anarkokommunist]

Thumbs up if you are reading and/or doing other stuff on the web while listening to this.

[SlugChristie]

@Canonpixmalogitechko Yeah, but most people are watching skateboarding dogs on the Internet.

[dartek14]

Clearly this new adaptation for us plebes is a new occurrence in the human species. We need only ponder the brilliant among us ... think on their extraordinary ability to digest reams of information. They have many books on the go at the same time long before the internet. Speaking engagements. Magazines TV, film. Many of such have dotting mothers who were teachers, librarians etc. Well now us underachievers can feed that hole called "NEED TO KNOW" Stand back you academic bums get a real job!

[rickoshields]

I can see his point that the "cognitive intensity" of internet reading, combined with multiple distractions, might lead to shallower reading; but let's take a look at the "other end of the stick."

I believe this "cognitive intensity" could also lead to evolutionary pressure favoring those who can handle the increased intensity. I think a very persuasive argument could be made that internet style reading would favor humans with minds able to handle these higher loads.

[Canonpixmalogitechko]

Ironically, I'm watching this interview on the internet. Sure, there are some negative aspects of the internet, but his underlying assumption that if someone wasn't using the internet for learning, they would be using that time for more in-depth learning is flawed. i.e, if I wasn't watching this interview, I'd be watching some bullshit sitcom on TV.