Google Does Not Make Us Stupid - Essay Example

Google Does Not Make Us Stupid In 2008, one of the most popular articles worldwide detailing the effects of theinternet was published. “Is Google making us stupid?” authored by Nicholas Carr evoked streams of debates on the media concerning the internet and, in particular, Google. The author’s motivation in writing the masterpiece was his increasing difficulty in comprehending and concentrating on some text that he had been reading for a long time. He had experienced a decrease on his abilities to create a reflection on the texts content. Carr, therefore, theorized that the internet would have negative impacts on peoples ability to comprehend, contemplate, and learn. I tend to differ with the notion of stupidity arising from Google. Although Google and the internet as a whole are changing us, we are headed for good things. Carr claimed the emergence of the search engine Google carries blame for his acquired inability to pay attention to whatever material he reads. Google provides information within a span of 0.003 seconds and internet users find no use in reading large volumes of books to get information that is already summarized elsewhere (Carr 56). The summaries and appealing presentation of information over the internet are Carrs argument on his reduced attention and inability to read long texts and passages. It is, therefore, apparent that for people who use the internet and its search engines such as Google, they cannot read articles and books with competency. They also cannot take much of their time trying to comprehend what they read (Carr 56-63). Contrary to that, optimistic people will always quote how Google has shaped and reshaped their minds and brains. Google has provided people with means, new tools and ways of accessing information and sharing it with the rest of the world. It, therefore, sounds absurd to think of Google as having a stupid nature rather than enlightening tool. It is unacceptable to take Google as a tool for stupidity. People’s failure to pay attention for long texts has been depleting over time because of the corrupt cultures present in the world (Gitlin 5-7). James Bowman in his article "is stupid making us Google" expounds on the concept that Google takes no fault on the new state of poor attention people are paying to read hard copy materials. Instead, he shifts the blame to the junk culture blending all over the world. Education instructors and mentors, for example, have reduced their attention and value for their respective studies (Bowman 75-78). Bowman goes ahead to elaborate his claims by interviewing Professor Mark Baurlein. The professor is an English lecturer at Emory University and a research analyst at the National Council for Arts. Baurlein states that it is inappropriate to blame readers, as well as, students for their reduced interest in reading and learning, but instead, the instructors have betrayed the students. The professor states that instructors should enhance their teaching methods in a way that incorporate the new concept of information gathering from the internet. Through his book, professor Bauerlein states that the new system of learning has changed information retrieval from knowledge gathering. Learning materials pass directly from Google results to term papers without being integrated into the students mind. He notes that if the system of learning and being knowledgeable entails regurgitating information how Google does on computer screens, danger lies ahead of the education system (Bowman, 75-82). The internet is a source of information, and there is no wrong if students can have their ways of accessing that information. It is the obligations of the instructors to foster the pursuit of knowledge. They should also teach and force students to go into details of what they study and have a thorough process that is wide and deep (Olson 1-3). The problem with comprehensive learning and paying attention to details is not new and can be traced back to at least two decades. Learning was by then thorough, before computers started being used for education purposes. With the passage of time, almost everyone, particularly students have personal computers. If the computers offer a better mode of learning than printed resources, they can as well serve as an easy way of getting the grades without torturing the brains. Furthermore, no one enjoys striving or going through torture, whereas simple ways of accomplishing the task exist. Instead of pointing fingers at the internet and Google, it would be sensible to accept what is happening and mold the learning system to what it ought to be (Bowman 74-82). Let instructors define ways of changing the resources available at Google to thought and knowledge and its benefits will forever continue shining. Some of the few studies done on the effects of using the internet have rubbished statements that Google is a tool for stupidity. Google and other search engines have indeed been proven to be mental stimulators, and their use contributes sound health of the brain. In 2008, some members of the Department of Psychiatry from the University of California carried out a study to investigate the parts of the brain that get activated when reading from printed copies and when using search engines. The researchers used 24 people with 12 of them having little knowledge of search engines while the other half being experienced search engine users (Small et al. 116-120). The study revealed that studying printed materials with plain text activated language, memory, visual abilities and reading regions of the brain in both groups. When the groups switched to using search engines, participants from the experienced group showed increased signaling intensity from the areas activated by plain text. Additionally, other regions activated included those responsible for complex reasoning, decision making and the frontal pole (Small et al. 120-126). Based on the results from the study, it is apparent that the use of search engines enhances thinking rather than retarding the mind and brains. Another blessing that comes with the internet and Google is the ability to communicate with friends and relatives from all over the world at the comfort of one’s home. Sites such as Facebook and Reddit provide a platform where diverse people from all corners of the world can read and discuss trending topics and those of importance, as well as, share cultural experiences (Badke 51). Previously, in the absence of these technologies, it was totally impossible to get or see photos and videos of calamities such as storms and wars that affect various regions. With the availability of the internet, people who are experiencing such problems can upload such photos on the web, in real time, and share them with the world. In doing so, the affected group can get attention and help from people of goodwill (Meyer 33-37). One then wonders how Google and the internet as a whole are stupid if they can help people in times of danger. Carr, therefore, must have been absent-minded when “abusing” Google. The cultural experiences are crucial components of education. How then does something that contributes and facilitates learning become stupid? People should admit that the internet and Google are treasures that are of importance, particularly for communication (Meyer 33-37). People indeed do have real time conversations from all over the world and get information easily in a way that was previously impossible. People, for example, university students and researchers can fail to understand how a tool that facilitates their ability to source information for projects makes them stupid. Google and the internet are used in education programs and facilitate communication among students and between students and lecturers. Students in third world countries undertaking their master’s and Ph.D. studies and projects, but lack the materials needed can make use of Google to source for them from foreign countries. They can use Google to search for the materials and the appropriate payment platforms without leaving their institutions or homes. It also provides them with a rear opportunity to share ideas and resources with people of the same interests (Meyer 33-35). Furthermore, the internet has led to the invention of online classes and courses. People who lack the opportunity to attend physical classes have no cause for alarm because the internet has done all the things that they are asked to do. Mothers who stay at home and pregnant women who lack the energy and time to attend school can benefit from the internet. Using Google, they can browse the internet and find their course of choice, enroll, learn and earn a degree while still in the comfort of their home. By so doing, the internet helps remove stupidity and other poor elements from such people instead of adding some stupidity. With Google, there is no reason for anyone to spend time going to bookstores or the library. All the knowledge that one lacks will be provided by Google (Meyer 34-37). Besides collecting information from all over the world and providing it at our convenience, Google has done more than the wonders of the world. Critical care physicians in Australia have reported Google to have contributions in saving people’s life in emergency rooms. Google has led to the creation of a site named as Google groups (Reid et al., n.d.). The groups allow the storage of files online, as well as, distribution of the information. It has also allowed its medical members such as nurses and physicians in emergency rooms to be in constant communication and share information in seconds. The information shared is imperative and happens to be exactly what the members’ need for their operations to be successful. The Google group has proved to be handy in the critical care setting and medics use it even for administrative roles (Reid et al., n.d.). When Google provides what the medics need, it proves how it makes people helpful rather than stupid. In conclusion, the phrase “Google is making us stupid” comes off as nostalgic after a holistic view and consideration of some of its features. Authors such as Carr miss the point when they claim that Google is ruining the world and people’s potential for deep thinking and creative minds. Instead, Google and the internet have proved to be the new templates and media for personal expression (Stanley 26). Currently, artists such as musicians and writers do not need to be established for them to publish their work, they have a chance to start blogs and express what they want. Within very little time, their content-rich and new materials are availed to Google and the world can start enjoying their ideas and products. For one to learn and earn a bachelor’s degree, diploma or other certifications, one does not need to enroll in college or university classes. People can get the materials online via Google, learn through it, submit term papers and be awarded the degree through the same platform. To experience foreign cultures, one does not necessarily have to board an airplane, just Google, YouTube and other stuffs, and you will enjoy everything still at home. It is, therefore, paradoxical to say Google will take away our intelligence and make us stupid. Works Cited Badke, William. “How Stupid is Google Making Us?” InfoLit Land 34.6. (2010): 51 Bowman, James. "Is Stupid Making Us Google?" New Atlantis 21. (2008): 75-80. Web. 25 Nov 2014 Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making US Stupid?" Atlantic July/Aug. 2008: 56-63. Print. Frith Jordan, Matt Morain, Chris Cummings, and David Berube. "What the Internet is Doing to our Brains, You are not a Gadget,” The Journal of Communication 61.1 (2011) 9-12 Gitlin, Todd. “Sandmonkey; Too Stupid to govern us.” Sandmonkey. 58.3 (2011) 5-7 Meyer, Micheal. “Michael Meyer Deconstructs the Debate Over Whether Google Makes Us Stupid.” Columbia Journalism Review (2008). 33-37 Olson, Curtis. “The Impact of Technology on our Brains,” Journal of Continuing Education in the health Profession 32.1 (2012) 1-3 Reid, C., et al. "Google governance: increasing the effectiveness of care physicians using an online usergroup." Emergency Medicine Journal 27.2 (2009): 50-1. Web. 25 Nov 2014 Small, M.D., Gary, Teena Moody, Prabba Siddarth, and Susan Bookheimer. "Brain on Google: Cerebral Activation during Internet Searching." America Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (2009): 116-26. Web. 17 Feb 2010. Staley, David J. Brain, Mind and Internet: A Deep History and Future. , 2014. Print. Read More