We all know that we have a dependence on technology. Admittedly, some more than others. Recently I came across a link to a website that challenges you to take a break from it all for just two minutes. While it can't keep you from using your phone or other gadgets, if you move your mouse or use your keyboard of your computer, the time will reset and you will be notified that you failed the challenge. It's interesting, and just kind of fun, to see how long two minutes can feel like.
How much of a hold does your computer have on you?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Addicted to Google? You Bet! (Blog Prompt 2)
I am positive that there is not a single day that I am online that I do not use Google at least once. It is so convenient that I've definitely become more dependent on it than I should be. I use it to look up random trivia, directions, hours of businesses, how to questions, movie times, and who hasn't Googled themself at some point just to see what comes up?
If Google and other search engines were to disappear tomorrow, I definitely would be lost at how to find things on the internet. How do I find webpages if I don't have the URL to type in? To find out how late someplace is open, I'd have to get out that hefty phone book instead. And movie times? Flip through the newspaper or get the theater's number out of that phone book and call them up. Google has definitely spoiled everyone.
If Google and other search engines were to disappear tomorrow, I definitely would be lost at how to find things on the internet. How do I find webpages if I don't have the URL to type in? To find out how late someplace is open, I'd have to get out that hefty phone book instead. And movie times? Flip through the newspaper or get the theater's number out of that phone book and call them up. Google has definitely spoiled everyone.
The (De)Evolution
The Birkerts, Carr, and Bauerlin articles struck a chord. They all discuss thoughts that I find creepy. Creepy because of how feasible they really are. I also have noticed a higher difficulty in trying to sit down and read longer things since I've started to use the internet more. The scary part? I hadn't even thought of the internet of being a possible cause of my literary laziness until recently. The articles cite some pretty strong evidence to support the anecdotes that does imply that technology and the net really is a negative impact, such as the declining test scores.
It seems that technology has extreme power that is easy for most people to ignore. Maybe because of how easy it makes life and how quickly we can get things "done." Or, at least, that's what I assume in a world where it seems everyone wants to get all work done as quickly as possible to move on to socializing or other responsibilities. (I know plenty of people that work multiple jobs and go to school full time that really just need to get things done quickly to catch up on sleep, rather than just to have more time to goof off, so I don't mean to imply that people are lazy and just don't want to do the work.)
The idea that we should embrace the technology and use it in the classroom as an "advantage" just strikes me as wrong. It seems to me that if you use the same things in the classroom as the students use on their own, we'll just further lose the ability to read longer texts. I think it would be better to teach the skill that they want students to know rather than use the others that aren't as vitally needed skills.
These articles brought me back to high school, when we read Orwell's 1984. Even then, the idea of "newspeak" was a plausible and frightening concept. After these articles, I'm starting to wonder when, rather than if, we will begin using our own form of it. I suppose you could even argue texting abbreviations are the beginnings of it....
It seems that technology has extreme power that is easy for most people to ignore. Maybe because of how easy it makes life and how quickly we can get things "done." Or, at least, that's what I assume in a world where it seems everyone wants to get all work done as quickly as possible to move on to socializing or other responsibilities. (I know plenty of people that work multiple jobs and go to school full time that really just need to get things done quickly to catch up on sleep, rather than just to have more time to goof off, so I don't mean to imply that people are lazy and just don't want to do the work.)
The idea that we should embrace the technology and use it in the classroom as an "advantage" just strikes me as wrong. It seems to me that if you use the same things in the classroom as the students use on their own, we'll just further lose the ability to read longer texts. I think it would be better to teach the skill that they want students to know rather than use the others that aren't as vitally needed skills.
These articles brought me back to high school, when we read Orwell's 1984. Even then, the idea of "newspeak" was a plausible and frightening concept. After these articles, I'm starting to wonder when, rather than if, we will begin using our own form of it. I suppose you could even argue texting abbreviations are the beginnings of it....
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Slightly Unoriginal: Blog Prompt 1
Finally putting procrastination aside, I also read the article about Megan Reardon. Her story appealed to me because she blogs things that she's interested in, which to me is the most appealing part of blogging. I find it makes blogging more fun and a whole lot easier when it's what I want to do versus something I have to do. (Sorry!)
I was rather surprised, and slightly disappointed, to find that Reardon doesn't have comments enabled on her blog. While she stated in the interview that the competitive, antagonistic comments were the driving factor for that decision, I feel like it's just an excuse. Although there are people that are jerks, it strikes me as unfair to block those who are considerate and want to give constructive criticism or other positive thoughts on blog entries. It would be simple enough to just ignore those who are acting inappropriately, or alternatively, block them from commenting.
However, I found it funny that she felt ashamed about using Blogger. It's only human to want to do what's easy. Not all of us enjoy web design or shelling out cash for a service we could get for free, so there are plenty of people that can't judge. I can especially relate to the lazy part though. But I also relate to her statement of finding writing papers for school unpleasant. I don't enjoy the rigid style of academic papers. Blogging is definitely a less stressful activity to me as well.
I may even follow her example in how she finds interesting links! Hope you guys don't mind. :)
I was rather surprised, and slightly disappointed, to find that Reardon doesn't have comments enabled on her blog. While she stated in the interview that the competitive, antagonistic comments were the driving factor for that decision, I feel like it's just an excuse. Although there are people that are jerks, it strikes me as unfair to block those who are considerate and want to give constructive criticism or other positive thoughts on blog entries. It would be simple enough to just ignore those who are acting inappropriately, or alternatively, block them from commenting.
However, I found it funny that she felt ashamed about using Blogger. It's only human to want to do what's easy. Not all of us enjoy web design or shelling out cash for a service we could get for free, so there are plenty of people that can't judge. I can especially relate to the lazy part though. But I also relate to her statement of finding writing papers for school unpleasant. I don't enjoy the rigid style of academic papers. Blogging is definitely a less stressful activity to me as well.
I may even follow her example in how she finds interesting links! Hope you guys don't mind. :)
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