Technology has enhanced communication, broadened information gathering, and supplied convenience to everyday life. However, it can decrease concentration, make alterations to reading abilities, and encourage dependency on online resources. In "Hal and Me", Nicholas Carr, who examines technology urges society to become self-sufficient of the web. Without uncovering his personal opinion, making it uncertain where his stance lies. Proposing the internet has the capability to administer control over thought process and mind sets.
Carr grabs readers' attention by including a scene from the movie: A Space Odyssey, as an introduction (p.347). His motive is to persuade them the reader to continue reading further and anticipate what his argument will
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cover. Echoing the words of Hal the computer, he smoothly shifts into his own personal experience of dealing with computers. Describing how reading was once "natural" to him has become difficult due to constant exposer exposure to the internet (p.347). He underlined his message, by exposing himself as an example of the harsh sway the web produces. Yet, contradicts himself when he praises it, noting it as a blessing. He realized knowledge that took long durations of time to locate, could be acquired simply through online networks. Aside from fact-finding, the net is utilized for completing everyday tasks. As a result, Carr stresses this benefit has become a negative habit of the public. As a consequence, society has become heavily invested in technology.
Carr explains it has become a part of the daily process of life. He elaborates three categories: employment, education, and leisure intertwined with the audience's lifestyle. Carr emphasizes some may use all three. This illustrates that constantly being in contact with computerized machinery, therefore, handing personal independence over to online software. Carr states that regardless of devices' form or edition, the internet is still of the essence to a majority of the public. Dubbing the web as civilizations' civilization’s "medium of choice" (p.351). Carr justifies this remark, suggesting the amount of time consumed on the net , despite providing high-speed data. Thus allowing readers to reflect on their own individual …show more content…
usage. Subsequently, Carr appears divided when addressing his opinion on the internet. On one hand, he is appreciative of the books lying rooted in the library shelves. He found himself relaxed with the numerous books he had collected. He mentions his personal experience to appeal to the readers emotion of nostalgic, adding he never felt an "overload" with the data he had acquired (p.354). However in 1986, when he purchased his first computer, a Mac Plus, everything changed (p.354). He quickly developed an addiction. Portable conveniences, assistance from Microsoft Word, and the discovery of World Wide Web influenced Carr's passion. Due to the effectiveness of word processor he began to rely on it completely on it. Carr advances his message by recounting his first experience with computers, giving background information as to how he became attached. Simply editing with paper and pencil became a tedious task. During this time, he proceeded to upgrade. Breaking the limitations on his computer and gathering online resources to his advantage. While still having a subscription to his original AOL account. Carr's purpose is to describe his growing addiction to technology. Eventually, time restrictions were seen as a nuisance, leading him to delete his account, and turn to ISP. He wanted to inform readers that he recognized the internet appliance was asserting an undeniable authority over him. Furthermore he came to a theory, frequent usage of the web resulted in an increased manipulative dominance over the user. He came to the deduction that it was a result of aging. Appealing to the readers emotion, allowing understanding as to why he came to that conclusion. But later revoked that statement, claiming his mind had grown to gaining intelligence from the net. Therefore drawing attention back to his overall argument. After, ultimately substituting his PC with an improved version, he noticed an impact. To the point of the web monopolizing his thoughts, even when he wasn't using it. It consumed him made him reliant on digital documents and directed his attention span (p.357). He states focusing on one activity became a hassle. Carr's purpose for including his history of being introduced to computers is to draw understanding from his readers'. He continues to strengthen his argument by puling sympathy from the audience, when he mentions the symptoms he developed due to the web. Expressing his troubles to colleagues, learning they also experienced the decline to retain a focal point. This grants Carr to be more understandable, that he's not the only one experiencing this condition. Similarly, they feared that the result of the web allowed them to become a unending absent minded person. Bruce Friedman, a blogger who discuses technology utilization, reveals his incapacity to interpret large bodies of writing. The repercussion therefore, forces him to glance through briskly (p.349) .Carr uses Friedman as an example to support his claim that others can empathize with him. More severe cases can be seen in Scott Karp, who entirely lost the capability to cast an eye over any book. With this information, Carr attempts to persuade his audience by indicating he is relatable. Hence, making his argument, to a great extent, trust worthy. To prove this he quotes Herbert McLuhan, a well-known philosopher, when he states the web has the potential to transfer information to our minds. But it establishes a gateway for it to modify thought apprehension (p.349). Regarding this he turns his focus to societies' younger generation. Distinctively quoting analyst team nGenera, who branded this group "Generation Net" (p.351). Carr references nGenera to add to his argument that they have become accustomed to using the web, given that they have had access to it since they were young. Additionally, as the name implies the peer group essentially matured with knowledge of the internet.
Carr notes information from the research in his argument. nGenera came to the conclusion the section were vulnerable to "Digital immersion", this gave rise to the developed habit of glossing over information (p.351). Therefore, Carr uses this data to backups his previously stated assertion of the web altering the mind. Supply evidence he cites college student Joe O'Shea, who believes books are inefficient to provide information (p.350). Instead relies solely on the web to gather online documents in order to learn. Carr's intention is to advance his message that students such as O'Shea with an "old-fashioned" mentality has lead many to believe that the internet is the best option
(p.336) To conclude Carr illuminates the unspoken dangers of using the internet. Despite the fact, he himself indulged in the cyber world; nourishing the idea that society has become too invested with the internet. The ever-lasting effects are increasing causing damage to the thought process. Especially with the web continuously evolving around every corner. Carr wanted readers to ponder on the concept of over usage. Thus, encourage them to not only rely on the net but to take in solid documentation. Owing to the fact that, based on his dilemma of losing his original mind to strive not to become human HALS themselves.
While his best arguments come from cultural criticism. Written text led to the decline of oral reading and television obliterated the radio. Every technology comes with it’s trade-offs, it just comes down to moderation. There is little doubt that the internet is changing our brain. What Carr neglects to mention, however, is how the internet can change our brain for the better. Computer games have the ability to improve cognitive tasks and increase visual attention. He doesn’t always address the good effects that the internet has had on the world. One of the better strategies Carr uses is switching his point of view from third to first person. He reflects on his personal life and how his life has changed in response to what he has learned. Carr shows how even he has his faults but, being aware of a problem is the first step to finding
Carr provides us scientific information that proves his point. ““We are not only what we read,” says Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist at Tufts University and the author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. “We are how we read.” Wolf worries that the style of reading promoted by the Net, a style that puts “efficiency” and “immediacy” above all else, may be weakening our capacity for the kind of deep reading that emerged” (Carr 3). Carr gives us information from Tufts University, that contribute to his point. This information tells us that the internet weakens our capacity for reading. That is what Carr is saying, that’s the point of all of this. Carr wrote this so he can inform us how google in affecting
Carr captures his audience's attention by using an allusion from “Stanley Kubrick’s movie 2001, A Space Odyssey”. He stated the essay with “Dave, stop will you?” and the Supercomputer HAL plead. Any reader who has watch A Space Odyssey or interested in supercomputers to read his article. He highlights the fact that a computer could think for you. The states, “I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain(Is google making us stupid? By Carr page 2)”. He made a point that the more people are found of the internet the more we lose ability to deep think.
He states how he used to spend hours reading, but his concentration started to drift after two or three pages. He backed up his theory with stories from others who say they’re experiencing the same thing. But they still await the long-term neurological and psychological experiments that will provide a definitive picture of how the internet affects cognition. After a brief history lesson, Carr starts to incorporate Google into the article. He tells us about Google’s history and their mission. Carr states how Google, and the internet itself, have a financial stake in collecting the crumbs of data we leave behind. Apparently these companies do not want us reading slowly or for leisure. Carr then ends the article by stating that we are turning into robots ourselves, and that we are relying on computers to mediate our understanding of the
Nicholas Carr, a periodic writer on issues such as technology and culture, wrote the article called “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” (743) In this, he discusses the way that not only Google, but also the advancement in technology, especially computers and computer engines is slowly altering our brain, along with the way we take in information. The process started back in the 1970’s and 1980’s when technology got a jump in society. For example “television was our medium of choice” says Carr (747). From then on it has been a slow decline for the way we process information. Throughout this essay Carr backs up the reasons why he feels the way by using different types of figurative language, deductive reasoning, plus the use of logical fallacies that can strengthen or may even weaken his argument.
Trying to reflect the fears instilled in himself through comparison to an unrealistic movie. I believe that the internet hasn’t changed everyone’s the way the he says its changed his. I think that people who were born into the world of technology have the ability to analyze into a deeper thought what is needed and skim for instant answer when it’s not needed. On the other side those whom have been forced to adapt to it, such as Carr, find themselves losing abilities they once relied on because they were taught growing up to do both things. Now that the internet has forced them to adapt to it, they can’t focus of doing both types of thinking. The complexity of our minds is deep and that can’t be made shallow by the ability to get instant gratification of information. We simply begin to rule out unimportant things, once the important thing is found then it can be analyzed. Although Carr says his mind isn’t going as far as it used to, clearly that’s exactly what he did in this essay. He used the older “traditional way” of over-analyzing unnecessary things to reach a point that ends up being moot. Clearly, his use of logos, ethos and pathos, although present were not enough to prove his opinion to be
From communicating with one another to researching for an essay, these high-tech gadgets are constantly being used. Unfortunately this is slowly becoming a danger to the human mind and an individual's ability to carry out simple tasks. This can be shown through the examples in Carr’s novel. He states multiple times that technology is damaging the brain and is struggling to do the simple tasks it should be able to do. Through his multiple examples, it is clear that technology is hurting us because we can no longer contemplate, concentrate, remember certain details, and more. Although, we cannot avoid using technology, we should be mindful of how often we use
Moreover, Carr’s article mentions that by using technology of any kind, users tend to embody the characteristics stimulated by that technology. He says that given that the Internet processes information almost immediately, users will tend to value immediacy. To explain, Carr gives the example of a friend of his named Scott Karp who was a literary major on college and who used to be an avid book reader. However, since the arrival of the Internet, Karp skim articles online because he could no longer read as much as he used too. He cannot pay attention and absorb long texts ever since he read online articles. Internet...
The article begins with the depiction of a scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey in which the astronaut Dave Bowman unplugs the supercomputer HAL. Carr uses this to tie in his feelings that, like HAL, someone or something is toying with the wiring of his brain. This is a strong emotional appeal. Carr intends to quickly gain his audience’s attention with the feeling of being “unplugged”, and possibly to gain the sympathies of readers who have felt a similar feeling. Carr proceeds to talk about how he can no longer become absorbed in an article or book, saying “my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages.” Again, this works as a strong emotional appeal. English buffs - Carr’s likely primary audience - who read this article may agree...
We live in a time where technology is at the center of our society. We use technology on a daily basis, for the simplest tasks, or to aid us in our jobs, and don’t give a second thought to whether these tools are actually helping us. Writers such as Kevin Kelly and Clive Thompson argue that the use of technology actually helps us humans; whiles writers such as Nicholas Carr argue that technology affects people’s abilities to learn information negatively.
Carr explains how the internet can distract us making it harder to focus on tasks. He explains how processing information has become harder. Notifications, ads, popups can make it difficult if you are trying to read an article or book (Carr 57). The internet has become the center of our attention (Carr 57). Carr is explaining how this is the reason why we are struggling to comprehend a certain piece of information. He adds in his article that scientists, researchers and educators have also noticed the difference in concentration. And in further detail, he explains that we fail to see the important information, thus affecting cognition. He says that the information we gather is not valuable unless we know the meaning behind it. Carr concludes with explaining that the more the internet evolves the less valuable information is to
Carr concedes, saying that his internet theory cannot be based on anecdotes alone, but he is convinced Karp is on to something. According to the study done by College London, people spend most of their time skimming internet articles. Participants hopped from one site to anoth...
Nick Carraway is the only character worth knowing in The Great Gatsby. He is living in East Egg with the rich and powerful people. He is on the guest lists to all of their parties and yet he is the person most worthy of attending such parties because he is well bread and his family is certainly not poor. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” (Ch1, P1). These words were taught to Nick by his father showing the qualities that a man with goals and values would have in a place where goals and values was no existent. His Judgmental eye for character and guts of using them when desired makes him more interesting. He has a greatest fear that he will be all alone by himself.
“Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr and “How Computers Change the Way We Think” by Sherry Turkle are two articles that explore how technology influences our daily lives. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” discusses the effects of the internet in our society, how it is robbing us of our deep thoughts, memories and our ability to read books. Carr also talks about how the internet has become our primary source of getting information. The writer also discusses about how he’s having difficulty focusing on reading. “How Computers Change the Way We Think” is talking about how people don’t use their brains full potential capacity to solve problems. Instead, we depend on technology to do that for us.
He observes that his mind has been changing with the use of the internet and that computers are diminishing his capacity for concentration and contemplation (Carr 315). He effectively expresses his feelings that longer attention spans are being replaced by more instant-gratification demanding mindsets. It’s with these newfound mindsets that Carr expresses concern that the human psyche is becoming little more than robotic algorithms incapable of reflection, deep critical thinking, problem solving, or imagination (Carr 327). Furthermore, Carr’s concern with how technology affects our ability to think has been echoed in research specific to