Tools That Change the Way We Think

"Back in 2004, I asked [Google founders] Page and Brin what they saw as the future of Google search. 'It will be included in people's brains,' said Page. 'When you think about something and don't really know much about it, you will automatically get information.'

'That's true,' said Brin. 'Ultimately I view Google as a way to augment your brain with the knowledge of the world. Right now you go into your computer and type a phrase, but you can imagine that it could be easier in the future, that you can have just devices you talk into, or you can have computers that pay attention to what's going on around them and suggest useful information.'

'Somebody introduces themselves to you, and your watch goes to your web page,' said Page. 'Or if you met this person two years ago, this is what they said to you... Eventually you'll have the implant, where if you think about a fact, it will just tell you the answer."

 -From In the Plex by Steven Levy (p. 67)

"How does extensive Internet/media/technology use change the way you think?"
In an idealized world, Internet/media/technology is all upside. It puts the knowledge of the world at everybody's fingertips, accessible through a few keystrokes and a handful of clicks. The Internet has an answer for nearly everything, and with advances in technology it just becomes easier to access. Just within the last few years, the Internet has become fully mobile with many people able to access it with smartphones. Now, the answer to almost any given question can be found anywhere, anytime.

However, we don't live in this idealized world. While the aid that technology provides is indisputable, its risks cannot be ignored. Firstly the use of it does not always equate to productivity. The depth and accessibility of the Internet makes it the procrastinator's nightmare (or perhaps the procrastinator's dream, depending on your perspective). If I'm working on homework with or by my computer, it is too easy for any stray thought to lead to a large amount of wasted time. A single question that I have can easily justify distraction by the fact that finding the answer would be so easy. A quick search on Wikipedia and my curiosity will be satisfied. But from there, the opportunity opens up to keep clicking links, until eventually my browser is overflowing with new tabs.

Furthermore, as others have pointed out, the speed of information via the Internet discourages actual learning. For example, I'm pretty sure I've Googled the inch to centimeter conversion at least a dozen times. One would think that after all this time I would be able to remember it, but I can't. The wide availability of Google makes memorizing such things seem unnecessary.

That said, all of these things are mostly the fault of the user. While technology certainly encourages this behavior, it's hardly an excuse for not getting work done or not knowing basic facts. Because of this, I don't think that the services like Google are ever going to be completely integrated into the human mind. It will supplement, but I don't think it will actually change the way people think by that much. Knowledge is ultimately human responsibility. Technology can the courier of information, but it be a replacement. Almost everything can be searched for on the Internet, and yet you don't see people walking around constantly using Google to solve all their problems. It's not a problem of accessibility either. Things like the weather, driving directions, or cooking instructions are all reasonable things to use technology for. Something like knowing my own phone number is not. I could very easily take out my phone and check my number whenever somebody asks for it, but I don't. A big reason for this is that it'd be embarrassing ("You don't know your own number!?"). Our society puts a lot of weight on personal accomplishment. People will always feel naturally inclined to knowing things on their own, even if it is readily and easily available online.