I took a history of technology course in college and I was shocked to learn that books were a controversial invention. There was a school of thought that books would make people stupid because they wouldn’t have to memorize holy texts, poems, stories, etc.

I’m thinking that those people were the original Luddites, but there was probably some pre-Adamite that objected to the wheel, or fire.

It would be interesting to see an evolution of the human brain as a function of technology from neolithic to cyberspace. I think there would be definitive evidence of the reduction of brain usage in some areas, where other areas of the brain would begin to be tapped more, or evolve into use. It would be interesting to see what historic eras would correspond to which characteristics of brain activity/adaptation.

I generally subscribe to the idea that nothing is destroyed to make way for something else, but rather there is simply an evolution built upon prior foundations. So I don’t fear brain death due to technology, because I expect brain life in other areas.

As a rule it is probably best to not forget how to exist without certain technology, i.e. how to function emotionally (not call the police) when one’s spouse does not answer their cell phone.

Some interesting things:

1. There is recent compelling research that points out that having a phone conversation while driving is like driving with a 1.1% blood alcohol level. Technology as impairment.

2. The memorization bit is interesting. I’ve heard criticism of the avoidance of rote memorization in our education system (which deserves much criticism) as a function of our intellectual capacities in general, this coming mostly from Eurasians, of course.

I think it is useful to be a luddite, especially when aliens cut off our satelite communications before a synchronized WMD attack on major world cities, or come some other armagedon/global catastrophe.

1. ARj – Very interesting – that would be a great course. One of the treatments for patients who are getting dementia is actually a series of games that include memorization and recall. So maybe memorization is useful after all…

2. ESO – good point. I will take books over memorizing everything

3. nasamomdele – that would be an interesting experiment to look at the way our brain usage has changed (I am sure some for the good and some not). I like your trade-off rule, just not sure what I gain by not thinking when I am driving… As someone who has an addiction to a blackberry, not talking on the phone or emailing while driving has been a challenge for me and I have to constantly remind myself to put the #$@%$ thing away. to your last point – long live us Luddites!

4. Orwell – when I was a missionary, I used to wonder why the Devil’s plan did not make more sense to me in the pre-existence as I could not understand why some investigators made the choices they did…

Men born today are surely created equal to those born in the B.C.’s and early A.D.’s. We have not lost any mental capacity compared to our ancestors. We merely put our capacity to different uses. There is no reason that we cannot memorize the Old Testament or perform advanced mathematics in our head. Technology allows us to quicken the pace of the tedious and provides us time for the meaningful. Granted that time usually ends up being time for entertainment, which, as the recent Hulu commercials show, does turn your brain to oatmeal…for the aliens…

Sam,

It is often argued that IQ has been steadily going up over time. It doesn’t look like that because it is constantly being recentered, but yesterday’s genius is today’s moron.

You are not alone. I had this specific conversation with some co-workers. We travel a lot to trade shows. All over the US, but Europe too about 00-15 weeks year. I noticed the cities I had been to in the past, before GPS I always knew my way around, could drive around without a map, recognized streets, back roads, etc.

The newer cities we went to with GPS, I noticed upon returning to them, sometimes for the 3rd time even I did not have as firm a grasp of where I was and was almost always unsure.

My co-workers got mad at me and basically called me a Luddite. Although I don’t think they know what that word is.

I actually find that GPS helps me memorize directions faster. Once I’ve used the GPS to help me get somewhere, I have an imprint of the picures of the map in my head and I’ve heard the names of the streets. I never have to use GPS a second time to get somewhere.

#12-ARJ
I think we’re on the same page.
I’m saying that the average person now is given much greater intellectual opportunity.
That is essentially what I was attempting to convey as well.

GPS is mostly useful, in my case, for “the last mile”. I often disagree with the highway routing algorithms (in North Texas, there are 5 ways to get anywhere…)

Queuno – “the lost mile” is how I term it oftentimes since that usually is the biggest challenge.

ARJ – I think that the challenge of trying to look for some piece of paper, dial a phone number and drive at the same time has its challenges. Certainly makes it interesting (ok perhaps unsafe).