Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Google Is Making Me Think Differently
There's no argument whether search engines like Google have changed the way we process information. The discrepancy lies in the nature of these changes. Is the information too easy to find and use? Does it somehow trivialize the once- sacred process of discovery? Or does it simplify an otherwise arduous activity? Does it allow us to spend the previously wasted search time on more discovery and more knowledge? Yes. I think it's fair to say Google (and the like) does all of this. The internet has forever altered the way we communicate and deal with information. Never before in our history has a such of store of knowledge existed for near-instantaneous use. But imagine wandering around the largest library in the world with no directory- just shelves and shelves of books with weird abbreviated names. Without some kind of search function, how could we possibly attempt to find what we're looking for? Google does just that. I think the development of search engines is one of the ways (and I'm sure there will be more) we cope with this intimidatingly large supply of information. But I guess the main question still remains unanswered: Is Google making me stupid? Well, I think Google is incredibly easy to use. And it's quite tempting to never look for information in any other way. I mean, why would I? Nearly everything I would want to know is just a couple of keystrokes away. But I think it is the sole reliance on such an effortless process that will make us stupid. If we only use Google to learn things then our ability for complex thought (not to mention our patience) will wither away. As long as we use Google as a means for thought and not substitute it for thinking itself, we should be OK.
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I really liked the analogy you used about the huge library, it really illustrated your point and helped to convince me on your argument. I also agree with your prediction, and I think you raised an important point.
ReplyDeleteI too liked the huge library analogy. I feel like there's been a shift away from people attempting to cultivate really specific pools of knowledge within themselves and a focus more (in the professional world, I mean) toward everyone having a really broad field of knowledge, one that can easily be deepened in certain areas as need be. I think that google, and other search engines and the internet generally, are helping us to push toward that goal.
ReplyDeleteChelsea M.
You argued your case very well. I also liked the library analogy as it shows that Google isn't the first search engine that people have relied on as a means of finding what they need, libraries themselves have their own search engines in the form of catalogues for their books. It simply shows the progression of the technology we use for a means of gathering information.
ReplyDelete-Layni Case