Nicholas Carr The Shallows Sparknotes

Digital Distractions Nicholas Carr discusses how technology has influenced the way individuals think and process information in his book The Shallows. Carr argues that people's ability to focus closely, conduct critical thought, and recall information is being negatively impacted by the continuous interruptions and easy access to information on the internet. (Carr,1).“ The price we pay to assume technology’s power is alienation. The toll can be particularly high with our technology. The tools of the mind amplify and in turn numb the most intimate, the most human, of our natural capacities— those for reason, perception, memory, and emotion”(Carr,211). Carr uses the example of map reading to illustrate how technology has changed the way humans
Imagine two friends looking at the same map. Due to their different perceptions, one friend may focus more on the landmarks and natural features while the other friend may focus on the transportation routes. Their individual perceptions can influence how they organize and interpret the map details. In examining the impact of digital technology on memory, it becomes evident that humans' constant use of search engines to recall facts has shifted the way they store information. “We now know that the brain actually changes as a result of engaged, effortful learning and that when we challenge ourselves to learn something new, the brain forms new neural pathways”(Sullivan, 22).Constant use of social media and cell phones, for instance, can result in decreased concentration and attention spans. It becomes more difficult to remember and retain knowledge when there are continual distractions and an abundance of information. Carr suggests that the constant distractions and shallow engagement with online content can diminish people's ability to deeply process information and form emotional connections with what they