The Shallows Summary
In the speech delivered at the Harvard Book Store Nicholas Carr, an American writer interested mainly in technology and business, presented his new book “The Shallows. What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains”. The writer explained also the main thesis of his work, which seems to be the following: Using the Internet has an impact on our brain and the way it is functioning. His arguments, not against the Internet in general, but against overusing it, are the result of his personal experience as well as the scientific studies on the topic.
The idea of writing a book about the impact of modern technology, in the first place the Internet, on human brain originated when problems with concentration started to concern the author. That is when Nicholas
Carr became aware of the disadvantages connected with using the Web.
Nicholas Carr instanced, among others, the study focused on the hiberlinks and the way they encumber the short time memory and in a result disenable the proper level of concentration. As the number of links in a text increases, the reading comprehension decreases, regardless of using them or not. The links themselves are only one of countless distractions of the Internet that most people do not take into consideration while being online.
As the scientists have proved, the adaptability of the human brain does not end after reaching certain age. That is the life lasting process that constantly enables people to adapt to different circumstances. However when only few particular modes of thinking are practiced, the other ones are likely to be forgotten within a short time. That is the explanation given by Nicholas Carr regarding concentration problems caused by the usage of the Internet. While multitasking seems to be the most desirable feature and people tend to be constantly distracted, the ability to attentive thinking is likely to decline. The thought mode requiring focus and deep concentration seems to be disrupted and, in a result, it is no longer able to activate other processes including the long term memory and building of conceptual knowledge.
The main purpose of both Nicholas Carr’s book and his speech is to increase awareness among people. The problem raised by the writer seems to concern over 40% of the world population which is the percentage of Internet users nowadays. As the dependence of modern society on technology increases, the choice of a different way of living may not be socially acceptable or even possible. However, according to Nicholas Carr, it is essential to practice more attentive, introspective and contemplative modes of thinking.
The idea of writing a book about the impact of modern technology, in the first place the Internet, on human brain originated when problems with concentration started to concern the author. That is when Nicholas
Carr became aware of the disadvantages connected with using the Web.
Nicholas Carr instanced, among others, the study focused on the hiberlinks and the way they encumber the short time memory and in a result disenable the proper level of concentration. As the number of links in a text increases, the reading comprehension decreases, regardless of using them or not. The links themselves are only one of countless distractions of the Internet that most people do not take into consideration while being online.
As the scientists have proved, the adaptability of the human brain does not end after reaching certain age. That is the life lasting process that constantly enables people to adapt to different circumstances. However when only few particular modes of thinking are practiced, the other ones are likely to be forgotten within a short time. That is the explanation given by Nicholas Carr regarding concentration problems caused by the usage of the Internet. While multitasking seems to be the most desirable feature and people tend to be constantly distracted, the ability to attentive thinking is likely to decline. The thought mode requiring focus and deep concentration seems to be disrupted and, in a result, it is no longer able to activate other processes including the long term memory and building of conceptual knowledge.
The main purpose of both Nicholas Carr’s book and his speech is to increase awareness among people. The problem raised by the writer seems to concern over 40% of the world population which is the percentage of Internet users nowadays. As the dependence of modern society on technology increases, the choice of a different way of living may not be socially acceptable or even possible. However, according to Nicholas Carr, it is essential to practice more attentive, introspective and contemplative modes of thinking.