Does technology make us smarter or dumber?

In today’s technologically advanced society, information is virtually everywhere. Access to the internet allows people to have endless amounts of knowledge right under their fingertips. But even with all of these resources, does technology improve how people think and learn? This topic can be debated depending on one’s definition of intelligence and the context of the argument as a whole. I personally believe that when technology is used correctly and responsibly, it can greatly improve human intelligence.

According to Webster, intelligence is “the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations” (merriam-webster.com). But people have many different ways to define intelligence. Is it the college degree on the wall or the ability to survive independently that makes people smarter? Stephanie Olson explains that Sir Isaac Newton “was socially inept and a borderline hermit” (cnet.com). One requirement of intelligence, for example, might be that a person must be able to communicate what they think. But by this logic, the father of physics and calculus would be considered “dumb”. Furthermore, the proof that technology makes people smarter can be the same reasons that technology inhibits learning.

After the invention of the calculator, one could argue that it became a great tool for learning. But in the same context, our generation has never learned to use a slide rule which was used to get the first man to the moon. So which generation is smarter? It becomes a matter of perspective. A neutral position would be that technology makes us more efficient but neither smarter nor dumber.

Critics tend to take the side that technology makes us dumber. For instance, while typing this blog I overlooked the simple rule of “‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’”. But because of spell-check I will not be marked down for grammar. This brings up the point that the union of technology and intelligence is entirely up to the individual. Being completely reliable on something such as spell-check is different than using spell-check simply as a tool. For the same reasons, when browsing the internet for a research paper a person might not take the time to learn and absorb what they are reading but rather find what they need and be done with it.

The upside of technology is that it makes it easier and more efficient to learn. Tools such as Microsoft Office, the internet, and interactive learning programs in school are designed for people to present information in an effective manner. Dr. Mike Merzenich has even “developed software to help children with dyslexia and other disorders learn how to read” (cnet.com). If this technology didn’t exist, these children would quickly fall behind and would struggle to be competitive in society.

In conclusion, technology can be viewed as a blessing or a curse. Many factors play a part when people make up their minds regarding these advancements. But if technology did not continue to evolve, our ability to learn new and exciting things would cease to exist.

References:
merriam-webster.com
http://news.cnet.com/Intelligence-in-the-Internet-age/2100-11395_3-5869719.html
http://news.cnet.com/Are-we-getting-smarter-or-dumber/2008-1008_3-5875404.html