Over the past three decades, there has been a notable rise in the utilization of computers in society. Since the advent of personal computers in the 70’s, global sales have significantly increased. According to the Gartner group, PC shipments have surged from 1.1 million in 1980 to an estimated 336.6 million units by 2010, indicating a 12.6 percent growth from 2009. Despite concerns regarding the potential decline of critical thinking abilities due to this increasing dependence on computers, I believe our capacity for reasoning and problem-solving remains intact. In fact, computers now empower us to tackle more intricate problems and function at a higher level.
During my research, I found several articles that criticize the idea of excessive computer usage. One specific example is:
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, literary reading has decreased by 10 points between 1982 and 2002 and this decline is now happening at a faster pace. Patricia Greenfield, a distinguished professor of psychology at UCLA and director of the Children’s Digital Media Center in Los Angeles, suggests that this decline can be attributed to the increased emphasis on visual media. She argues that reduced reading may lead to a decline in critical thinking skills since people are now more focused on consuming real-time media and multitasking instead of dedicating themselves to one task at a time (Greengard 18).
Michael Bugeja, the director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University of Science and Technology, argues that computers, particularly the Internet and platforms like Google and Wikipedia, play a vital role in providing information. However, he warns that our critical thinking abilities can be significantly improved by using appropriate technology. Unfortunately, the proliferation of electronic devices and constant stream of information pose challenges to our ability to concentrate and focus. Bugeja asserts that we are bombarded with numerous tasks and gadgets, making it hard to sustain attention on one thing for a prolonged period. Furthermore, he highlights the growing issue of “Google syndrome,” wherein individuals tend to accept online information as true without verifying its accuracy. This can lead to misinformation and false beliefs among people (Quote in Greengard 19).
Michael Bugeja expresses concern regarding the Internet’s abundance of information potentially leading people to mistake opinions for facts. However, specific communities have introduced credibility ratings as a solution. Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, permits registration and article contributions from anyone. Should an entry include obscene or opinion-driven content, administrators swiftly delete it. This system functions as a social mechanism to promote articles relatively void of unreliable or misleading data.
There is a debate among experts about the impact of computers and the Internet on society. Some argue that it has resulted in an overwhelming amount of information, making it difficult for us to concentrate. In 2008, Nicholas Carr wrote a cover story titled “Is Google Making us Stupid?” for the Atlantic Monthly magazine. In this article, he shares his belief that excessive exposure to the internet negatively affects our ability to focus on long written pieces. However, I disagree with Carr’s perspective. I think that Google actually improves our problem-solving skills by allowing us to approach problems more creatively and think more comprehensively. With Google, we spend less time trying to remember information and have more time available to come up with solutions.
Despite the increasing amount of information generated daily, individuals’ constant connectivity through the Internet might make it seem like we will be overwhelmed with this information. However, we are consistently developing tools to tackle this issue. With these advanced tools, we can determine which data is relevant to us and what can be disregarded.
In order to comprehend the origins of computers’ impact on society, we must turn back the clock to 1978 and examine the creation of VisiCalc, the first business application for personal computers (PCs). Developed by Dan Bricklin, this revolutionary spreadsheet allowed small businesses to perform What-If analysis without relying on expensive mainframe computers that typically carried a price tag in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In describing VisiCalc as a game-changer, Bricklin himself acknowledged its transformative power – it reduced a task that once consumed individuals 20 hours per week into a mere 15-minute process, thereby freeing them to unleash their creativity. (Quote Bellis1)
Wordstar revolutionized the writing process by introducing the first user-friendly word processor to create and edit documents. According to Marry Bellis in her article “The origins of word processing from a rising WordStar,” she expresses gratitude to the brilliant minds behind WordStar for reigniting her passion for writing. Despite declaring retirement in 1978, she now has six books in progress and two potential works, all thanks to WordStar.
Computers allow us to dedicate our attention to more complex tasks by taking care of mundane ones. While computers do not possess human qualities like intuition, humor, and artistic skills, they excel at carrying out mathematical calculations with great precision. Moreover, they can perform these calculations much faster than the human brain, achieving speeds millions of times higher. By combining a computer’s rapid calculation abilities with our own intuition and expertise, we achieve remarkable results across various fields and industries.
In avionics, computers are now in charge of intricate calculations and overseeing all aspects of an aircraft’s systems. This transition has freed pilots to focus on the mission rather than handling individual components of the plane. Known as Fly-By-Wire, this concept strives to empower airplanes with abilities that go beyond a human pilot’s capabilities, given their limited reflexes for maintaining total control over the aircraft.
Computers have had a significant impact on the world of photography, especially with the advent of modern point and shoot cameras. These cameras utilize embedded computers to automatically adjust different settings that affect photo quality. The computerized circuitry performs calculations for elements such as shutter speed, iris aperture, white balance, and focus. As a result, users can concentrate on capturing their subject and composition without being concerned about technical aspects. Consequently, point and shoot cameras have made photography more easily accessible to a broader range of people.
Computer technology has revolutionized architecture by enabling architects to create precise lines, circles, and perspective angles with ease. This saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent on drawing models manually. Renowned architect Frank Ghery is widely known for his innovative high-tech style in architecture. In his office, computers play a critical role in constructing buildings featuring sculptural and curvilinear forms like the Bilbao Museum.
The Genome project in the field of medicine has been a significant advancement, made possible by the computing power of computers. Computers possess a notable advantage with their capacity to swiftly perform multiple calculations, enabling them to tackle tasks that would be unattainable for humans. This breakthrough has facilitated doctors in utilizing the data acquired from the project to discover remedies for diseases such as cancer and other genetic illnesses. In addition, computers are progressively utilized in clinical settings for purposes like record keeping, diagnosis, and research. Their presence not only improves access to information but also enhances patient care.
The use of computers in the military has revolutionized warfare by providing instant field data for informed decision-making. This capability has great potential to save lives. Additionally, the military currently employs unmanned aircraft known as Drones to minimize risks encountered by human pilots and ensure their well-being. According to a Reuters article written by Phil Stewart, these drones have played a crucial role in U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, enabling remote tracking and elimination of insurgents while simultaneously providing real-time aerial imagery to ground troops.
The incorporation of technology in different sectors illustrates that computers are not reducing our thinking capabilities but instead enriching and expanding our intellectual potentials. Computers act as extensions of ourselves, empowering us to surpass existing constraints and evolve into something more advanced. This resembles earlier shifts when knowing how to ride horses was necessary for long-distance travel until the invention of cars. Presently, the widespread use of cars obviates the necessity for horse-riding proficiency.
As internet connectivity becomes increasingly prevalent, we will possess the ability to instantly retrieve any fact or event worldwide. This advancement will effectively expand our cognitive capacities manifold, allowing us to conceive and produce beyond our current limitations.
Work Cited
- Bellis, Mary. “The Origins of Word Processing from a Rising WordStar.” WordStar the First Word Processor. web.1 April. 2010.
- Bellis, Mary. “The First Spreadsheet – VisiCalc – Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston.” Inventors of the Modern Computer. web. 1 April. 2010.
- Carr, Nicholas. Is Google Making us Stupid? Atlantic Magazine. Jul-Aug.2008. web.1 April. 2010.
- Greengard, Samuel. Are we losing our ability to think critically? Communications of the ACM Digital Library volume 52, Number 7 (2009),
- Pages 18-19. Internet Archive. 2009. web. 1 April. 2010.
- Hornbeck, Elizabeth. Architecture and Advertising. Journal of Architectural Education (1984-), Vol. 53, No. 1), pp. 52-57. Blackwell. Sep., 1999 print.
- Hurt, Valerie. A Kilobyte of Cure. The Hastings Center Report, Vol. 25, No. 1 (Jan. – Feb., 1995), p. 2.
- Stanford, Conn. “Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments to Grow 2.8 Percent in 2009, but PC Revenue to Decline 11 Percent”. 23 Nov, 2009.
- Internet Archive. web. 23 Nov, 2009.
- Stewart Phil. “U.S. Hopes to Give Pakistan Drones within a Year.” Reuters.web. 29 Mar, 2010.
