Technology and Mental ObesityTechnology and Mental Obesity

Julian Parham Santana

Professor King Dykeman and Dennis Hodgson

Progress and its Critics

12/2/08

Julian Parham Santana

Professor King Dykeman and Dennis Hodgson

Progress and its Critics

12/2/08

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Technology = Progress Easy Efficient Effortless

Technology = Mental Obesity Desensitized Dehumanized Mentally out of shape

Technology = Progress Easy Efficient Effortless

Technology = Mental Obesity Desensitized Dehumanized Mentally out of shape

High Tech but Low TouchHigh Tech but Low Touch

Always connected Limited physical interaction Limited mental and

physical activity Impersonal communication

Always connected Limited physical interaction Limited mental and

physical activity Impersonal communication

Life is Too GoodLife is Too Good

Software does it all: Spelling and grammar check Graph and table creator Art and music software

Weaken speech and grammar skills No attention to style and composition Losing hands-on artistic skill

Software does it all: Spelling and grammar check Graph and table creator Art and music software

Weaken speech and grammar skills No attention to style and composition Losing hands-on artistic skill

“Looks like your spell check was turned off when you prepared your resume.”

“Looks like your spell check was turned off when you prepared your resume.”

Search Made SimpleSearch Made Simple

Search engines make researchers lazy No first-hand observation Skimming rather than reading Sacrificing ability to interpret information Losing sense of direction

Search engines make researchers lazy No first-hand observation Skimming rather than reading Sacrificing ability to interpret information Losing sense of direction

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A Virtual MarketplaceA Virtual Marketplace Anything can be bought on Internet No need to leave home Thrill of collecting diminished

Anything can be bought on Internet No need to leave home Thrill of collecting diminished

Sports Tech: Changing the GameSports Tech: Changing the Game

Technology changing many sports

Swimming: Anti-wave ropes Ozone-treated water LZR racer suit

Bowling: Synthetic lane surfaces Reactive resin bowling balls

Technology changing many sports

Swimming: Anti-wave ropes Ozone-treated water LZR racer suit

Bowling: Synthetic lane surfaces Reactive resin bowling balls

Shortcuts to PerfectionShortcuts to Perfection Everything must be perfected technologically Condorcet would be disappointed:

Tools could make us more intellectual but we use them to cheat our way out of exercising our minds

Malthus would be disappointed: Would see technology today as a way of avoiding the

evil that promotes activity

Everything must be perfected technologically Condorcet would be disappointed:

Tools could make us more intellectual but we use them to cheat our way out of exercising our minds

Malthus would be disappointed: Would see technology today as a way of avoiding the

evil that promotes activity

What Will Happen if Technology is Taken from Us?

What Will Happen if Technology is Taken from Us?

A modern society’s infrastructure would shutdown

People would not be able to perform jobs

A modern society’s infrastructure would shutdown

People would not be able to perform jobs

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Northeast Blackout of 2003 Northeast Blackout of 2003

Blackout as OpportunityBlackout as Opportunity

Human interaction and active thinking Families together by candlelight Classic board games Reading and critical thinking

Human interaction and active thinking Families together by candlelight Classic board games Reading and critical thinking

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Not Too Late to get Mentally FitNot Too Late to get Mentally Fit

Technological tools can deaden our minds or make us smarter and more productive

Make an effort to put our minds to work and learn rather than forget

Use the extra time and convenience technology affords to exercise our minds

Technological tools can deaden our minds or make us smarter and more productive

Make an effort to put our minds to work and learn rather than forget

Use the extra time and convenience technology affords to exercise our minds

Train Your BrainTrain Your Brain

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Avoid Mental Obesity