With smartphones, tablets and other computers at the fingertips of more than three billion people worldwide, the way humans retrieve and retain information has undergone a dramatic shift over the last two decades.
It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 so long ago that society relied on traditional means like encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases and other reference books to gather information and answer important questions.
But the rapid growth and evolution of digital technology has rendered many of these resources all but obsolete.
Christopher Schneider, an associate professor of sociology at Brandon University, said research has shown that quick and simple access to facts and figures has significantly altered the way human beings gather and retain information.
香蕉视频直播淭here is evidence that our accessibility to information through sources like Google, Wikipedia, etc., has diminished our memories and power of recall,香蕉视频直播� said Schneider, a former assistant professor at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna.
香蕉视频直播淭he rationale of scholars is that we can always retrieve the information quickly and easily, and so we香蕉视频直播檙e less likely to retain it because the need is essentially no longer there.香蕉视频直播�
Schneider said many researchers suggest the ongoing changes in technology represent 香蕉视频直播渙ne of the most important shifts in the human experience since the industrial revolution.香蕉视频直播�
He said the jury remains out on whether this massive shift towards technology will have positive or negative long-term effects on society.
To help explain the shift, Schneider refers to 香蕉视频直播榙igital natives香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播榙igital immigrants,香蕉视频直播� terms used by author Marc Prensky to describe the societal split in the use of technology.
The 香蕉视频直播榥atives香蕉视频直播� are those people who grew up immersed in the digital age, while the 香蕉视频直播榠mmigrants香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈generally 35 to 40 years and older香蕉视频直播攁re those who have had to adjust to advances in technology on the fly.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 fully understand the consequences of this shift, whether it香蕉视频直播檚 good or bad or in between, but there香蕉视频直播檚 a cultural clash happening,香蕉视频直播� said Schneider.
香蕉视频直播淒igital immigrants are those in charge of our dominant institutions, like Parliament, the RCMP, doctors and lawyers, so there香蕉视频直播檚 some fear of natives and a bit of a divide there.
香蕉视频直播淭he excitement comes from natives, the young people who are in schools, labs and tech companies who are designing a new digital world for us, making the globe a smaller place.
香蕉视频直播淥ne day, natives will occupy all those positions of authority.
香蕉视频直播淥n the flip side, is technology going to make us more isolated than ever?香蕉视频直播� he added.
香蕉视频直播淏ecause we are in the middle of it right now, it remains to be seen whether it will be good or bad.香蕉视频直播�
Social impacts
In addition to changing the way people access information, Schneider said newer technologies have also had an impact on how we interact with others, including in social situations.
香蕉视频直播淓ven things like parties, when you get together with a group of friends, your high school buddies, you reminisce, talk and tell stories香蕉视频直播he dynamics of that has changed, too,香蕉视频直播� Schneider said.
香蕉视频直播淲hat happens now, when a subject comes up, is who can pull out their smartphone first and find the answer to the question.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 interesting and difficult to say how it will impact us socially in the long-term.香蕉视频直播�
On the subjects of emotional growth and the general well-being of people, Schneider said the new digital age raises some interesting questions.
In some instances, the use of social media may be serving as a replacement for more traditional forms of human interaction.
香蕉视频直播淲e know how important it is, from the beginning, the love and touch of a human being, to be held and cared for,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淲ith technology, there seems to be less and less face-to-face and touching.
香蕉视频直播淲e can be social with Facebook and other digital media without human contact.
香蕉视频直播淎re we going to be more connected than ever and better informed, or are we going to be a nation of sociopaths.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 scary and daunting and exciting all at the same time香蕉视频直播nd we just don香蕉视频直播檛 know.香蕉视频直播�
