Is Technology Making us Smarter?

Photo via Matthew Pearce

Since the internet crashed in and changed the world as we know it, there has been one defining debate:

Is technology dumbing us down or making us smarter? 

Read on for our take and tell me what YOU think in the comments below or tweet me @SashaHorne !

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  Is it right that a three-year-old child is tapping away at an iPad, rather than reading or engaging on a social level?  

Is the iPhone making us a dumber, more stupid race? 

There are certainly arguments in favor of this for instance we come to prioritize things differently  and  our thought process has become lazy. For example  status updates and snapping selfies instead of  enjoying the moment or relying on Google rather than raking our brains to remember.


 But, there’s another side of the argument. And, that’s the angle I’m looking at today.

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Info On Demand

We might follow a lazier thought process when we Google something. We no longer work through simple questions rationally, and arrive at the answers ourselves. But instead, we build up an immense amount of knowledge...knowledge that was previously restricted to libraries and encyclopedias.

It would take professors decades to learn the amount of information we now absorb. There is more data on the internet that we can count. In terms of sheer knowledge, we’re smarter than ever.

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Outsource our brain to the cloud 

We’re all familiar with storing files and data on the cloud. We use DropBox, Google docs, and calendars. 

But, have you ever thought that we’re essentially uploading our brains and information to the cloud?

Some scientists believe that this act ‘frees up’ our minds for new knowledge.  It allows us to focus and prioritize tasks.

Every time we write a blog, send a tweet, or send an email, we’re uploading our thoughts. 

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Compartmentalize and Organize

For all the negative thoughts, there is a real upside to technology. It helps us organize and compartmentalize everything in our lives. We can sync a daily calendar between our iPhones and computers. We can set reminders and notifications to keep us on track. We can write to-do lists, and gather brilliant resources from online. Technology helps us prioritize our lives and become more productive.

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Brain Stimulation 

Scientists and doctors both agree that keeping the brain active and healthy is essential. Puzzles and logical brain activity helps keep our minds sharp and focused into our old age. There are hundreds of apps and games designed for this type of activity. 


However, we recently came across a whole new technology centered around brain stimulation. It uses electric currents to boost reaction and response time between synapses and nerve endings. In this example, technology is quite literally making us smarter!

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We’re Reading More Books 

There is fierce debate among book lovers about the Kindle. 

Despite initial dislike towards the e-reader, most readers have now embraced the device. 

Not only that, but reading has actively increased since Amazon bought the Kindle to market. 

A society that reads more is smarter, more engaged, and better educated. No matter what you think of the Kindle, there’s no denying that more readers equal a force for good.

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I certainly understand the negative effects  of technology. It’s distracting and often induces laziness. However, it’s all about how you use it. Used correctly, and technology really has the potential to make  you a smarter more well rounded individual!

So what do YOU think? 
Is technology dumbing us down or making us smarter? 

Sound off in the  comments below or tweet me @SashaHorne !