This is another note along the same
vein as the “zombies attack America.” Perhaps this will sound as
if I am a conspiracy theorist, but I don't really think it is a
conspiracy, rather, it is the natural course of things in the world
we live in and there are those who may take advantage of that course.
Alright, enough talking around what I wish to speak of.
Today, as I was driving in heavy
traffic, I began to think how nice it would be to have one of those
cars that practically drives itself. I saw an article in Time
magazine or some such magazine about soon there will probably be a
car which does completely drive itself. After thinking of driving, I
also thought of how when people have a question now, instead of
trying to remember the answer from things learned or even asking a
friend for the answer, they ask their phone.
I recently watched a documentary,
called Digital Nation, and in it a few educators who were interviewed
said something along the lines of: children no longer need to be
taught answers and facts because they now have access to all the
answers at the touch of a button. I do think teaching styles should
change over time, I do firmly believe in more than rote learning but,
oh, can't you see that despite our phones, computers, an internet
filled with information, and so many other modern things, our brains
are still our best and most reliable resource? I know they more
readily forget things, but they do not easily run out of power, they
do not get out of range or hit a dead spot, and it is harder to
tamper with them.
Now, if we were attacked by
electromagnetic bombs (which can destroy electronic devices using
high-powered microwaves) currently, we would be helpless in so many
ways, but we could still drive old cars (“pre-computer cars”),
because we have the skills to drive; many architects could still
design a bridge, because they committed the skills they need to
memory; a mechanic could fix a car because they learned how to, and
not because they looks up a step by step video every time they do
something. The more we commit to electronic memory, instead of
committing it to our memory and using electronic merely as a
“back-up,” the easier it is to render us helpless.
I was not planning on going in this
direction, but my brain took me here, so off I go. Electronic memory
and media is also more changeable and easier to change than “good
old paper.” It saddens me and scares me a little that so many
books, papers, magazines, etc. are moving purely toward the
electronic. I can keep a paper copy of the Bible or history book or
newspaper in my house and I would know if anyone were to tamper with
it. Not only that, I can go to my friend and ask to compare my paper
source to his, which, even if they were the same when they were made,
are now mutually exclusive (if one changes, it does not effect the
integrity of the other). Whereas millions of electronic copies can be
linked to one source, can often be remotely accessed, and can be
almost simultaneously changed. “Hey, didn't the ending of The
Hunchback of Notre Dame used to be different?” “I'm not sure, but
my e-book ends the same as yours, so I don't think so.” Just
something else to think of.
Note: I am a little biased towards
paper books, I like the way they feel and smell, I like that I can
underline and, when a friend borrows the book, they can see my
underlines. I also enjoy buying an old copy of something and seeing
someone else's underlines. I have enjoyed reading a couple novels on
a Kendall, and I do want to eventually get one to use when traveling,
I also know e-books are better for the environment, but they are just
not the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment