Reliance on Google makes us...more...wait - where am I?

[Exterous]

But our reliance on Google for fact-checking and finding basic information has made us forgetful, say scientists.

It was also found that many individuals view internet search engines as an extension of their own intelligence, rather than a separate tool.

As a result they still regard themselves as being clever even when they need the internet to find answers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2510053/How-Google-rotting-memories-Young-people-today-worse-memories-parents.html?ico=health%5Eheadlines

I think some use the tool to learn new things that they then commit to memory but I can see how many might become overly reliant on it. I will also say that just because its on the internet that doesn't mean you don't need to be a little clever in stringing the right search terms together to find what you need. I expect Google-fu will be a fine art form and a highly sought after job trait in the future

Yes this is news but I couldn't remember where that is supposed to be posted (I figured it might reach a larger cross section of google users here)

 

[rudeguy]

how much do you want to bet that the "scientists" that put that study together used Google to find information at some point?

 

[lxskllr]

[ I will also say that just because its on the internet that doesn't mean you don't need to be a little clever in stringing the right search terms together to find what you need. I expect Google-fu will be a fine art form and a highly sought after job trait in the future

It's a refactoring of human knowledge. I don't think it's necessarily bad. Just different. Searching is a real skill, as is having the motivation to actually do it. Remembering details isn't particularly skillful. Combining details into new ideas is where intellect shines, and whether that comes from your brain, or DuckDuckGo is irrelevant.

 

[momeNt]

I had initially read these findings in relation to GPS and intelligence. Apparently people who begin to rely on GPS become worse at remembering directions. So if someone were to drive somewhere by looking at a map, they'd remember how to return compared to if their first trip was guided via GPS.

My most important phone numbers I still dial by memory. My address book is slower than my ability to type it in. I see a lot of people who used to remember my number have now forgotten it because of this.

 

[rudeguy]

I had initially read these findings in relation to GPS and intelligence. Apparently people who begin to rely on GPS become worse at remembering directions. So if someone were to drive somewhere by looking at a map, they'd remember how to return compared to if their first trip was guided via GPS.

My most important phone numbers I still dial by memory. My address book is slower than my ability to type it in. I see a lot of people who used to remember my number have now forgotten it because of this.

honestly, my brain has better shit to remember than phone numbers

Remember that Simpsons episode where Homer had to learn stuff but at some point every new thing he learned bumped out something he already knew? That's how I feel. My brain is so cluttered with random knowledge, new stuff I am learning, things I am interested in...its too cluttered for trivial shit.

Maybe I can defrag my brain? Anyone know the command for that?


Never mind...I'll Google it.

 

[lxskllr]

I had initially read these findings in relation to GPS and intelligence. Apparently people who begin to rely on GPS become worse at remembering directions. So if someone were to drive somewhere by looking at a map, they'd remember how to return compared to if their first trip was guided via GPS.

I'm that way with gps, and it's a large reason I don't like using it. I rely on the machine, and don't pay attention to my surroundings. It's not a big deal if the only goal is to get from A to B, but I miss out on seeing the surrounding landscape, and seeing interesting things. I prefer looking at a map, and then hand drawing my own map with directions. That commits the route to memory better, including nearby place names, and I can fit the paper in my pocket. I can draw an extensive route on a Post-It note by only including the detail I need.

 

[rudder]

I had initially read these findings in relation to GPS and intelligence. Apparently people who begin to rely on GPS become worse at remembering directions. So if someone were to drive somewhere by looking at a map, they'd remember how to return compared to if their first trip was guided via GPS.

My most important phone numbers I still dial by memory. My address book is slower than my ability to type it in. I see a lot of people who used to remember my number have now forgotten it because of this.

Hey, I just googled this:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-20/201012/are-gps-zombies-eating-your-brain

I avoid using GPS unless I might be driving through a ghetto or something.

 

[darkewaffle]

I had initially read these findings in relation to GPS and intelligence. Apparently people who begin to rely on GPS become worse at remembering directions. So if someone were to drive somewhere by looking at a map, they'd remember how to return compared to if their first trip was guided via GPS.

My most important phone numbers I still dial by memory. My address book is slower than my ability to type it in. I see a lot of people who used to remember my number have now forgotten it because of this.

It probably varies by person to person, but I use GPS for the first [few] times I go somewhere but I'm able to retain it pretty well. My GPS guided me almost all of my company's non-central offices but at this point I can get to many of them without it at all - though I could not give someone directions to do so lol.

 

[balloonshark]

honestly, my brain has better shit to remember than phone numbers ~snip~

You're in good company.

ONE OF Einstein's colleagues asked him for his telephone number one day. Einstein reached for a telephone directory and looked it up. "You don't remember your own number?" the man asked, startled. "No," Einstein answered. "Why should I memorize something I can so easily get from a book?"

In fact, Einstein claimed never to memorize anything which could be looked up in less than two minutes.​

 

[Newbian]

Maybe I can defrag my brain? Anyone know the command for that?

Get a big stick or hammer and smack your head a bit to sort all the mess and repeat as necessary. :biggrin:

 

[momeNt]

honestly, my brain has better shit to remember than phone numbers

I don't purposely commit things like that to memory. I just remember phone numbers. It's involuntary.

 

[rsutoratosu]

just like how the faa warn that pilots are losing skills because of automation on the planes

 

[pauldun170]

I could have told you that.
Its just that I forgot.

Its amazing how much I've retained from younger years (pre internet - You actually had to go to a "Library" and read an entire book to get one line of information)

Once we went from dial up to cable modem - I started to get forgetful. Yahoo was the big deal back then.
Now that we are on FIOS, I can't remember what we had for breakfast

 

[Exterous]

You're in good company.

Did he actually say that or it that one of those misatributed quotes? Because I am willing to bet he memorized basic mathematics even though he could look it up in a book

 

[momeNt]

Did he actually say that or it that one of those misatributed quotes? Because I am willing to bet he memorized basic mathematics even though he could look it up in a book

Seems it's second hand anecdote.

I remember my cell phone number and don't currently have a house phone, but my previous apartment I got Comcast triple-play because it was cheaper, and never learned that telephone number because I never dialed it.

 

[darkewaffle]

Did he actually say that or it that one of those misatributed quotes? Because I am willing to bet he memorized basic mathematics even though he could look it up in a book

There's a big difference between memorizing something and learning something. No doubt Einstein could tell you that 7 * 7 = 49, but it wouldn't have been because he memorized that singular fact.

 

[Exterous]

There's a big difference between memorizing something and learning something. No doubt Einstein could tell you that 7 * 7 = 49, but it wouldn't have been because he memorized that singular fact.

I believe once you have learned something it goes into your memory which is where the phrase 'memorizing' comes from

But now I'm derailing my own thread...

 

[Fritzo]

It was also found that many individuals view internet search engines as an extension of their own intelligence, rather than a separate tool.

As a result they still regard themselves as being clever even when they need the internet to find answers.

LOL- This is the BEST summary of ATOT I have ever seen!

 

[momeNt]

LOL- This is the BEST summary of ATOT I have ever seen!

Good one