SWA#2

I really enjoyed the article "Hooked on Technology, and Paying a Price" because it is so relateable. The Campbells are a modern day family, facing modern day problems. Technology is taking over the world. The part of the article where they say that "while multitasking makes them more productive, research shows otherwise. Heavy multitaskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information... and they experience more stress" (15).  I can relate to this because when I think that I am being productive by doing a million things at once, I actually get completely frustrated and stressed out because I cant put all of my attention to one thing. It is also interesting that they make the comparison between technology and drugs, because it is true that technology is like a drug. It is addicting, and hard to put devices down. Mr. Campbell and his family experience that, and the tension that it brings.
The hours of media comsumed by people a day has more than doubled since 1960, up to twelve hours. That seems ridiculous but when you think about how much time you spend on your smartphone, laptop, or watching tv, it really adds up. Through the development of more advanced computers, scientists have discovered that brain development does not stop after childhood, that it continues to develop because of things like learning skills. Most people say that childhood years are very important because that is when the main time the brain develops, but now that we know the brain keeps developing throughout lifetimes. Scientists also thought that the brain could only process one stream of thought, until recently found that it could process more than one, multitasking.
Mr. Ophir and his colleagues did many tests on patients to see how the brain reacted to multitasking. It was difficult for the multitaskers to filter out the irrelevant information, which is like our everyday distractions. We cant help but focus on things that are not important at the time or are not related to our main goal. But technology devices can be productive as well. When we look at gamers, it can be used for a rehabilitatice and educational purpose, enhancing reaction time and tracking movement. So even though video games seem like a waste of time, fast paced ones can be useful. Rewiring of the brain goes on all the time, it learns to adapt, which to me seemed obvious because that information has been known since I have been born, but is relatively new information in the world of science.
I also found a paragraph under the section "Interrupted by a Corpse" relateable where it talks about the many devices and computer screens open on Mr. Campbell's desk as he is trying to finish a project for work. I may have to write a big paper for school, but have my phone next to me, itunes open playing music, facebook open, google open, and the television on in the background. With technology brings many distractions. Not only does it cause distractions at the very moment in time, but it also leads to forgetfulness and short term memory loss. Mr. Campbell ordered the wrong program for his company, he burned hamburgers, and forgot to pick up his children.
These distractions and technological devices Mr. Campbell is embedded in have taken a toll on his children and family. The kids are learning bad habits from him, like his son also being engulfed in his devices. Good thing the daughter is only allowed an hour a day, because she would be in trouble too, at eight years old already with a laptop and such. They try and take a vacation and Mr. Campbell still cannot get away from his email and games. Not until one of the final days does the whole family enjoy eachother's company without distractions. I can also relate to this. My Dad is a business man and is always on his blackberry or laptop. If were driving somewhere he usually always has one to two business calls to make while the rest of the family has to sit silently in the car. This lately hasnt been a problem because we all have our own phones, ipods, and dvd players to be focused on. But once we are into the vacation he usually does a very good job to set his emailing time to a minimum when we are not doing an activity together. It really can ruin a vacation and the feeling of togetherness.
I really liked this article because I related to it, and because it was more narrative and not just a bunch of information thrown at me like the previous ones. It really opens my eyes to how much we depend on technological devices nowadays, and how if we dont do something about it we could be heading down the wrong path.