Is technology dumbing people down.

[We Never Know]

Is technology dumbing people down?

For example take autofill -Type a few letters and it will pop the word or similar up.
Take spell checker -Spell it wrong and the correct way will pop up.

I admit I often use those without giving it a thought because its so simple and easy.
Not much thinking involved and when not using my cell/tablet or laptop and actually writing, I sometimes have to think about and look some words to make sure I have spelled them right.

All in all I would say my spelling has slightly declined. Now it could be age but IMO its more of it will do it for me.

That's just one simple example.

Maybe its just me. Anyone else?

 

[JustGeorge]

Is technology dumbing people down?

For example take autofill -Type a few letters and it will pop the word or similar up.
Take spell checker -Spell it wrong and the correct way will pop up.

I admit I often use those without giving it a thought because its so simple and easy.
Not much thinking involved and when not using my cell/tablet or laptop and actually writing, I sometimes have to think about and look some words to make sure I have spelled them right.

All on all I would say my spelling has slightly declined. Now it could be age but IMO its more of it will do it for me.

That's just one simple example.

Maybe its just me. Anyone else?

Good points. It may, in some ways.

I think its killing our(general our) attention spans, too.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It does create dependency which is why I think in the future most people will be so hobbled with their own abilities that they'll rely totally on AI to make all the decisions and work for them.

Not good.

 

[Heyo]

Is technology dumbing people down?

For example take autofill -Type a few letters and it will pop the word or similar up.
Take spell checker -Spell it wrong and the correct way will pop up.

I admit I often use those without giving it a thought because its so simple and easy.
Not much thinking involved and when not using my cell/tablet or laptop and actually writing, I sometimes have to think about and look some words to make sure I have spelled them right.

All in all I would say my spelling has slightly declined. Now it could be age but IMO its more of it will do it for me.

That's just one simple example.

Maybe its just me. Anyone else?

Is spelling really that important if a simple spell checker can do it?
I see those gimmicks as an automation of simple tasks. It helps me to concentrate on the content, not the form.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Is spelling really that important if a simple spell checker can do it?
I see those gimmicks as an automation of simple tasks. It helps me to concentrate on the content, not the form.

Yeah. It's like learning math. Knowing how isn't really the important part. That's what we have calculators for. But learning how to do it and training the brain to do it, that's what's important and will lead to doing and setting up more advanced calculations that are assisted by calculators.

 

[JustGeorge]

Is spelling really that important if a simple spell checker can do it?
I see those gimmicks as an automation of simple tasks. It helps me to concentrate on the content, not the form.

Yeah. It's like learning math. Knowing how isn't really the important part. That's what we have calculators for. But learning how to do it and training the brain to do it, that's what's important and will lead to doing and setting up more advanced calculations that are assisted by calculators.

I think that once you've reached a certain proficiency, spelling and basic math aren't important. But, while little people are growing, they oughta be taught.

Kids have Chromebooks here pretty much right away at school. With spell check and calculators. I'm finding an unfortunate amount of young people don't really know how to manage some of these simple skills.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think that once you've reached a certain proficiency, spelling and basic math aren't important. But, while little people are growing, they oughta be taught.

Kids have Chromebooks here pretty much right away at school. With spell check and calculators. I'm finding an unfortunate amount of young people don't really know how to manage some of these simple skills.

Those devices need to be banned for the duration of classes and testing.

It's the only way to ensure the students are using their brains and not cheating.

 

[Heyo]

I think that once you've reached a certain proficiency, spelling and basic math aren't important. But, while little people are growing, they oughta be taught.

Kids have Chromebooks here pretty much right away at school. With spell check and calculators. I'm finding an unfortunate amount of young people don't really know how to manage some of these simple skills.

Absolutely. I wouldn't let a kid use a power tool unless they know how to do it manually.

 

[We Never Know]

Yeah. It's like learning math. Knowing how isn't really the important part. That's what we have calculators for. But learning how to do it and training the brain to do it, that's what's important and will lead to doing and setting up more advanced calculations that are assisted by calculators.

Students weren't allowed calculators in school back when I went. They wanted you to learn how to solve using your brain, not learn to push buttons.

 

[Tomef]

Is technology dumbing people down?

For example take autofill -Type a few letters and it will pop the word or similar up.
Take spell checker -Spell it wrong and the correct way will pop up.

I admit I often use those without giving it a thought because its so simple and easy.
Not much thinking involved and when not using my cell/tablet or laptop and actually writing, I sometimes have to think about and look some words to make sure I have spelled them right.

All in all I would say my spelling has slightly declined. Now it could be age but IMO its more of it will do it for me.

That's just one simple example.

Maybe its just me. Anyone else?

I think it's more just that the waves are moving faster. Back when you had to go to the library, it took longer to get the info you needed, and especially to cross reference anything, but the same principle applied; you had to study, understand, produce a coherent result. The difference now is there is much more info, coming at a faster rate, which can be fantastic if you want broad overviews, and doesn't prevent anyone really learning something in-depth either. In either situation, past or present, you have people who want to surf the wave and stay in control of their own opinions, and those who don't want to, or can't, keep up, and prefer to keep the illusion that their random impressions are connected to reality.

 

[Heyo]

Students weren't allowed calculators in school back when I went. They wanted you to learn how to solve using your brain, not learn to push buttons.

There were no pocket calculators when I went to primary school, but we were taught how to use them in secondary school. What can be done by a pocket calculator isn't worth doing by hand, once you know how to do it. A calculator doesn't help you to solve worded problems. You have to use your brain to find the right formula. The rest is trivial and can be done with a calculator.

 

[The Hammer]

Is technology dumbing people down?

It's making us smarter in some ways, and dumber in others.

It also ruins attention span, and fosters impulsivity. In regards to social media and the internet.

 

[Esteban X]

I think its killing our(general our) attention spans, too.

I've noticed that in my own life. As an antidote I have made a conscious effort To get back into the reading habit. Novel, History, Biographies. It seems to have worked, At first it required an effort but after a few weeks I now feel uncomfortable if I can't devote at least an hour a day to dedicated reading

 

[We Never Know]

I've noticed that in my own life. As an antidote I have made a conscious effort To get back into the reading habit. Novel, History, Biographies. It seems to have worked, At first it required an effort but after a few weeks I now feel uncomfortable if I can't devote at least an hour a day to dedicated reading

Why read. AI can read it out loud for you. All you have to do is listen.

Yes that's sarcasm.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Why read. AI can read it out loud for you. All you have to do is listen.

Yes that's sarcasm.

I find audiobooks to be quite useful.

 

[We Never Know]

I find audiobooks to be quite useful.

Do you highlight the post here and choose to have them read out loud too?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Do you highlight the post here and choose to have them read out loud too?

It all depends on application. Sometimes yes, and sometimes no , or even both.

 

[We Never Know]

It all depends on application. Sometimes yes, and sometimes no , or even both.

So far we have confirmed with AI people don't have to read, do math, worry about spelkibg(ha ha), hurts our attention span, etc

 

[Twilight Hue]

So far we have confirmed with AI people don't have to read, do math, worry about spelkibg(ha ha), hurts our attention span, etc

True but there are instances where due to handicaps and disability, an exception might be warranted.

This whole thread kind of reminds me of Elon Musk and his assertion that Ai and Humanity must be merged together.

 

[We Never Know]

True but there are instances where due to handicaps and disability, an exception might be warranted.

I agree.