Will Technology Make Us Dumber?

Smarter and dumber are overly broad.

There is an old adage (outside the carwash)

Rain will not clean a dirty car.

Rain will not dirty a clean car.

The same applies to Television

heretofore called, the Boob Tube.

Turning the TV on will not make you dumber

Turning the TV off will not make you smarter

Technology, for the user, simply involves less brain

application. The Brain may atrophy.

However, we as a society, have chosen to redefine

intelligence on other matters related to same

Musical intelligence

Athletic intelligence

Artistic intelligence.

As the definition of the word genius, once applied

to meeting a certain criteria in a specific area, has

been expanded beyond recognition, intelligence has

gone through the same metamorphosis.

Evolution--or devolution depending on your philosophical

bent or what you have to sell.

Technology is a tool. Just like a shovel.

Using a shovel may make me stronger if I am digging

ditches, but operating a backhoe to achieve the same

result will only get the job done more efficiently.

It won't make me stronger, only atrophy my muscles

Best wishes,

Sincerest regards,

Slim.

Robert Asken

Box 33

Pen Argyl, PA

18072

Copyright © 2021 Robert Asken

All rights reserved

Data? Think about this

Data! Think about this.

It's Saturday.

You and your wife are having her two sisters over for lunch.
You try to decide whether to eat inside or outside on the picnic table.

Your wife says, let's wait til they get here as ask them how they feel.

Jane arrives. You ask her about eating outside or inside.

She replies, "It's such a beautiful day I had to go back to put on shorts and a short sleeve blouse. Let's eat outside."

A few minutes later Sue arrives. You tell her about the plans to eat outside.

She replies, "It's too cold to eat outside. I had to go back to put on slacks and a sweater."

You check the thermometer, The Data reads 72 Degrees (f)

To Jane, it's warm.
To Sue, it's too cold.
The Data says 72.

Data has its limits. That is where thinking begins.

Regards,

Slim.

"There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labour of thinking." Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Asken

All rights reserved.

Robert Asken

Box 33 

Pen Argyl PA

18072

 

Tech v. Education

With all due respect. 

When I was a freshman. (3rd form) I went to Public School (US version) They had two tracks. The University track (college track) and the track for those who intended not to go beyond High School. That track focused on Mechanical Drawing, wood shop metal shop, typing, home economics. I took advantage of those options to take typing and mechanical drawing before transferring to The Prep.

True, in part, about practical applications. US High Schools are supposed to "educate" students not train them.

English courses, teach students to communicate.

Math courses will prepare students for tech [read, math] Geometry, true, is valuable only to those students who intend to become architects or geometry teacher.

History, well.... "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it." Santayana

Those who never learned history are doomed--Period!" Slim Fairview

The Quotations of Slim Fairview. © 2017

We also have the alternative: Vo-Tech. Vocational / Technical. Public Schools, Private Schools, and Vo-Tech schools can teach AI.

I became a website designer 1. January 2000.  That career did not exist when I was at School or at University.  And though it is very possible that what students learn today may still be viable when they turn 47, there may be careers that don't exist today.  Op cit, Website designer.  

Web design is not so much technology--I used Front Page 2000®--as it is design.  This came from a semester of art at University and Art in Grammar School and High School.  

People, today, have little concept of the education of the 50s and the 60s and cite what they don't know as a fictive device to advance their agenda.

Read BOTH

Democracy - & the Fall of the Athenian Republic

Alexander Tyler & James Olson

http://www.theroadtoemmaus.org/RdLb/21PbAr/Hst/US/DmocAthnsUS.htm

And

Fall of the Athenian Republic

http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/athenian.asp

Regards,

Slim,

Copyright © 2017 Bob Asken

All rights reserved.