With smartphones, tablets and other computers at the fingertips of more than three billion people worldwide, the way humans retrieve and retain information has undergone a dramatic shift over the last two decades.
It wasn害羞草研究所檛 so long ago that society relied on traditional means like encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases and other reference books to gather information and answer important questions.
But the rapid growth and evolution of digital technology has rendered many of these resources all but obsolete.
Christopher Schneider, an associate professor of sociology at Brandon University, said research has shown that quick and simple access to facts and figures has significantly altered the way human beings gather and retain information.
害羞草研究所淭here is evidence that our accessibility to information through sources like Google, Wikipedia, etc., has diminished our memories and power of recall,害羞草研究所� said Schneider, a former assistant professor at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna.
害羞草研究所淭he rationale of scholars is that we can always retrieve the information quickly and easily, and so we害羞草研究所檙e less likely to retain it because the need is essentially no longer there.害羞草研究所�
Schneider said many researchers suggest the ongoing changes in technology represent 害羞草研究所渙ne of the most important shifts in the human experience since the industrial revolution.害羞草研究所�
He said the jury remains out on whether this massive shift towards technology will have positive or negative long-term effects on society.
To help explain the shift, Schneider refers to 害羞草研究所榙igital natives害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所榙igital immigrants,害羞草研究所� terms used by author Marc Prensky to describe the societal split in the use of technology.
The 害羞草研究所榥atives害羞草研究所� are those people who grew up immersed in the digital age, while the 害羞草研究所榠mmigrants害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶖generally 35 to 40 years and older害羞草研究所攁re those who have had to adjust to advances in technology on the fly.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 fully understand the consequences of this shift, whether it害羞草研究所檚 good or bad or in between, but there害羞草研究所檚 a cultural clash happening,害羞草研究所� said Schneider.
害羞草研究所淒igital immigrants are those in charge of our dominant institutions, like Parliament, the RCMP, doctors and lawyers, so there害羞草研究所檚 some fear of natives and a bit of a divide there.
害羞草研究所淭he excitement comes from natives, the young people who are in schools, labs and tech companies who are designing a new digital world for us, making the globe a smaller place.
害羞草研究所淥ne day, natives will occupy all those positions of authority.
害羞草研究所淥n the flip side, is technology going to make us more isolated than ever?害羞草研究所� he added.
害羞草研究所淏ecause we are in the middle of it right now, it remains to be seen whether it will be good or bad.害羞草研究所�
Social impacts
In addition to changing the way people access information, Schneider said newer technologies have also had an impact on how we interact with others, including in social situations.
害羞草研究所淓ven things like parties, when you get together with a group of friends, your high school buddies, you reminisce, talk and tell stories害羞草研究所he dynamics of that has changed, too,害羞草研究所� Schneider said.
害羞草研究所淲hat happens now, when a subject comes up, is who can pull out their smartphone first and find the answer to the question.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 interesting and difficult to say how it will impact us socially in the long-term.害羞草研究所�
On the subjects of emotional growth and the general well-being of people, Schneider said the new digital age raises some interesting questions.
In some instances, the use of social media may be serving as a replacement for more traditional forms of human interaction.
害羞草研究所淲e know how important it is, from the beginning, the love and touch of a human being, to be held and cared for,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淲ith technology, there seems to be less and less face-to-face and touching.
害羞草研究所淲e can be social with Facebook and other digital media without human contact.
害羞草研究所淎re we going to be more connected than ever and better informed, or are we going to be a nation of sociopaths.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 scary and daunting and exciting all at the same time害羞草研究所nd we just don害羞草研究所檛 know.害羞草研究所�
