Intelligence in the Internet age

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I found this article on Slashdot: http://news.com.com/Intelligence+in+the+Internet+age/2100-11395_3-5869719.html?part=rss&tag=5869719&subj=news.

My contention is that new technologies do not necessarily make people as a group more intelligent; but they allow people to use their intelligence more constructively. For example, calculators let people spend more time solving novel problems instead of doing repetitive computation themselves. On the other hand, technology in general has led to better health, which leads to higher overall intelligence.

Swings and roundabouts. It really depends on how the technology is introduced, it seems nowadays that de-skilling is a major factor in introducing new technology. At its extremes new techniques can lead to huge advance or redundant ways of life. Looking at call centre staff here, they lack basic knowledge outside the company line. Try getting advice on which bits of hardware are compatible with which operating systems in major chainstores and you can see that while those desining and making specialist use get benefit, it just bypasses most people. There are all sorts of synthetic rock for use in building repair and the result ihere in Glasgow is patched repairs falling to bits, the masons who could do the job properly are too expensive, where they still have the skills required.

I wonder if technolocical advances designed to make life easier, haven't "dumbed down" our society significantly.

Not just calculators and spell-check eliminating the need to acquire knowledge of these educational fundamentals, but television with its wasteland consuming great gobs of our desire to get off the couch and go explore. Music and media designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator, along with "time-saving" inovations that shorten chores, but reduce time for introspection and creative thought have sent society on a slippery slope.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a Ludite, but there have been some adverse effects carried hand in hand with innovation.

On the other hand I should have spell checked some of the above

No, the technology actually only allows us to live a simpler sife, but the intelligence itself slowly decreases in the population because people lost the habit of using their invention. The invention can only exist if there are lack of means to create or get whatcha want, so you have to use your brain and think out or invent something.

Nice necropost!
Also, NeantHumain last visited WP in June 2012.

I do agree, to some extent.
Many people depend on spellcheck,and apparently do not read what they have written, thus sending messages with the wrong words included.

Sylkat

Which results in devastating effects involving bad relationships and auto-corrected evil. It's put onto people and has made most, if not all, of us a bunch of lazy workers. Eh, time to eat..

When writing became wide spread it was feared that dependence on the written ( and then read) word would weaken memory. For many our handy dandy hand-held computers serve as a memory organ.

ruveyn

I agree. The most intelligent, creative and innovative people of ancient times were on a par with the smartest people alive today. The human race has always had smart creative people. That is why we are not still living in caves.

ruveyn

Error 404: intelligence not found.

the only thing that has changed is the KIND of intelligence we have.

ummm heavy metal poisoning, car fumes, de-mineralised foods from modern farming, additives and preservatives, hormone feed animals, over farmed soils, polluted oceans and fish, nitrates in the water table.....etc etc

all contribute to PDD's and genetic deteriorations of human DNA
nutritional science and ships moving international food stuffs have led to better health
urban planning and sanitation has reduced the incidence of disease

If anything I think modern technology has made us less healthy
probably the 50-70's was a very healthy time for western nations, relatively speaking

The internet is definitely making us smarter though.
I used to have to beat off to the Womens Weekly magazine, now I've got zillions of porn stars at my fingertips [cough]

Explain the increase in life expectancy, then.

ruveyn