Your Brain (and Personality) on Computers

An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness, another article in the Your Brain on Computers series, explores the notion of how excessive use of personal technologies may slowly be reshaping our personalities, causing people to become more impatient, impulsive, and forgetful. Advancing age and living in New York has already brought out some of those qualities in me, now the computer too, no!

Dependence on technology detracts from our relationships. Having hundreds of Facebook friends doesn't necessarily translate to, nor is it a substitute for, healthy relationships in "real life". It drives me crazy when I am out on the town, look around and see everyone playing with their phones. Come on, is this awesome concert or party not enough entertainment for you?

My position in this blog isn't meant to be anti-technology, but this NYT series brings to light many of my concerns about over dependence on technology. For me, the most significant message is that people should strive for balance and be self-aware.

If you enjoy your online activities more than anything else, then you might want to check out the expert insights provided in the online discussion, First Steps to Digital Detox.

Your Brain on Computers

A few days ago, The New York Times featured an interesting article, Your Brain on Computers: Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price, that highlights the Campbell family, especially Mr. Campbell, who is overly dependent on technology and is starting to notice some negative effects. Mrs. Campbell complains that her husband is often distracted, forgetful, and has a difficult time disconnecting and being in the moment.

This families reliance on technology seems somewhat extreme to me, but the scary thing is that it is the norm for many. If you are anything like the Campbell's, you may want to check out the warning signs of tech overload.

Researchers confirm that constant multi-tasking can be addictive, and is changing the way people think and behave, and not necessarily for the best. Multi-tasking used to be thought of as a great skill to have, but new research shows that multitaskers may actually have more trouble focusing and may experience more stress (test your focus and how well you can juggle between tasks with these cool, interactive quizzes).

Advances in technology that allow people to work anywhere and anytime, can be great for managing work and life, but not if you don't set boundaries for their use and unplug often. I know there are some great benefits to being connected, but living life in the moment is a real joy, and it would be sad to lose touch with that.