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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淭here is evidence that our accessibility to information through sources like Google, Wikipedia, etc., has diminished our memories and power of recall,91裸聊视频� said Schneider, a former assistant professor at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna.
91裸聊视频淭he rationale of scholars is that we can always retrieve the information quickly and easily, and so we91裸聊视频檙e less likely to retain it because the need is essentially no longer there.91裸聊视频�
Schneider said many researchers suggest the ongoing changes in technology represent 91裸聊视频渙ne of the most important shifts in the human experience since the industrial revolution.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频榙igital natives91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频榙igital immigrants,91裸聊视频� terms used by author Marc Prensky to describe the societal split in the use of technology.
The 91裸聊视频榥atives91裸聊视频� are those people who grew up immersed in the digital age, while the 91裸聊视频榠mmigrants91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频攇enerally 35 to 40 years and older91裸聊视频攁re those who have had to adjust to advances in technology on the fly.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 fully understand the consequences of this shift, whether it91裸聊视频檚 good or bad or in between, but there91裸聊视频檚 a cultural clash happening,91裸聊视频� said Schneider.
91裸聊视频淒igital immigrants are those in charge of our dominant institutions, like Parliament, the RCMP, doctors and lawyers, so there91裸聊视频檚 some fear of natives and a bit of a divide there.
91裸聊视频淭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.
91裸聊视频淥ne day, natives will occupy all those positions of authority.
91裸聊视频淥n the flip side, is technology going to make us more isolated than ever?91裸聊视频� he added.
91裸聊视频淏ecause we are in the middle of it right now, it remains to be seen whether it will be good or bad.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淓ven things like parties, when you get together with a group of friends, your high school buddies, you reminisce, talk and tell stories91裸聊视频he dynamics of that has changed, too,91裸聊视频� Schneider said.
91裸聊视频淲hat happens now, when a subject comes up, is who can pull out their smartphone first and find the answer to the question.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 interesting and difficult to say how it will impact us socially in the long-term.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淲e know how important it is, from the beginning, the love and touch of a human being, to be held and cared for,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲ith technology, there seems to be less and less face-to-face and touching.
91裸聊视频淲e can be social with Facebook and other digital media without human contact.
91裸聊视频淎re we going to be more connected than ever and better informed, or are we going to be a nation of sociopaths.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 scary and daunting and exciting all at the same time91裸聊视频nd we just don91裸聊视频檛 know.91裸聊视频�
