The Bigger Picture

As I head to college soon, I never realize how much our world has shifted. I thought all my multi-tasking was a good thing. I believed that all my distractions were due entirely to my laziness and emotions. But I am watching this documentary on the digital age, and realizing that I now live in a world that is turning the wrong direction. We are living in a world where we are so connected and everything we want is within the grasp of our laptops or cell phones. Dealing with all this is overwhelming, but we have to work with technology and also question how we work with technology.

For so long I have thought that I can work well multitasking. What's the harm checking my facebook, e-mail, phone, playing games, listening to music and doing homework all at once? But I know the brain cannot multitask. It's just not possible. The new technology is there, but we have to learn to deal with the technology in a productive manner. We cannot depend on computers too much as a second brain, but we have to let go of old ways of thought that assume memorization is key to success. In a world where all those answers are within the click of a button, why do we even bother memorizing equations, anatomy, or quotes? Really, we must change our learning methods to fit with the new technologies. But meanwhile I live in our backwards education, and I must adapt to that as well.

At least I am not in Korea. Koreans are obsessed with the Internet. Even at the age of five they are taught Netiquette songs. I remember learning nursery rhymes, not internet rhymes in kindergarten. Koreans live in the computer, and there are even internet addiction camps for thousands of teens addicted to their computers. These are the issues that many face, but dealing with them seems so crazy. Somehow this magic of computers and the Internet has created so many problems along with all the benefits.



If I can sum up my thoughts, I believe that this world has come to expect thinking, life, and reality to be as fast as the computer. But we cannot be. We are human. Reconciling these two worlds is challenging, but we are all lost amidst new super speed technology together. Hopefully we don't become so overwhelmed that we fall apart.