Ruminations on our relationship with technology
Proust and the Squid: Maryanne Wolf on the science of reading It’s uncontroversial to say we humans evolved to eat and reproduce. But it would be ridiculous to argue we evolved to read or write—even though reading and writing are clearly consequences of our evolution. So how did we end up with these abilities? Maryanne … Read more
Technics, art, and technology Ever since I traveled through old-world countries like Spain and Italy, I’ve been fascinated by the art of ancient technologies. After seeing the legacy of Greek and Roman architecture and aqueducts, for example, it became impossible to think science and technology were one thing while art and culture were another. There … Read more
Online outrage on social media “Geez, I was only on Facebook for three minutes, and in that time I lost eight friends!” So said a buddy of mine as we were catching up over beers. Unsurprisingly, his remarks took place during an election season. As usual, he (and many others) saw no shortage of outrage … Read more
Research on Internet Generation, or iGen How do smartphones and social media affect the minds and lives of today’s youth? More parents and teachers began asking this question after the first iPhone came out in 2007, just a year after Facebook opened to everyone 13 and older. Since then, most teens have never known a … Read more
Deep work vs. shallow work I’m a fan of Cal Newport for the same reason I like Henry David Thoreau. Newport sees immense value in the ability to focus and filter out distractions. For this reason, I highly recommend his book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. The key idea is … Read more
Buddha on ‘attachment’ and its discontents My interest in Buddhism began when I was a teenager. Buddha’s philosophy of attachment and mindfulness (which I’ll recap below) always resonated with me, although applying it remains challenging in today’s busy, high-tech world. I’ve often asked myself: Were Buddha alive today, would he buy a smartphone? Would he … Read more
Revisiting Thoreau’s Walden Every so often, I like to pick up books I haven’t glanced at in a while and lose myself in the words of a sagacious writer. One author I find myself constantly revisiting is Henry David Thoreau—in particular, his book Walden. Most have probably heard of Thoreau, even though his message of … Read more
A cost-benefit analysis: To delete or not delete Facebook? I joined Facebook in 2009. By 2018, I deleted my account. After a decade observing how it affected our culture, I realized the costs outweighed any benefits. Taking advantage of the “Delete Facebook” movement, I seized the hashtag #deletefacebook and freed myself from the matrix. Some … Read more
Cellphones and distracted driving When I was in grad school studying technical communication and cognitive science, a pressing question bothered me. It dealt with a problem that affected many of my peers, particularly those of us who drove. Why does using a cellphone in the car distract from driving? What is distracted driving? It’s a … Read more