I’ve been a gamer a long time – basically, since video games were first invented. I date myself but, as a kid, I played the first arcade games – landmark games such as Space Invaders, Asteroids, Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Frogger, and Galaga. Ahh, such fond memories! I had an Atari 2600, then a …Read More
“The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” by Nicholas Carr (Book Recommendation)
Jun 11, 2011
I recently enjoyed the audiobook version of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. Yes, I did the audiobook version. Sometimes while I was driving. At double playback speed. Yes, I get the irony…or hypocrisy? In The Shallows, Mr. Carr chronicles the history of various ways we have dessimated information …Read More
The Problem of Technology “Addiction” – What We Can Do About It
Apr 20, 2011
So, I’ve now gone through why I think that technology can be “addictive,” (see previous posts An Addiction vs. A Problem and The Neuroscience of Tech Addiction) although I think it is important to not got get too hung up on the exact terminology. It is typically easier to discern whether it is a problem by …Read More
The Problem of Technology “Addiction” – The Neuroscience of Tech Addiction
Mar 21, 2011
Before we even tackle why various technologies can be addictive, a clear concern about Facebook, texting, email, video games, etc. is that they can become so compelling that we stop engaging in other need-satisfying activities. To borrow a term from the economic world, any technology that we become enamored with creates an “opportunity cost.” What aren’t we …Read More
The Problem of Technology “Addiction” – An Addiction vs. A Problem
Mar 8, 2011
I was recently interviewed on KXAN regarding technology addiction. Too much technology may tweak your life: kxan.com Given some of the constraints inherent in a TV news cast, I thought I’d follow up with some additional thoughts on this fascinating and timely topic. I’ve presented on the topic of technology addiction to various schools around Austin, and …Read More
An Update on the Myth of Multitasking
Oct 3, 2010
A while back, I blogged about the Myth of Multitasking. Basically, I said that we can’t really do it – we mostly task switch, and this is a very inefficient strategy for working & getting things done. In fact, there is some research to show that those who multitask the most are the worst at …Read More
Internet-Depression Connection
Aug 11, 2010
I recently read a report published online August 2, 2010 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine about a study that found that teenagers that spent more than five hours each day on the Internet were one and a half times as likely to develop depression. This study included teens ages 13-18 that did …Read More
“You Are Not a Gadget” by Jaron Lanier (Book Recommendation)
Aug 8, 2010
Jaron Lanier is a pioneer in the computer field…a true trailblazer. For instance, he helped to create and popularize the field of virtual reality. He is also a renaissance man to boot, as he is accomplished in diverse fields such as mathematics and music. He is an absolute Genius, and I’m capitalizing the word because …Read More
Video Games: Do They Help Train the Brain?
May 17, 2010
A recent article was published in the April 20, 2010 online journal Nature called into question the idea the video games can enhance cognitive functioning. In the study, 11,430 volunteers between the ages of 18-60 participated in this online study. Participants were randomly divided into one of 3 groups and practiced a series of online …Read More
Are Cell Phones Harmful to Your Brain?
May 1, 2010
Now, you first might think I’m an alarmist, but I can assure you that I don’t tend to be. I’ve had a cell phone of some kind since about…1997? I posted about how I love my iPhone, which I acquired in November of 2009. Of course, now that I bought it, a newer version is …Read More