Sixing Jiao
Dr. Tsurska
Oct. 11th, 2015
SDCC 4
Smarter than You Think Summary In general, Clive Thompson claims that modern technologies can “leave us smarter even when we are not actively using them”(360). His statement about modern technologies is much more optimistic than those of other authors that we have studied.
Interestingly, through out the entire article, Clive Thompson uses a clever analogy between chess and process of human thoughts to deliver his points across. In the beginning of this passage, Clive Thompson talks about the invention of a chess playing robot(342). After 80 years of development, Super computer Deep Blue, the “descendant” of 1915 chess playing machine, eventually defeated the best chess master in the world(342). …show more content…
He mentions the examples such as the anecdote of Richard Feynman, who believed the writings on paper are actually part of his thought process(Thompson, 348). From those examples, Thompson proofs the modern technologies, similar to paper and printing press, are merely extensions, rather than replacement, of our thinking. In order to illustrate such concept in terms that are close to readers, Clive Thompson writes how was he influenced by modern technologies in the process of writing this article(351). In conclusion of his personal experience, he suggests modern technologies contribute to our thought process with better information and connection (Thompson, 352). In the end of this article, Clive Thompson goes back to the subject of chess. He uses the example of Soviet chess library to show that the modern technologies changes our mind in the way that is similar to but better than writing(358). Because memorizing chess documents on paper is a laborious effort, the chess players who do so are more likely to be limited by those documents(Thompson,358). In the mean time, the chess players who utilize computer are not necessary limited by computer (they still make ultimate decision)(Thompson,359). Therefore, the chess players who utilize computer are often more creative than traditional chess player(Thompson,359). This example served as the ultimate proof of Clive …show more content…
Interestingly, he specifically addresses claims of Nicholas Carr. Clive Thompson admits “many of these fears are warranted”(355). Yet he also refutes Nicholas Carr’s claim that modern technologies rewires our brain as “premature”: “we don’t really know how our brains are wired to begin with”(356). Using Gary Marcus’s quote, Clive Thompson suggests the knowledge about brain function is as insufficient as “trying to understand the political dynamics of Ohio from an airplane window above Cleveland”(qtd. 355). Those rebuttals effectively refutes Nicholas Carr’s claim on the same
Dr. Tsurska
Oct. 11th, 2015
SDCC 4
Smarter than You Think Summary In general, Clive Thompson claims that modern technologies can “leave us smarter even when we are not actively using them”(360). His statement about modern technologies is much more optimistic than those of other authors that we have studied.
Interestingly, through out the entire article, Clive Thompson uses a clever analogy between chess and process of human thoughts to deliver his points across. In the beginning of this passage, Clive Thompson talks about the invention of a chess playing robot(342). After 80 years of development, Super computer Deep Blue, the “descendant” of 1915 chess playing machine, eventually defeated the best chess master in the world(342). …show more content…
He mentions the examples such as the anecdote of Richard Feynman, who believed the writings on paper are actually part of his thought process(Thompson, 348). From those examples, Thompson proofs the modern technologies, similar to paper and printing press, are merely extensions, rather than replacement, of our thinking. In order to illustrate such concept in terms that are close to readers, Clive Thompson writes how was he influenced by modern technologies in the process of writing this article(351). In conclusion of his personal experience, he suggests modern technologies contribute to our thought process with better information and connection (Thompson, 352). In the end of this article, Clive Thompson goes back to the subject of chess. He uses the example of Soviet chess library to show that the modern technologies changes our mind in the way that is similar to but better than writing(358). Because memorizing chess documents on paper is a laborious effort, the chess players who do so are more likely to be limited by those documents(Thompson,358). In the mean time, the chess players who utilize computer are not necessary limited by computer (they still make ultimate decision)(Thompson,359). Therefore, the chess players who utilize computer are often more creative than traditional chess player(Thompson,359). This example served as the ultimate proof of Clive …show more content…
Interestingly, he specifically addresses claims of Nicholas Carr. Clive Thompson admits “many of these fears are warranted”(355). Yet he also refutes Nicholas Carr’s claim that modern technologies rewires our brain as “premature”: “we don’t really know how our brains are wired to begin with”(356). Using Gary Marcus’s quote, Clive Thompson suggests the knowledge about brain function is as insufficient as “trying to understand the political dynamics of Ohio from an airplane window above Cleveland”(qtd. 355). Those rebuttals effectively refutes Nicholas Carr’s claim on the same