That might sound fatalistic, but overall I'm more optimistic than Carr. Very recent history shows us that society is overly-fearful of new technology. In its early days the telephone was feared and hated. Some people worried others would listen to their conversations, that the sounds from telephones were dangerous, that they detrimentally accelerated our social life, and that phones were interruptive to our "normal" face-to-face social interactions. But somehow we managed. We recognized the utility of phones, improved them with enhancements like caller ID (Remember when you had to answer the phone to find out who was calling?), and they have become just one of many tools of communication we manage seamlessly in our lives. Has the telephone made us stupid?
- People:
- Nicholas Carr
- Places:
- Silicon Valley
Denis Wilson was previously content director for Target Marketing, Publishing Executive, and Book Business, as well as the FUSE Media and BRAND United summits. In this role, he analyzed and reported on the fundamental changes affecting the media and marketing industries and aimed to serve content-driven businesses with practical and strategic insight. As a writer, Denis’ work has been published by Fast Company, Rolling Stone, Fortune, and The New York Times.