Technology and my Family

My family is pretty average when it comes to using technology.  My sister and I use it the most and we recently got new phones with apps and internet access.  I find that I have to teach my parents a lot about the computer or any new device that they obtain.  My parents jobs are pushing them to deal with technology more.  My mom just recently recieved a new laptop and cell phone from her job to help her stay more in touch with her work at home.  My dad's job did the same by setting him up with a new cell phone and a laptop on the way.  I do not feel that we are overwhelmed by technology or even that we use it to much.  We still spend time together and have lives.

SWA #2

Ryan Jones

August 30, 2011

SWA #2

            The essay “Hooked on Technology, and Paying a Price,” by Matt Richtel, describes how technology is changing the ways we operate.  Richtel relates this to food or sex.  Something that we want and feels good, but do not necessarily need all of the time.  I agree with the claims made in the essay.  Technology is something that everyone has become at least a little obsessed with.  People like being able to browse the news or music or games all on one easy device.  I admit that I am obsessed with technology, but I see no problem with it.  I do not believe that it affects my thinking or attention span. 

            Richtel uses the Campbell family as a model to show how bad the use of technology can control our lives.  The Campbell family is just about as stuck on technology as anyone can get.  I believe that the lifestyle that they lead is unhealthy.  Especially Mr. Campbell.  Anyone who cannot go an hour without needing to log on to the computer is in an unhealthy situation.  People use a lot of technology, but nothing like what Richtel showed with his Campbell family example.  I think that Richtel used this example to show the very extreme of what could happen if we do not take breaks from technology. 

            Multitasking is something many people do every day.  It helps get more than one thing done at the same time.  Richtel argues that multitasking is not as good as everyone says it is.  He explains that tests that have been done prove that multitaskers cannot focus the way that the people who focus on one thing at a time can.  I do not feel this is the case.  I multitask and can focus just fine.  As I write this I am listening to music on my laptop.  The world is changing and I believe that we are adapting with it.  I did not understand how people who play video games can multitask better than others.  If this is true, then it shows the change in the times.  Kids today grow up playing video games.  According to Richtel’s studies, this will help them to be able to multitask as they grow older.          

Response to "Get Smarter"

Ryan Jones

August 24, 2011

Response to “Get Smarter”

            “Get Smarter,” by Jamais Cascio, is an opposite view point, as opposed to Carr’s “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” of how the future’s technology will change us and our thought process.  Both posed convincing arguments.  Carr described Google and the Internet as slowly taking away our critical reading skills due to the quickness we can now obtain knowledge.  However, Cascio describes this as a stepping stone in our advancement as beings.  I agree with Cascio’s argument because as humans we have found ways through tragic times and I believe we can continue to do so. 

            Carr’s evidence of Google draining our critical reading and attention skills seems to be true.  The thought of me slowly losing the ability to pay attention for long periods of time does frighten me, but I believe that Cascio’s answer to this theory is the answer that we will all eventually take.  Cascio described pills that could be used to help people pay attention and focus clearly.  The pills for ADD that we have today are going to end up being the foundation for these focus pills.  I am not crazy about popping pills to be able to focus, but I will do that if that is what it comes to.

            Technology is constantly advancing.  This advancement is going so swiftly that as soon as the consumer buys the newest product rumors began about an even better one coming in a year.  There is no way that we as a society will ever want to slow this advancement down.  This is why I agree with Cascio.  Instead of killing ourselves with all of the new technology I believe that we will adapt as we always have.

            This essay held my interest because it was an answer to the times when Google rules our lives.  It is close to doing this now, which is why we need to find a way to adapt to the new style of living.  I do not fear the time when fossil fuels run out because, as I have stated, I believe that we will be able to find a substitution.  The human race has made it through rough times and seems to always rise above it.  This essay was more optimistic than the earlier one by Carr.  This is why I think most people will like Cascio’s take on our situation better.  It helps us to feel secure about the future.    

Thoughts on the Readings for Aug. 23

The essay "Is Google Making Us Stupid," by Nicholas Carr, really got me thinking about the way we search for information now as opposed to the time before Google, or the Internet for that matter.  I had never thought that something, such as Google, that seems so helpful could actually be slowing down our process of thinking.  This really makes me think about the sources I use on research papers.  I might try to use books more than the Internet to help my critical reading skills rather than take the easy way out and "Google it."

SWA #1

Ryan Jones

August 23, 2011

SWA #1

            I have had many good and bad writing experiences in my schooling career.  Writing has never been a strong suit of mine, but I try to get better with every essay.  My best writing experience came in the eighth grade, when my writing on the PSAT earned me the junior scholar award.  My worst writing experience has to be in ninth grade when I had a research paper that I was not ready for.

            In eighth grade I signed up to take the PSAT.  The test had a writing portion similar to the SAT.  The topic asked the writer to bring certain items on an Old Western caravan ride through the Midwest.  It was a timed assignment.  During the twenty-five minutes that were given, I had to brainstorm and write a final draft.  I immediately got to work and finished the essay within the time limit.  When the results came in, I had earned the junior scholar award.  This writing experience greatly helped improve my confidence in writing essays.

            In the middle of ninth grade I was assigned a research paper to write in one week.  The topic was to describe the life of William Shakespeare.  Normally this topic would not be too difficult to write about, but I procrastinated until the task was overwhelming.  My final draft did not meet the length requirements and scored a fairly low score.  I used this experience to learn to start working on a writing assignment in advance; especially a research paper.

            All of my writing experiences, no matter how good or bad, have helped me take steps towards good writing.  I believe that good writing really just takes experience, dedication, and perseverance.  If I continue to grow and develop at the rate I have been improving, then I will be a great writer by the time I graduate.