Homework #2

1. Why does the author, Nicholas Carr, feel like his mind is changing as a result of the Internet?
Nicholas Carr feels as if the Internet is changing his way of learning. The internet being discovered has made it easier for people to do research, before the internet you had to read book to get information on the topic that you wanted too. Carr feels since he has been using the internet for everything he has no patience to sit and read a book anymore. The internet gives you information on your topic within two seconds and a lot of time is saved with the internet. Carr feels as if most people are getting too use to the internet and not spending enough time reading a book to get information or just reading a book including himself. 


2. How does research today compare with doing library research in the old days, twenty and more years ago? (I know you weren't around 20 years ago, but answer this based on what knowledge you have gathered about libraries in your lifetime). 
The internet being discovered made it easier on people and saves a lot of time for people. 20 years ago you had to go to the library and spend a lot of time reading through several books to get the information you need. Now with the internet you can get the amount of information in 20 minutes where in the library it would take somebody one hour. 


3. How have Nicholas Carr's reading habits changed because of the Internet? Nicolas Carr reading habits has changed because he has been using the internet a lot more because it is easier then reading a dozen books to get the answer to a question or research on a topic. Nicolas Carr can not sit and read a book anymore because he does not have the patience he has to keep trying to get his mind back into the book after two pages.

4. How is reading online different than reading a long article or book? Explain. Reading a book is different from reading online because people do not use the knowledge they would use to read the book. Carr states that they do not use their " traditional sense" they use " power browse". When reading on the internet many people read in between the lines through the text, to just get the information because they can not sit and read it all. Many people feel like the internet is different from the book and so they do not have to sit and read.

5. Do you agree or disagree that our minds think like computers? Explain. Yes i do agree that most minds think like  computers because minds can think of many things where computers can do many things also. Minds can store a lot of information where computers also hold a lot of information. Books can not hold half as much information as the mind and a computer. 

6. Do you agree or disagree that the computer "is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies?" I do agree because the computer give a lot of information and has a lot of information that most technology can not provide that much information. The computer holds information about many topics. Many smart phones now include a computer in them in order to search the web.

7. Why do you think The New York Times changed its format? Do you think it was a good idea or a bad idea? Why? Yes I do think it was a good idea that the New York Times changed its format because they need to keep up with time to interest readers. The internet made it capable for New York times to make the format up to date. 

8. What does Nicholas Carr mean by "knowledge work?" Nicholas Carr means that knowledge comes with the amount of effort you put into your work. People who read bits and pieces and do not fully understand the article they are not receiving the same knowledge. In order to take in information and receive the knowledge you must focus on your readings.

9. Do you agree or disagree that Google has been successful in its mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful?" Yes i do agree that google has been successful in its mission to be accessible and useful to the people. Google is always accessible to people and gives people the information they need fast. Each time I used google it gave me the information on the topic and searching another keyword gave me more information on that topic. 

10. How does Google's mission compare with a library's mission in light of the fact that there is no fiction or nonfiction section on the Internet, but there is a fiction and a nonfiction section in a library, and that all the books are organized on the shelves in a library, but "scattered on the floor" of the Internet? Googles mission compares with a library because even though they do not have sections like the library you still can receive that information. It being scattered on the floor gives people an opertinuty to also receive other information. Even though in the library it is easier to find the genre of a book google holds more then a book.

11. Do you think it would be a good thing if your own brain and intelligence were "supplemented, or even replaced, by an artificial intelligence?" Why or why not? No I think a brain is natural because I feel as if the brain needs to learn things on its own. The brain being implanted with knowledge would defeat the purpose of learning. Their are many other things that the brain needs to store then just information on topics. 

12. Do you think that the human brain is "just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive?" Why or why not?
 Yes I do because I feel as if the brain has a lot of similarities like a computer. The computer holds a lot of information like a brain can, the brain can recall things the way a computer can. Holding information is something the brain and computer have in common.

13. What do you think about your own surfing habits, the links you click on and the pages you view, being an opportunity for "Google and other companies to collect information about you and to feed you advertisements?"
 After reading this article I have realized that my owns surfing habits are bad. I realized that I do read between the lines like most people to to save time. Many people like myself get bits and pieces from websites and keep searching to make it easier on ourselves rather then reading a hole website.

14. How do your surfing habits compare to reading a book? Do you agree or disagree that companies online, collecting data about us by what we click on and view, are using subversive tactics to discourage "leisurely reading," and "slow, concentrated thought?" Are you yourself driven to distraction while on the Web? How or how not?
 My suffering habits compare to reading a book because either way reading on the internet or in person it is hard for me to focus either way. I do not believe that because I do not believe that they care because their is people that cans it and read.I am distracted while on the web and while reading a book because of my cell phone the t.v music and my thoughts. A lot of times i would be reading and my mind just is not into the book.

15. Do you agree with Socrates that the development of writing led to people using the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they carried around in their heads? Why or why not? 
No because either way the knowledge is still in the persons head. If you put something down on paper its still would be in the persons head, the knowledge that the brain is holding would not forget it.

16. Do you think the Internet is doing the same thing? Why or why not? How or how not?
 No I do not believe the internet is doing the same thing. I believe that the internet is advancing people and became a useful resource. Many people that were around before the internet do not believe this because books are what they grew up around, and some do not know how to use a computer. In my opinion this internet is giving you the same knowledge that 25 books would give you. 

17. How do your own reading habits compare to what Nicholas Carr describes in this article?
My reading habits are a lot like Nicolas Carr expect reading on the internet is hard for me to focus a lot. When I read a book it takes me a long time to actually get into it the book has to be at its climax for me to be able to sit and read it. It is easier for me to search the internet for information then read a book but I do not feel as if the internet makes you "stupid" because  if the information is accurate then it is the same that you would receive in a book.

18. So, do you think Google really is making us stupid? Why or why not? How or how not? I do not think google is really making us " stupid". I feel as if google is advancing us more then books do. In my opinion google is the same thing as going to a library and finding the information out. Google is just a faster and easier was to find the information on your topic. Some people believe that it is the reason that they do not read books anymore, in my opinion that has nothing to do with it. To me it is all in the mind because you are reading on the internet  the same way you are reading a book, it may be a little less but you still have to focus and read.