Andrew Cho
Mrs. Beth Keeley
ENG 111-4238
2 March 2015 Positives of Computers Throughout history, computers revolutionized our society in the modern age. In “How Computers Change the Way We Think,” by Sherry Turkle, the author elaborates on the impact of computers towards the human mind and strength on processing abilities. From the simplest written language to advance programming software, human civilization’s technology improved in the course of millennia. As advancement of technology continues, the computer affects the functionality and efficiency of people. Turkle encounters areas of informative technology to be beneficial and encouraging which improves innovative thinking on individuals. She emphasizes on technology providing cognitive, emotional, and opportunistic aspects of computers contributing towards society. Computers can provide cognitive advantages and increased efficiency. Turkle elaborates on experiences with students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concerning the loss of mental sense. “The professors insisted that that required students to maintain a mental sense of scale, whereas those who relied on calculators made frequent errors in orders of magnitude.” The students who relied on calculators made frequent errors without using one. The author argues that the increased use of calculators can bring errors in the mental processes. However, the use of calculators can also show the user a definite answer without errors or the conflict of indecisiveness. As Sherry Turkle elaborates, “Technology does not determine change, but it encourages us to take certain directions.” Technology is considered as tools to obtain goals easier; the author gives insight on the uses of technology as it can be beneficial in the right hands of the user. Turkle furthermore informs about positives of technology through computer monitors. The reading skill through monitors drastically increases processing speeds of analyzing data. “Few professional writers would part with their computers; some claim that they simply cannot think without their hands on keyboard.” In addition, describing that “professional writers” use the skill of processing information using monitors further provides that computers helps increase cognitive advantage in the real world. The uses of computers encourage different habits of mind. Turkle presents that from written language to readership, the computer embodies centuries of cultural civilizations and information. The computer enables expression of emotions and sharing of ideas through the internet. Sherry Turkle articulates that on Erik Erikson, “-as a moratorium, a time out or safe place for the personal experimentation that is so crucial for adolescent development.” The development of adolescents, in the modern era, using computers can allow social connections. The use of internet can become an advantage over previous generations for simplicity of communication. Turkle further explains, “Chat rooms, role-playing games, and other technological venues offer us many different contexts for presenting ourselves online.” Turkle elaborates on multiple computer softwares for sharing information through media and games can give us one or more ways in order to express one self. Likewise, videogames and simulators allow elements of problem solving within the ecosystem of the virtual universe. Turkle compares virtual world with the real world, “Our games, our economic and political system, and the ways of architects design buildings, chemists envisage molecules, and surgeons perform operations all use simulation technology.” The society’s economy and laws governs the country, providing various arts and sciences. Similar towards videogames, certain rules governs the order and functionality of the game. In fact, videogames, as Sherry Turkle mentions, gives emotional response. “” On the contrary, fear of losing can also allow the pursuit of winning through errors and mistakes. Turkle explains, “Computer