Introduction
The internet and television are among the most contemporary sources of global information. Individuals acquire and dispatch both factual and fictional information through the diverse mediums via the internet. In this regard, internet employs a predetermined course of impact, which implies that its impact on the individual’s course of decision making and judgment is highly defined (Carr 216). The internet is a wider channel that may incorporate the television channels within its compost. According to Nicholas Carr, the Internet provides a wide range of information across all points of the world which enhances people’s understanding. However, such quality is harmful to the human brains than beneficial and may make someone a superficial thinker. For example, he states that “when we are constantly distracted and interrupted, as we tend to be online, our brains are unable to forge strong and expansive neural connections that give depth and distinctiveness to our thinking” (Carr 217). On the other hand, Salman Rushdie asserts that television creates images of falsehood with an overturned impression of reality about the world. In his writing, Salman states, “In the world outside the TV, our numbed senses already require increasing doses of titillation.” Television may be perceived as a shallow source of information defined by special formalities enclosed within the cycle of a wide pool of information across many networks. Therefore, the internet is perceived as a global system of combined network of computers attached to a typical internet protocol suite aimed at serving billions of clients globally. Consequently, the internet propagates the mode of thinking among members of different cultures worldwide, which further integrates the course of behaviors perpetuated by diverse borrowing and cultural exchanges. The internet is comprised of both private, business and government networks defined by both local and international scopes (Carr 218). Such scopes are interlinked in a wide array of electronics, wireless and networking technology.
Analysis
The development of the internet has redefined the traditional means used for communication and gathering of information. Due to the quick evolution of the technological aided mediums via the internet, information channels such as books and print publishing are gradually adapting to website technologies, which are redefined as blogs and web feed. In the first article Carr focuses on different aspects that prove how the internet has adversely affected human beings thinking and judgement. The review evaluates how different media technologies have impacted people’s cognitive abilities. However, there are some positive impact that has been associated with the use of the internet. For example, there are studies that linked playing of video games with improved visual and literacy skills. This is because people constantly shift their focus among different images and icons on the screen. However, such rapid shifts have the impact of reducing rigorous and automatic thinking “.. found that such rapid shifts in focus, even if performed adeptly result in less rigorous and “more automatic” thinking (Carr 218). This is also indicated Rushdie’s article when he points out that in the initial stages television was perceived as an important source of information in the world, but it has lost its glory. For example, he states “The TV set was once so idealistically thought of as our window on the world, has become a dime-store mirror instead” (Rushdie 199).
Through the diverse use of the internet, people have been able to engage a wide use of web desktops, a code in which users can retrieve files and other settings through the internet. This process does not only influence the pace of decision making, but also the exchanges between different cultures, regardless of the geographical disparity of the parties involved. In Carr’s article it is evident that the internet is a major causative of constant distractions and interruptions turning people into superficial thinkers. Therefore, according to various researches, which the article is based on, display troubling issues of human thought that affect human thinking and judgment. For example, research has found that people who are used to reading texts studded with links have low rates of comprehension as compared to those who read traditional texts. This study has also found that people who watch and study using multimedia presentations have low rates of comprehension as compared to people who take information in sedate and focused means. Equivalently, Rushdie illustrates the negative impacts of television in the modern age expressing the loss of value of the television in the modern age. He expresses that some of the shows on television are boring to watch, but due to the publicity they appear interesting to the conventional wisdom. He provides an illustration of the Big brother expressing that some of the programs become famous because they are boring. The disgusting things that have led to the loss of television popularity as a medium of education and learning new information are the increased indecency of different programs. For example, the most famous television programs are based on trivial things and things that teach morality are referred to as dull. Therefore, the modern TV is characterized by programs most popular with young people illustrating the features of a sick society. For example, he expresses that”.. here are people becoming famous for being asleep.. Videotaping their clichéd thoughts, for flashing their breasts, for quarrelling, for bitching and for kissing which is popular” (Rushdie 200). He expresses that this is an indication of people becoming famous for doing nothing. However, they achieve much publicity for doing their nonsense where people can see them. The same effects are profoundly found in Carr’s research, which found that students attending classes using the traditional methods without using laptops and personal computers performed far much better than students who attended classes with their personal computers. Therefore, there are positive benefits related to the use of the internet such as improved visual-spatial intelligence. However, there are numerous demerits associated with the use of the internet such as development of weaknesses in critical thinking, weak imaginations and reduced problem solving skills among other cognitive abilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the internet and the television have the capability of influencing individual thinking and judgment. People make decisions and judgment about different issues based on their cognitive ability to analyze different issues. Research has shown that although media presentations cause an improved visual spatial intelligence, it causes a negative effect on various cognitive capabilities. For example, it weakens the individual’s ability to think critically and solve problems. On the other hand, the modern television programs have become more secular displaying indications of a sick society according to Rushdie.
Works Cited
CARR, NICHOLAS. "Does the Internet Make You Dumber?" The Wall Street Journal (2010): 216-219.
Rushdie, Salman. "Reality TV: a dearth of talent and the death of morality." (2001): 199-202.
