Computers and the Big Bang?

Stephanson, Neal. "In the Beginning was the Command Line" . 1999. Web. February 2010.
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The article,"In The Beginning Was The Command Line" by Neal Stephenson, was written in 2000 from the point of view of a man who, not only used, but also programmed Macintoshes, Window machines, Linux boxes, and the BeOS. In referring to the evolution of computer operating systems, Stephenson asks,"What is going on here? Does the operating systems business have a future or only a past?" He proceeds to give a history of the various operating systems, describing their features, similarities and differences. He makes the point that the business is very unstable and power can shift from one company to another quickly. He also demonstrates the romantic power of " image" by pointing out that, even though Linux and other software products are free, people's brains are programmed to want the Microsoft products. Stephenson's implied answer to his question, "Does the operating system business have a future or only a past?", is that, while the dominance of companies may change, the development of operating systems constantly becomes more complex and provides more and more features for the users. Computer operating systems are here to stay.

To support his conclusion that the principles behind computer operating systems are here to stay, Stephenson refers to a book by Lee Smolin called The Life of the Cosmos. Smolin talks about how the universe came into being. According to him, computational principles were involved in the very origin of the universe. All of the numbers had to line up perfectly in order for a universe to form that could support life. "If these values had been only slightly different, the universe would have been a vast ocean of tepid gas or a hot knot of plasma, or some other uninteresting thing...a dud." Smolin claims that there had to be an outside force that calculated the numbers and pressed the "Enter" button to cause the Big Bang and bring everything into being. He says it is evident that "the Cosmic operating system uses a command-line interface". Neal Stephenson's reference to Lee Smolin's book about the beginning of the universe and its relationship with computational principles explains the title of his article, "In The Beginning Was the Command Line."

Brainy Babies?

Quart, Allissa. "Extreme Parenting?" The Atlantic Wire. The Atlantic Monthly. July/August 2008. Web. February 2009.
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In her article, "Extreme Parenting", Allissa Quart focuses on a trend that has developed since the 1990's. Parents are being pressured more and more to try to develop "gifted" children by using educational videos like Baby Einstien to stimulate them at a very early age. Quart describes numerous videos and learning systems that are being marketed to parents.The developers of videos like these point to a study by Shaw and Rauscher which showed that adults performed tasks better after listening to Mozart. Product developers claim that babies will develop higher IQ's as a result of watching their videos and using their flashcards. They also claim that there is a small window of opportunity and if parents don't provide their babies with these videos at a very early age, it will be too late. Quart points out that the results of the Shaw and Rauscher study have not been successfully duplicated and there is no proof that the "Mozart Effect" works on young children. She poses the question, " Whose purpose do these types of early education products serve?" After quoting the makers pitching their products, Quart quotes other experts with opposing ideas. The neurologists, cognitive scientists, psychologists and child development specialists she interviewed did not think these products were valuable. They questioned not only the "window of opportunity" idea, but they also said that the videos could actually be damaging. Too much stimulation is not good. There is value in boredom for the development of a child's ability to think. These products can also cause children to be too television oriented and take away from their valuable outdoor playtime.

Allissa Quart says that even though there is not much evidence of any real value in educational videos for babies, it is understandable that parents would buy them. She points out that parents want to do anything and everything that will help their children get ahead in life. If they are told that these videos will raise their child's IQ and that they only have a short period of time to have an impact, many parents will ignore the lack of evidence. Most of these educational systems are fairly expensive and Quart points out that the children who use these products are usually from fairly affluent families. In many cases. competitive parents are hoping the videos and flashcards will give their children an advantage over other children in society. To answer Quart's question, "Whose purpose do these products serve?', she seems to imply that it is not the babies who will benefit, but the companies who make the products and the parents who want to feel like they are doing everything they can to give their children an advantage in life. She believes that the development of and demand for "edutainment" products is just getting started.

Internet Idiots?

Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" The Atlantic. The Atlantic Magazine. July/August 2008. Web. February 2009.
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In his article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", Nicholas Carr makes the argument that, even though the internet provides the advantage of immediate access to a wealth of information, that advantage comes with a heavy price. He writes from the viewpoint of a professional writer and avid reader who claims that, as a result of Internet usage, now has difficulty concentrating, contemplating, or reading anything lengthy. He helps make his point by using the analogy of Hal in "2001, A Space Odyssey". Just as Hal felt forlorn as he said, "Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm afraid," Carr claims to feel a sense of loss as he feels his brain circuitry changing. He also uses the analogy of a scuba diver who used to dive deeply into a "sea of words" but now just zips along the surface on a Jet Ski. Carr points out that he is not the only one noticing this effect of Internet usage on brain function. He strengthens his argument by quoting other writers, citing a University College London study, and quoting a developmental psychologist who has authored a book on the subject. He also points out parallels to other inventions that have had an impact on the way people think. Carr promotes the idea that, while there are great advantages to being able to jump from source to source for information on the Internet, there are also significant consequences.

The point that the author makes is important to consider because the stakes are high and the effects dramatic if his observations, research and conclusions are correct. Almost everyone uses the Internet and people should be aware of the possible cost to their brain functions. As the author points out, so much has been written about the Internet, but very little attention has been given to the risks of its usage. As a professional writer, avid reader and one who has done extensive research, Carr's voice should be heard. "Even though we are reading more than we did in the 70's and 80's, it is a different kind of reading and behind it lies a different kind of thinking." He adds, "Our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged." Carr's implied challenge to the audience is to wake up to the downside of Internet usage before "our own intelligence flattens into artificial intelligence." He does not provide any suggestions as to how to fight the negative effects, but, after reading the article, one is left with the feeling that it is important to balance time on the internet with time reading and contemplating on a more in-depth level in order to retain the ability to do so.