The Impact of Technology

Ok, normally I would do a bunch of research and comb the internet trying to find some articles backing up my theories but this time I'm simply going to make a blanket statement.

Technology is destroying fundamental skills

Two everyday examples of this:

1. Google
2. Cell Phones

How many times have you mispeled a word only to have Google conveniently correct it for you?

In fact, even as I'm typing this blog Firefox is "helping" me correct my spelling with an inline spell checker.

*Sigh* Do we really need that much help?

Secondly, I wanted to share a story from my vacation.

A friend (we will call him Doris) and I recently took our families on vacation together.

Of course like almost all other Americans we brought our cell phones and we had this marvelous idea to contact each other the day we arrived since we were staying in the same cabin.

Well, for those who know Doris (aka Glenn) he's an even bigger geek than me and had just purchased a new iPhone. Also no surprise for those who know Doris, he didn't transfer his address book. Doh!

So now we have a problem.
I don't know his new number, he doesn't have my number, anarchy ensues.

To this day I can still remember my first girlfriend's phone number...I won't write it here but just trust me on it.
Ask me to recite my own mother's cell phone number and I have no clue.

Obviously these are only two small examples but hopefully you see my point.

Alas, I did find a couple articles worth mentioning.

This one from Wired

Your Outboard Brain Knows All

This wiki page

Spell Checker

and finally an oldie but a goodie post from Bex

Nope! I Don't Own a Cell Phone