Ctrl. + Memory + Del.

The way our friend Cookie Monster is reacting to the idea of deleting his cookies is the same way I feel about the idea of deleting my memory: absolutely appalled, confused, and disgusted. So let’s consider this idea for a moment…what do we do via the internet that affects are memory; something that disables our usage of our memory? Hmmm…how about browser history? Ding, ding, ding! You have won today’s trivia game. Let’s just say, this is my own version of Nicholas Carr’s blog “Is Google Making us Stupid?”. (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google)

Okay, seriously. What’s up with this browser history stuff? Fellow Mozilla Fox users know exactly what I speak of. That tool in your browser bar that requires only a snip-it (be a letter or number) of a web address, site title, name, etc. to locate the exact page said-internet-user is looking for. It can also be associated with the same option that allows you to remember log-in information (such as user names and passwords) so that you don’t have to. While this appears to be a very helpful and useful device that your everyday Joe uses everyday without even realizing it half the time, there is bound to be a setback. I think that by using different forms of browser history to remember simple site names and user  name information replaces a person’s natural memory. We are all born with a brain exhibiting plasticity and the ability to retain bits of knowledge. By not using the retrieval process on a more regular basis, and employing our own short-term memory itself, we are slowly deteriorating these procedures our brain was created to act upon. And when I say “by not using the retrieval process on a more regular basis”, I mean:

Here are some stats I found on:

http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/02/25/podcasting-statistics-television/

 

• The Internet is the medium on which online users spend the most time (32.7 hours/week). This is equivalent to almost half of the total time spent each week using all media (70.6 hours).
• People spend twice as much time on the Internet as they spend watching television (16.4 hours).
• People spend eight times as much time on the Internet as they spentd reading newspapers and magazines (3.9 hours).

So not only do we spend exceedingly large amounts of time out of our daily lives on the internet, we spend a good percentage of that time not using our memory. Personally, I’ve noticed that I’ve had a more difficult time remembering simple things ie, items on a grocery list, an address, a phone number, an important date. Although it sounds mundane, I think browsing history has definitely had something to do with my failing short-term memory. My friends have mentioned similar problems, and based on family history–none of them really have had a family member portraying any mental problems affecting memory, including Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, after giving it some thought, I have decided to disable all features on my browsers that “remember” anything for me. I’m hoping my experiment will prove my theory right: by disabling all Web-related mediums that exercise my memory for me, thus allowing me to use my natural memory more fervently, there will be a noticeable improvement in my cognition and retrieval-process. In a month’s time, I will update you guys on any improvements or side-affects worth noting.

 

Don't let browsing history delete your memory!

 

 

Advertisement