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Intelligence in the Internet Age

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the he-wants-us-to-think-for-ourselves dept.

ErikPeterson writes to tell us about an article on News.com that takes a look at technology versus intelligence of the general population. From the article: 'Is technology making us smarter? Or are we lazily reliant on computers, and, well, dumber than we used to be?'

7 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Average intelligence is a constant by absolutspl · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Civilization advances by extending the number of operations which we can perform without thinking about them." - Alfred North Whitehead good ole' google.com

  2. As a General Rule by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you think an article dealing with..." technology versus intelligence of the general population. From the article: 'Is technology making us smarter?" is anything other than sensationalist technobable, then you are dumb.

  3. Re:Average intelligence is a constant by RealAlaskan · · Score: 4, Informative
    A quick search didn't turn up anything concrete, but I was probably looking in the wrong places.

    Does that tell us something about your intelligence in the internet age?

    Seriously (didn't want to be mean, but couldn't help myself), were you maybe thinking of Alfred Whitehead, who said:

    Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.
    --
    See what I've been reading.
  4. Look it up by nucal · · Score: 3, Informative
    Never memorize anything you can look up. Einstein, Albert

    which you can look up here

  5. Re:IQ scores go up every generation by Red+Flayer · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Did you score 100 on your IQ test in 1980? Well guess what, by today's standards that's below average. "

    Not so. If you were to score 100 on 1980's IQ test today, then fine -- because the average score today on that specific test would be over 100.

    By definition, an IQ of 100 on a normalized, current test is the statistical average.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  6. Good Quote by mandrake649 · · Score: 2, Informative

    "Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." -- Robert Heinlein

  7. Re:Also, as someone else noted by Psiren · · Score: 2, Informative

    Reminds me of the old saying, "If you want the job done quickly, find the laziest man."

    I've done a similar thing with registering MAC addresses for our students. Like you've observed, a little laziness and some clever thinking can make everyones life easier.