The Impact of the Internet on Physical Development
The internet has already had an impact on our physical development and will do so in the future. The pace of technological advancement in the contemporary era is exponential, driven by an increase in the need for data processing, information archiving, and idea exchange via intranet or across vast distances via the internet. The cerebral cortex in humans serves as a computer processor that executes duties based on demands. (Desikan et al. 968-970). As a result, the introduction of an artificial cerebral cortex has both immediate and long-term impacts on the human brain. Therefore technology is affecting the way we think through the impacts that it has had on our brains due to the high degree of reliance due to its efficiency and effectiveness in tasks execution.
Internet and Evolution
Based on the concepts of cognition and the fact that the brain is a social organ, it is, therefore, true to argue that our social lives will continue to be shaped by the advancements in technology. Scholars in the field of evolutionary psychology have supported the stand that our brains and consequently the manner that we think is affected by technology with the degree of impact varying from one individual to the other (Duchaine et al. 225-228). An interesting argument brought out by the evolutionary psychologists is the effect of technology on the human being's cognitive domains. The domain has the task of processing the data and information that is feed, with the increase in the capacity of the tasks handled calling for new measures to cope. In such a case, the human brain, through the domains might decide to use an extrinsic source that will assist in the achievement of the intended goals. Technology, therefore, chip in in such a scenario thus affecting our thinking and the manner that we handle task, a true case of human physical evolution that is affected by the invention in the technological world.
Changes in the Brain
Before the invention of technology, the human brain was affected by several changes that were taking place in the cultural context. Examples of these changes were the inventions of read-write technique. The discovery marked a revolution in which the processing of information was taken to whole new level impacting on the then cognitive domains. The brain was relieved of the task of holding large information through memory because this would be stored in books. Psychologists refer to the brain as being an empty slate, "tabula rasa," capable of evolving to adapt to the environment that it finds itself in (Duschinsky 509-512). A long time ago during the Homo sapiens era, the discovery of speech made the brain quickly adapt and gain the new skill, especially when considering the young ones. The concept with technology, thousands of years later, is the same and will continue to the future.
Borrowing from the works of Susan Greenfield
The internet has caused further evolution, especially when considering our social interactions skills. The discovery of the internet and recent development on the social platforms are and will continue to affect or speech capabilities. Children have been learning to speak earlier enough because of having people to interact with, a trend that is taking a new direction with the internet invention. Children are now spending long hours, alone, due to the fascination created by the internet, The impact of this behavior can be considered as being a reversal of what happened in the Homo sapiens era. The impact of the internet can thus be considered as causing an evolution to the part of the brain that is in charge of speech.
The Long-Term Impact
As a process, evolution has been giving room for new learning to take place, especially in childhood years. At this stage, the brain is so flexible and ready to take in cultural imperatives. However, it is worth noting the long-term evolutionary process continues to affect our brain structures especially the cognitive faculties. A notable consequence of the process is the invention of the extra-somatic information system that has given room for the multiplication of knowledge sources. The internet should not be perceived as a different entity in the case of affecting out functionality because it is still affecting the manner that information is being shared.
The Future of Cognitive Domains
The internet also has evolutionary instantiated domains similar to those that were previously attuned to serve basic needs. The future predisposing cognitive domains have a high chance of being completely replaced greatly affected by the influence of the internet. The long-term impact of this change might be the emergence of unique and extreme mental problems in embracing the reality in the world. The positive use of the internet is likely to trigger positive developments or evolutions in humans, thus, important to avoid the negative and unethical progress. Almost every online activity is becoming faster making us consciously of unconsciously get addicted. Technology has also seen the invention of tablets and smartphones with more and better functionalities. In most cases when people are searching for content online, they prefer brief explanations that state the most important points (Green & Daphne 692). Our brains are made to accept more of this type of information and content. Long paragraphs and articles will, therefore, make the brain seek an alternative, preferably shortened information in bulleted format.
Changes in Short-term Memory
Preferring compressed or summarized information can be associated with the changes that take place at the dorsolateral section of the prefrontal cortex. The part is responsible for short-term memory and handling decision-making function. Carr argued that the more we overuse our short-term memory little energy is left for storing long-term memories (Carr, 45). The overall impact of these changes is negatively affecting our learning skills and making our understanding to be shallow. The invention of technology and the compressing of information are therefore in line with our adaptability that is directly affecting our evolution.
Internet and the Way We Think
There is evidence to prove that the internet is and will continue influencing the manner in which human beings think. Changes in the way we think can be attributed to the changes in the brain due to evolutionary impacts. The brain behaves like a muscle which requires to be constantly stretched or else, it gets stiff and flabby. Most of the internet attributes are important in ensuring the brain remains strong, quick, flexible and versatile. Quite unknown to many, the internal changes that the technology is causing in our system are much big than what we are seeing in the world out there on fields such as virtual reality and robotics. The provision of mechanization ideas over the internet has however made life to be better thus making the negative aspects to be overlooked (Igbaria 587-588).
The Impact of Information Access
Researches done to find out how technology has affected the way we think were championed by Nicholas Carr. In his articles, he argues that technology has not only affected our mannerisms but also the functioning of the brain, a change likely to have long-term effects (Nicholas Carr). The internet is making human beings more imaginative and satisfied with our curiosities. The imaginativeness and the ability to fulfill our curiosities can be attributed to the existence of many archives and libraries that are easily accessible at any time through our handheld devices. Such platforms have promoted altruism, especially when considering the availability of peer-to-peer network with vast resources of knowledge. Availing information in this manner seems to benefit academicians more than other sections of people and professions. The common sharing of information is behind great world ideas like worldwide coordinated healthcare provisions.
Globalization and Intellectual Margins
Technology through the internet has made the look of objects and ideas take a planetary level. People are no longer thinking in the local context because of the introduction of new concepts such as globalization which is currently being facilitated through the internet. Besides, no location can be said to be the center of the world because of the diffusion of intellectual margins around the world. As a result of these interlinks, scholars and other internet users are placed in a position to carefully consider the originality of ideas or the best way to improve on what they have. New ideas can further be fetched from the ideas through the creativity of academicians identifying new research areas and gaps. People wishing to carry out research and realize that the area is exploited as challenged to think harder in the supplementation of research findings.
The Negative Side of Technology
On the negative side, technology has made human beings feel inadequate and at times seeking unnecessary online attention and approvals. Inadequacy is contributed to by new inventions that have made humans feel inferior and at times laid off work. The perfection of the manufacturing and processing industries has seen human beings consider machines as being better than them, especially with the incorporation of computer technologies. The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is another concept that explains the constant need to use technology to find out what is trending in various aspects of people's lives (Hetz 297-300). To deal with the people, internet users are constantly visiting the internet to be up to date with the current events. Failure to achieve this has been associated with feelings of inadequacy which has negative psychological effects. Online-induced inferiority has had negative consequences such as depression as people struggle to live a life like their happier colleagues and peers. Cyberbullying has also been caused by the advancement in technology in the rise of the social media platforms. The internet can, therefore, be said to have the potential to cause a more miserable evolved human life hence calling for the introduction of checks and balances.
Access to Information
Another key factor that is affected by the internet and the way we think about it is information. Failing to have pieces of information about the things that exist no longer seems to intimidate or make us worry. We always think that even if we do not have information on particular concepts, somebody else does. The unknown in the modern world is therefore not what is unavailable because what is present can always be accessed, hence making it known. A person bearing knowledge does not have to be so armed with books and other physical sources because everything is a click away. The convenience should, however, not be abused by using in areas such as exam rooms.
Conclusion
The internet is arguably the next variable that is going to affect our physical evolution. Scientists have proven that the human mind is still taking the same path in adapting to changes that are convenient. As argued by famous scholars like Charles Darwin, human beings are always in the process of evolution in order to guarantee survival. For evolution to happen, there must be changes in the environment in which evolution is trying to cope with, In the modern world, the internet is among the most influential changes in the environment to which human beings have already started to adapt. Carr, among other evolutionary scholars, has proven that the cerebral cortex has already begun making changes to adapt to new technological developments. The changes in the brain have had an immediate effect on the manner in which we think. All these revelations call for more studies to be directed towards the subject of evolution and the impacts of technology and finding out the best way to adopt the positive aspects that will improve the nature of humanity.
Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. Is Google making us stupid? What the Internet is doing to our brains. Vol. 1. July, 2008:45.
Desikan, Rahul S., et al. "An automated labeling system for subdividing the human cerebral cortex on MRI scans into gyral based regions of interest." Neuroimage 31.3 (2006): 968 970.
Duchaine, Bradley, Leda Cosmides, and John Tooby. "Evolutionary psychology and the brain." Current opinion in neurobiology 11.2 (2001): 225-228.
Duschinsky, Robert. "Tabula Rasa and Human Nature." Philosophy 87.4 (2012): 509-529. Green, C. Shawn, and Daphne Bavelier. "Exercising your brain: a review of human brain plasticity and training-induced learning." Psychology and aging 23 (2008): 692.
Hetz, Patricia R., Christi L. Dawson, and Theresa A. Cullen. "Social media use and the fear of missing out (FoMO) while studying abroad." Journal of Research on Technology in Education 47.4 (2015): 259-272.
Igbaria, Magid, and Juhani Iivari. "The effects of self-efficacy on computer usage." Omega 23.6 (1995): 587-588.
