The documentary my group and I watched was called "The Intelligence Revolution". Created in 2007 and hosted by modern philosopher Michio Kaku, it discussed the future possibility of computers thinking for themselves, humans being capable of reprogramming their biology to create a new "super human" species, and whether or not eventually humans will put the responsibility of their brains onto machines. The host shows many examples of how the world has technologically advanced within the past twenty years, and how it will continue to advance for the next twenty. He explores the idea of robots: will they be able to think for themselves?
There is one example describing machines thinking for humans that particularly stood out to me. A middle-aged woman was featured as having clinical depression her whole life. No therapy or drug treatment had worked previously, so the doctors and scientists turned to a micro-chip in the hopes of a superior effect. They surgically placed the computer chip into her brain, and for months after the procedure she would visit the hospital and try out different levels of the transmitters the chip sent. It was hard at first because when the doctors gave her the wrong doses for the first several times, she was even more depressed than she had been; her hair fell out, her face sunk in, and she looked very ill. Then one day they switched the levels to fir her brain perfectly-- she now says she has never felt better. This is the beginning of implanting computer chips into human brains for this purpose… The documentary said that "by 2020, a microchip with the computing power of a modern cellphone will cost about $.01. Technology is developing that fast.
Both sources review enhancing the human race- Kaku having an excited outlook while Jackson being more worried. She begs readers to raise the question, "Are we heading into a dark age?" by discussing memory, and how the act of forgetting is "part of the brain's constant attempts to filter and comprehend the environment." (chapter 8, Distracted). She persuades us to admire memory's selectiveness as opposed to vastness, ultimately "cultivating a renaissance of attention" by explaining the negative effects in our attention today, and how it will bring us to the Dark Age.
Jackson also discusses how American's today are more highly educated, but not necessarily better educated. She goes over the importance of self-control and how it's key to gaining reflective thinking skills and deep engagement in learning that will be needed in this new digital age. The lack of attention will bring us to a dark age.
While covering similar topics, Kaku and Jackson had different approaches. Kaku went into depth on the amazement factor of technology and it's new improvements. Jackson is criticizing these new advancements by cautioning humans and their relationships with machines. Kaku visits different scientific labs and shows us new robots, computer chips, computerized sunglasses, and others that will give us more access to information throughout the world. Jackson sites many important studies bashing the effects of technology, and also includes anecdotes of herself visiting labs and testing out new equipment. Both did a great job with explaining what this new technology would mean to the world.
I thought the documentary was more interesting because it was a film, and not a book. However I liked Distracted much more than The Dumbest Generation because of Maggie's personal style that connected more to the readers emotions. Mark Bauerlein, though credible, was very dull in the way he presented his information. Maggie Jackson treats her book like a narrative and a documentary all within one, which helps her readers connect her information to their own lives.
Both sources inclined me to take my stance on technology into view. Though I have yet to mistake a human for a robot and vice versa, I am aware of how we are relying on technology more and more. Just today I went to help distribute iPads to the middle schoolers at Central Middle School- they get to keep them until they graduate, and by that time the prices will decrease to around $10 if they wish to purchase it forever (of course, by then iPads will be old news). There is much about technology that we should be aware of, but it has benefitted the human race in many ways (if I didn't have an iPhone, how else would I play Ruzzle?!)
