In “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” the author, Nicholas Carr, is concerned that internet based technologies change the way people think and how they process information, which can lead to an incapability of contemplating and concentrating. The author starts by talking about his friends and his own experiences in the recent changes in thinking, writing and reading due to spending too much time on the internet. The author explains how the change occurs by providing research to confirm that the reading habits such as skimming we are engaged in as on-line readers prevent them from thinking and reading deeply. In addition, Carr provides examples to argue that the internet changes the way the neural circuits are woven and diminishes cognitive ability. This decrease can discourage the abilities of meditating and focusing. Moreover, the author declares that in order to increase efficiency and business interests, corporations ignore this issue and continue to utilize internet-based intelligent computer to mediate people’s mind. At the end, Carr worries that human intelligence will be supplanted with intellectual computers.

I agree with the theory that utilizing computer can change the way our brains function because computers change the way we process information and deal with problems. First, although I agree with Carr’s idea that “The advantages of having immediate access to such an incredibly rich store of information are many”(92), I think that we develop a high dependence on computers which provide us with an immediate and easy way to access info. We may come to solve problems by simply finding answers on the internet, rather than intensively and deeply engaging our minds to tackle problems, which can change the way our brains react to troubles or threats and make us stupid. Second, Carr mentions that due to the ubiquity of different types of on-line reading, he is unable to gather his attention to read and think (96). In my opinion, computers providing voluminous messages and on-line activities on the internet can prevent us from concentrating. If we are immersed in an environment with incessant hyperlinks and pop-up ads that can distract us from focusing, we will develop a tendency to be unable to concentrate while performing complex tasks. Third, Carr points out that internet media and now traditional media such as New York Times provide different kinds of easy-to-read shorter reading forms that can make people less engaged in reading deeply (97). I agree that on-line reading provided by internet based computer media prevents us from reading profoundly. As a result, we are developing a tendency to think less critically and deeply and find ourselves as less voracious readers.