With the advanced development of communications technology, more and more communications instruments have been invented such as cell phone, computer and the Internet, especially Google which is popular among the internet users. It can be concluded that Google is the most outstanding invention with the appearance of the Internet. It is no doubt that Google is available when we need a large amount of information. It just needs our fingertips touch the button a click or two. Then the problem will be solved in the blink of an eye. However according to relevant researches, the Internet is going to ruin the human mind because it greatly affects the way we think. In the end it will make us more stupid than we think because we cannot concentrate our attention on what we are reading which leads to the decline of our comprehension skill. From my experiences of Internet-surfing, I will have some doubts about the potential shortcomings of using the Internet.
According to author Nicholas Carr, “the human brain is just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive”(page 8). In this sentence, the author has used a kind of metaphor, that is, the human brain is like an outdated computer. I am doubtful about this saying. As we all know, the computer is inferior to the human brain in many ways, especially in terms of cognitive skills which are the only function of the human brain. Even the most advanced artificial intelligence such as computer cannot copy this function because the structure of the human brain is too delicate and complicated to be copied from the perspective of neurology. Moreover the computer is invented by the human beings. Therefore it will not equal or superior to the human brain which will not be outdated forever.
According to author Nicholas Carr, “deep reading is indistinguishable from deep thinking”(page 9-10). It refers to a common phenomenon that the Internet will rob the ability of thinking about one thing persistently if the Internet user is always disturbed by skimming many sources. It seems reasonable at first glance. But this conclusion cannot stand close scrutiny. Because the examples that the author has cited are all literary readings such as War and Peace which is too long and not so interesting itself. Since the studied type of books is too narrow to be thought as a typical example, the conclusion has a loophole. Moreover it is inevitable that we will see the emergence of some new forms of expressions which are suitable to the Internet and have little harm for our thinking.
According to author Nicholas Carr, “every medium develops some cognitive skills at the expense of others”(page13). That is to say, when the Internet users’ attention is robbed by the browsing instruments of the Internet such as Google, their capacity for deep contemplation will decline by the continuous online distraction. But is it true that when we get knowledge from the various web pages of the Internet, one of our cognitive skills will be destroyed? Perhaps it is not the truth in terms of a comprehensive study. From a review of studies on the cognitive effects of video games in 2009, it turns out that playing video games which is a common action favored by young fellows will cause great improvements on a lot of cognitive tasks such as visual perception and sustained attention. In this case, there is a win-win for the Internet users because they get a wonderful experience as well as some cognitive skills without any loss.
To sum up, just like the invention of the printing machine several hundred years ago which has brought a large quantity of books to the public, Google also brings a large amount of information to the Internet users. I will conclude that just as the printing machine has inspired the intelligence of foolish and ignorant humans, Google will bring the Internet users more benefits than harm if only we pay attention to its so-called potential shortcomings. After all, we have invented the computer. I am quite sure that as long as we allot our time more reasonably, not only do some actual reading in the library but also do some surfing on the Internet, we will get brighter.