Headings
Subheadings
Visuals
KWL
Details and
Plausible Inferences
Techinal Terms
Topic of the text:
Our increasing dependence on technology and its impact on our cognitive abilities, memory, and various aspects of life, including business and professional skills.
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Writer’s opinion about the text’s topic:
The writer believes that we’ve become overly reliant on technology, and this is starting to have a negative effect in our brains and memory. They argue that depending too much on gadgets is making us less capable of thinking for ourselves and doing things without tech support.
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Support for writer’s opinion (e.g., evidence such as facts, testimonies, examples, etc.): ​
The Impact on Memory: The writer refers to a study from University College London, which found that using GPS for navigation reduces activity in the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for memory and spatial awareness. This suggests that technology is weakening our ability to think and remember directions.
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Digital Amnesia: The writer introduces the idea of "digital amnesia," supported by Kaspersky’s research, which shows that people are forgetting things like phone numbers because they depend too much on their smartphones. For example, a study revealed a drop in people’s ability to remember personal phone numbers, illustrating how technology is diminishing our memory.
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Decline in Cognitive Skills: The writer reflects on how tasks like mental math have become more difficult for them because of their reliance on calculators and smartphones. This personal example shows how everyday use of technology is making us less capable of performing basic cognitive tasks that used to be second nature.
Rhetorical Questions
What credentials does the author have which give him/her the authority to write about the topic of the text?
Terry is an experienced product management and marketing professional having worked for technology based companies for over 30 years, in different industries including; Telecoms, IT Service Management (ITSM), Managed Service Providers (MSP), Enterprise Security, Business Intelligence (BI) and Healthcare.
After considering the author’s profession and affiliation, what possible biases the author might have about the topic?
Terry’s long career in product management and marketing within tech industries likely gives him a bias toward the positive aspects of technology. With experience in areas like telecom, IT service management, and healthcare, he probably views technology as essential for solving problems and improving efficiency. This could make him more inclined to highlight the benefits of technology and downplay concerns about over-dependence or its potential negative effects. His background suggests a strong interest in promoting tech solutions, which might lead him to overlook some of the drawbacks of relying too much on technology.
What is the purpose of the text, and how does the author accomplish that purpose? What evidence does the author use to support the main idea in the text?
The purpose of the text is to examine whether society has become too dependent on technology and whether this reliance could be harmful to our cognitive abilities and overall well-being. The author accomplishes this by sharing personal stories, referencing scientific studies, and incorporating expert opinions to highlight the negative effects of over-relying on technology. For example, the author mentions a 2017 study from University College London that shows how using GPS systems can reduce brain activity in areas like the hippocampus, which are responsible for navigation. The text also discusses "digital amnesia," explaining how people forget things like phone numbers because they rely too heavily on their devices to store that information.
What specific idea/information in the text challenges or surprises you? Why?
The Hippocampus, I never expected something like that, I was surprised that it can really affect someone’s brain
Is the style of writing suitable for the intended audience? Is it too formal or too casual? Why?
The style of writing in this text is somewhat casual, which might make it feel more personal and relatable to some readers. The author used a storytelling technique to describe experiences on the increasing dependence on technology. Although the author provides factual evidence and references studies to support their points, Overall, there is a balance between storytelling and evidences.