Three out of four experts consulted for thereport “The future of the Internet “,conducted by the Pew Reseach Center and Elon University (USA), ensure thatThe Internet enhances and increases human intelligence. The study has taken into account the opinion of 895 users and Internet experts who have been asked about theirforecasts for 2020.
Specifically, for 76% of those interviewed, the use of the Internet has improved human intelligence sincepeople make better decisions because they are better informed. In terms of reading, writing and comprehension and assimilation skills, 65 percent of those surveyed agreed that in ten years these skills will have improved thanks to the Internet, and only 32 percent thought otherwise.
In general terms, according to the conclusions of this study,the nature of writing is already changing. Richard Forno, from the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, assures that a distinction must be made between the formal writing used in reports and at a professional level and the informal writing used in e-mails, social networks and SMS, so criticized for their language. In addition, anew visual concept, much more agile and dynamic, which is changing the way of telling stories. For Anthony Townsend of the Future Research Institute, “it would be much smarter to show an interactive digital simulation to explain Ancient Egyptian politics than to teach it in a textbook.”
Now, one of the study’s co-authors, Janna Anderson, points out that “there are still a lot of people who are critical of the impact of Google, Wikipedia and other tools.” This is the case of Nicholas Carr and his articleIs Google making us stupid?, published inThe Atlantic Monthlyin the summer of 2008. In it, Carr argued that the ease of Internet searches and the distractions of browsing were limiting his ability to concentrate. “I don’t think the way I used to think anymore,” he assured.
Gadgets and anonymity
Regarding the identification of online users, according to the study, 41% of the interviewees believe that it will be possible to have full control of identity on the Web through fingerprint analysis, and even through a retina scanner, which buy, inform and navigate. Instead, 55% see this unlikely for 2020.
Regarding theinnovation, an overwhelming 80% stated thatgadgets and applications will continue to amaze uswith its new uses. “Our ability to predict new devices has been poor and does not appear to be changing,” said Wojciech Dec, an engineer at Cisco Systems.
