Every new computer program is basically doing some task that a person used to do. But the computer usually does it faster, more accurately, for less money, and without any health insurance costs.
Douglas RushkoffRead
The only reason we don't notice how absolutely interwoven our thinking processes have become with older technologies - pencils, paper, electric light, penicillin, fire - is that they're old, so we've ceased to notice their effects.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We often overlook the impact of older technologies on our thinking processes because they have become a routine part of our lives.
Clive Thompson highlights how older technologies, such as pencils and light, have so deeply integrated into our daily thought processes that their influence is often taken for granted. This invisibility can lead us to forget the foundational role these tools play in shaping our creativity and cognition, emphasizing the significance of recognizing and appreciating the tools that enhance our intellectual experiences.
Themes
TechnologyThinkingToolsInfluenceCognition
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation on the evolution of communication, this quote can emphasize how technology influences our thoughts.
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