Memory…

I recently read an essay that suggested technology is ruining our memories. I can't remember who the author was, but I imagine he must be some sort of incredible luddite -- the kind of person who lectures you for using a calculator instead of solving tedious equations in your head. I can just picture him now: graying moustache bristling, sitting at his trusty typewriter composing his essay… He takes a particularly hard stab at the "S" key, causing the candles around his desk to flicker…

Technology is disintegrating our memories?? Puh-leez! Just because I no longer memorize my friends' telephone numbers doesn't mean that I sit around and stare at the wall these days. I still have to recall that my friend Jenn's number is speed dial #45, for example, and I have to remember the sequence of commands on my cell phone that have to be accessed in order to even get to the speed dial menu. Don't tell me that learning how to use a cell phone correctly doesn't take some brainpower, man.

The only way that most of us can cope with the onslaught of information we receive in our 21st century culture is by using the cool technology that is available to us. Do you honestly think, Mr. Author, that the quality of my life would improve if I memorized every cell number, fax number, home number, business number, mailing address, personal email, business email, alternate email, and birthday that is stored in my Yahoo! address book?? There would be so much data stuffed into my head that retrieval would take forever. (Just consider how long it takes a computer with an overloaded hard drive to bring up your Word document -- and with the human brain, it's kind of difficult to upgrade your RAM.) By the time I'd finally be able to recall Jenn's phone number, we'd have missed the 7:00 showing of The Wedding Date. I'd rather depend on my electronics and make the movie, thanks.

And really, by using technology as an incredibly efficient way to store rudimentary data, I'm not doing anything differently from the way the human brain naturally works: all the essential, repetitive actions like producing stomach acid and saliva, pumping the heart and lungs, and controlling the bladder are (hopefully) not what occupies our brains all day. All those mundane tasks are rounded up and pawned off on a "lower" part of the brain, freeing the higher end of the brain to apply itself to more fun -- albeit less essential -- functions like playing "Snood" on the internet while at work. If not for this allocation of automatic functioning, the body would never be able to get anything done. Heck, I'll bet your boss even does something similar to you at work (where are those TPS reports, anyway?) -- it's called delegation, and it's the way to go.

So, if I use modern technology to delegate the task of remembering stuff like addresses and phone numbers, I think that's a good use of the executive power I wield at My Brain and Company. And I haven't noticed a marked decrease in production numbers or employee morale. So, Mr. Technophobe, I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go use my recall skills to tell my coworker exactly why rushing to see The Wedding Date was such a waste of time…

…or did I already tell her that yesterday?

~~~~~

Laura Goodman is a regular contributor to the footnote, but only when her electronic caldendar reminds her to write a piece.