What if the internet isnt just a resource, but actually an extension of mind? A cognitive brain enhancement tool that is transforming the way humans think?

Some experts eagerly pursue that notion, while others believe that technology is dumbing us down, making us lazy and incapable of thinking for ourselves.

According to the Marist Poll,49 percent of Americans think technology makes people dumber, while 46 percent say it makes people smarter. So were about an even split on this topic.

We have immediate access to knowledge and to each other, making us more productive now than ever before. But are we getting any smarter as a result?

Experts disagree, and so do the intelligence test results. While non-verbal IQ tests results are rising, Verbal IQ, the Flynn Effect and others are decreasing.

There are varying opinions as to why this is happening. Some believe that humans have reached their genetic potential and are now on the decline. Others believe its because we let technology do the thinking for us. Still others say its just plain laziness.

To further complicate the issue, consider the many types of intelligence. Theres social intelligence, emotional intelligence, problem solving, spatial relations, language, musical, kinesthetic, existential, mathematical, logical and all of them contain both learned and unlearned aspects.

But theres another type of intelligence. When were not connected to a device, were more intellectually vulnerable. Without online access, even a connected 7-year-old could outsmart us.Thats one aspect of whats called Fluid Intelligence.

Lets be honest. When you need a good map, suggestions for hurricane survival, investment advice, cancer research results, what do you do? If youre like most people, youre tap-tap-tapping away on a device, looking for answers. Is it because the device itself is smarter? Of course not. But some say,yes it is.

Weve stopped memorizing, stopped calculating, and there is less concrete info stored in the noggin. Thats a form of Crystallized Intelligence."

So obviously, this a loaded question. There are a lot of moving parts, and I cant possibly tackle them in one article. But I can give you some food for thought.

At the heart of it, the real question is not whether technology is dumbing us down, but whether were allowing technology to think for us.

I dont mean research,I mean actually think. Make decisions. Think critically. Develop ideas. Define our imagination. Are we relying on tech to perform these things which used to define us as uniquely human?

In my podcast Is Technology Dumbing Us Down we unpack this question with four leading experts in the fields of Critical Thinking, Analytical Instrument Manufacturing, Strategic Studies, Psychology, Education, Mathematics, Theology, Engineering and more. You can listen to this podcast by pressing play below.

The opinions of these experts vary. Educators remark that in research, many college students allow technology to think for them, tailoring their conclusions to align with the professors political and social beliefs. They believe that dependence on technology changes the way people value intellectualism.

Science fiction author Isaac Asimov brought this to light when he said, "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

John Donvan, a four time Emmy Award winner, is a longtime moderator of the Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates and former White House correspondent for ABC News. He hasnt noticed a shift in critical thinking among debaters, whether due to technology or otherwise. People present good debates and bad debates. They use emotionalism, but in the end, truth and a well-presented argument always triumphs.

Journalist Charles Pierce, author ofIdiot America,explained: The rise of idiot America today represents--for profit mainly, but also and more cynically, for political advantage in the pursuit of power--the breakdown of a consensus that the pursuit of knowledge is a good. In the new media age, everybody is an expert.

Therein lies the danger. Online, everybody is an expert. How can you know whats true? Here on Komando.com, it has always been my mission to help you use technology safely and effectively. With that said, if you dont want to be dumbed down by technology - if you dont want to go soft in the brain or get lazy - its up to you to do the work. When youre researching something online, be sure to consider all sides with a mind willing to reason, analyze and above all, think critically.

Nearly all the tools you need to learn are on the web. Never before have we had access to so much information, and yet at the same time, scholastic test results are not impressive. So, obviously, this article is just the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully it will spark some juicy discussions in your neck of the woods.

If you want to hear more, be sure to download the podcast. Listen to what the experts have to say. Its thought provoking and informative - a good use of your brain and your time!

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Tech takeover Is technology stealing our ability to think critically? - Komando