Mobile phones ‘dumbing down brain power

Our memory needs are different when we have different tools. I remember the criticism about calculators - they would cause students to forget their multiplication tables. In reality, as tools perform our more basic tasks, we ramp up to more complex cognitive activities. With increased access to information, the need to memorize basics is eliminated. But, the transition will not occur without a fair bit of lamentation over lost capabilities. Consider this article: Mobile phones ‘dumbing down brain power: “People have more to remember these days, and they are relying on technology for their memory. But the less you use of your memory, the poorer it becomes. This may be reflected in the survey findings which show that the over 50s who grew up committing more to memory report better performance in many areas than those under 30 who are heavily reliant on technology to act as their day to day aide memoir.”