The jury is most definitely out on the subject of computers, the internet and their overall benefit for our collective enlightenment. Phrases such as Web2.0rhea are common in cynical sections of the internet, while much early optimism of the social internet being profitable for anyone except traditionally monolithic corporations such as Facebook and twitter has now all but faded.
Looking at the problem of innovation from an “environmental perpective”. This neat little animation sheds some light on the debate of what the internet is doing to our brains. Are we getting overwhelmed by an always connected multitasking lifestyle and is that going to lead to less sophisticated thought, as we move away from the slower more contemplative state of reading?
The video comes from Cognitive Media who have produced a number of these animation to transform information into a cogent, cohesive, big-picture metaphor with the help “visual synthesis”. See more at their youtube channel and at the RSA.
