Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Beyond the glowing rectangles: Digital downtime
Now there is science to prove what we already inherently know. Too much of a good thing is bad.
A recent New York Times article, ”Your Brain on Computers: Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime” details research and interviews about the negative impact of our three glowing rectangles. The article details how important it is to allow downtime from our digital devices for our brains to learn and create memories.
I too have fallen victim to cleaning out email at my kid’s soccer game and one day I asked myself, “Would I really choose taking out the garbage over going to this game?” Of course not and I certainly wasn’t setting a good example. As a father of three children, one of my jobs is to set limits. I now set technology free time zones to help my kids broaden their experiences beyond what they are finding on the computer, the TV and the iPod. My new rule for the school year is that every minute of TV watching needs to be matched with an equal amount of reading a book the old fashioned way. Sorry Kindle.
But the biggest downside I see with content over-consumption is that there is little energy and brain power left to truly innovate. If all we do is enjoy other people’s increasingly rich content, there is less of an urge to create original ideas ourselves. Downtime is crucial for the incubation process where new ideas can grow and become better. Consumption is great in moderation but for me, creating is much more fun and fulfilling.
This summer, my family and I went camping with four other families which included 16 kids under the age of 13. I don’t remember a moment while camping when any of the kids asked for a video game, iPod or TV. They were all too busy creating their own life experiences and friendships. A real burning stick is a lot of fun! Of course the Nintendo DS and iPod were switched on for the car ride home.
So, I guess a blend of consumption and creation is best for the mind. What do you prefer?
articles, digital in Social Media & Digital 
Reader Comments (2)
Great post! I couldn't agree more. While quick access to anything you want to learn or read has helped speed our ability to consume information, we risk being slaves to our glowing hand-helds. In some ways, the mobile device has taken on the same annoyance and "prop value" as the cigarette used to. Look around a restaurant, bar or any public place for that matter, individuals and groups of people are posing with their mobile device, staying "connected" or pretending to be. Too bad more of them don't look up and connect with the world in front of them, its is far more enriching. Instead, too many people use the safer, more one-dimensional mobile device as a buffer-zone to something more meaningful. I know these are broad generalizations, but I've seen many instances where conversation and social engagement is avoided when the mobile device is in hand. BALANCE is the key - glad to see you're modeling balance for the next generation - there is hope!
Thanks for the comment Larry. Now that smoking is band in WI bars we will probably see even more rectangle clinging.