Running Head: COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND THE EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 1

Computer Technology and the effect on the brain
Malcolm Alexander
Park University

Table of contents
1. Abstract
3. Research and Development
5. Summary of data/conclusion
6. References
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Abstract Computer technology has been around in our lives for a few century’s changing our lives for better and worse. The first set of evidence of mechanical calculating appeared in the 17th century as well as the first recorded word of computer. What we know as our modern day computer was first introduced around the 19th century. Since then computer technology has been advancing every day, making past technology obsolete very quickly. Nowadays computer technology is part of most people’s life. In the 1960’s people on average would watch around 5 hours of media compared to today’s 12 hours (Wells, 2010). Yet with all of this advanced technology how is it affecting our brains and body? In this paper I will attempt to answer these questions.

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Computer technology is a part of many people’s lives in this modern age. Computers have made a big impact into our lives around the 19th century. Since then they have been advancing so quickly. Before they were thought of as only being in the richest of peoples grasp. Used mainly for calculations and problem solving, massive and usually filling big rooms consuming high amounts of energy. In modern times they are now highly affordable, can be used in almost any way and so some are so tiny that it can hardly cover the “N” in one on a penny.
With being so affordable and many very easy to learn they are incorporated in almost every aspect of our lives. From the daily wake up to the end of the day there has been technology in it nearly every step of the way. One thing we don’t notice is how it affects us. Nowadays it is second nature to us. People do not often stop and think how much technology is a part of our life.
With it being such a huge part people often do not see the problems it can eventually leave on your body and your brain. After many hours which lead to years of using technology it can eventually leave a toll on our bodies. Studies have shown that prolonged use of technology can lead to a lack of social skills as well as an addiction to it. Granted with these cons there is also many pros that make their use so popular. Some include increased hand eye coordination, visual reasoning skills as well as better at multitasking. With this pro in mind video games are being considered a very good tool in building hand eye coordination with soldiers and rehabilitation patients (Roach, 2003).

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Research has shown that people who play video games can process information more quickly and track more objects 30% faster rather than those non video gamers (Roach, 2003). With these types of benefits companies and the military build training material around video games. For example, a company named iRobot has been making Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robots. To date this company has delivered around 800 bots to the military while in Iraq and Afghanistan as well to other agencies. The remote for this iRobot is modeled off of video game controllers. The reason for this is because of the ease of use and it’s so familiar to many people. Almost second nature to some. Another company named Oculus Rift makes virtual reality technology. With this company they build headsets which make the user physically feel like they are actually in the environment that they see. Granted this technology is new and exciting, it can have some down sides to it as well. Some believe that virtual reality can leave effects on people after they leave the simulation. Some of these effects include a sense of bodily harm, danger, lightheartedness and nausea. Yet these side effects do not affect every user that interacts with it does raise a concern for those who do.

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In summary computer technology is not only helpful it is nearly impossible to live without in this generation. Our lives would be nearly shattered without it. The effect it would have on many people would be devastating. Computer technology is not only essential it is needed for people to advance. Not only does it help people learn easier it also helps build skills and increase cognitive functions. It opens the brain and lets that person function quicker with prolonged use. Computer technology used in the right way can also help train soldiers and protect them from harm. With these soldiers knowing this it can increase their fighting ability due to knowing they are safer and can focus on the job at hand. Computer technology will be around for many more centuries to come and will continue to advance and make an impact on our lives and brains. Yet eventually the cons of it might start to rack up. Job losses from computers taking work could end up putting many people out of work, at least in the future. The effects of virtual reality and simulations could eventually feel so real that it leaves an effect on the users of those products. “Besides the psychological and mental conditions that the user of the VR environment. With the ever-increasing intelligence of the agents especially in the VR environment, the agents may cause a feeling of, or the reality of, both bodily and mental harm to the user.” (Kizza, 2013)

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REFERENCES

Works Cited
Kizza, J. M. (2013). Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age. Chattanooga: Springer.
Roach, J. (2003, May 28). National Geographic News. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html