The Computer, More Than Just a Simple Tool..

Angeli Hajali

In Chapter 1 of The Shallows, Carr says “The computer, I began to sense was more than just a simple tool that did what you told it to do.  It was a machine that, in subtle but unmistakable ways, exerted an influence over you.  The more I used it, the more it altered the way I worked.”  Though I disagree with some of Carr’s arguments I find this to be very true.  The more we use the internet and the computer the more we our work and communication alters.

                Nowadays we use the internet for everything.  We use the internet to talk to friends, family members, coworkers, professors etc.. As students we use the internet to submit work and use computers to complete work.  Other than these typical duties many people use the internet for entertainment such as watching movies, television shows, playing games and more.  The computer is more than just a simple tool; it truly does influence everything most people do.

                As Carr explains it really has altered the way people work.  People used to go to the library and rent a book; you can now buy or rent virtually any book online, download it in seconds and have it available at your fingertips and at the convenience of your home.  You used to go to the video store and rent or buy a movie, you can now stream and watch or rent a movie online for free, and you can pause and play it whenever you want.  People used to use type writers to send people letters or important documents and use the post office to send them to people in the mail.  You can now conveniently type emails and send them confidentially in just seconds.  All of this and more has developed so much more since internet usage began including photos, sharing and research.

                I do understand how Carr sees the internet as a downfall.  It has changed the way we do things, the way we act, communicate, and learned.  But, it has also opened up so many options and conveniences.  When I get home after a day at class or running errands I immediately turn to the internet to catch up on the statuses of my friends, reply to my professors and coworkers, pay bills, and set up important appointments.  In my opinion, the internet is without a doubt one of the most efficient, important, and convenient sources ever found.

                We rely on the internet so much more than we realize.  Carr says “The computer, I began to sense was more than just a simple tool that did what you told it to do.  It was a machine that, in subtle but unmistakable ways, exerted an influence over you.  The more I used it, the more it altered the way I worked.”  Though I understand what Carr is saying when he disagrees with the internet and how much it has changed society, I believe that the internet is one of the greatest creations.  It helps us with everyday tasks and we use it a lot more than we realize.