How Digital Technology Shapes Us
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Narrated by:
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Professor Indre Viskontas
About this listen
Most adults are concerned that children have much too much technology in their lives these days and are spending way too much time on screens. But as Professor Indre Viskontas points out in How Digital Technology Shapes Us, we are not the first to worry that new technology will harm our children and future generations. At least since the beginning of recorded history, we have been underestimating the capacity of the human brain to adapt to and take advantage of emerging technologies. In this course, Professor Viskontas shares some of the most exciting research into this relatively new topic, providing a scientific approach to judging the true pros and cons of our interaction with technology in the digital age.
Many of us believe we are adjusting well to this new digital technology with its constant demands on our time and attention by increasing our multitasking. But multitasking cannot save us because our brain is not capable of true multitasking. What we experience as multitasking is actually our brain flitting back and forth from this task to the next to the next to the next. That we can do, but in the process, we could be losing the ability - and opportunity - to perform deep work, the opportunity for deep reading, and the empathy that builds up when we think deeply about people who are different from us, to truly expand the tribe rather than reinforce tribalism.
The good news is that just recognizing the significance of deep work and deep reading, we can make it a priority and arrange some time to focus on just that without distractions. If we do, those pathways that lead to deeper cognition can become reinforced. We can also help our children focus on the positives of digital media, empowering them to connect with others to find purpose, motivation, and support. We can spend time with them to encourage them to find opportunities for deep reading and deep work in age-appropriate ways.
Digital technology definitely shapes us. But once we learn how it does so, we can make good decisions for our ourselves and our children.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
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Same Material Different Title
- By rkeinc on 09-21-14
By: Steven Novella, and others
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Propaganda and Persuasion
- By: Dannagal G. Young, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dannagal G. Young
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
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Propaganda and Persuasion gives you a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the powerful, fascinating, and at times dangerous world of influence. Taught by Professor Dannagal G. Young of the University of Delaware, these 12 eye-opening lectures arm you with the tools of effective communication and the insight to understand—and perhaps resist—persuasion in all its forms.
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good course minus the progressive slant
- By H.B. on 05-21-23
By: Dannagal G. Young, and others
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Getting Your Legal House in Order
- By: Sally Hurme, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Sally Hurme
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
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The law impacts nearly every aspect of our lives, yet we seldom stop to reflect on the tools, documents, and procedures that allow our society to function. Property and contracts, insurance and credit, taxes and estate planning: These issues may be intimidating, but getting on top of your legal affairs is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. The good news is that a few simple concepts, a little organization, and some step-by-step planning can help you get your legal life into the best shape possible.
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Practical and Use Advice
- By Tri Le on 02-03-21
By: Sally Hurme, and others
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Food: A Cultural Culinary History
- By: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ken Albala
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
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Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
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One of my top 3 favorite courses!
- By Jessica on 12-28-13
By: Ken Albala, and others
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Fighting Misinformation
- Digital Media Literacy
- By: Tara Susman-Peña, Mehri Druckman, Nina Oduro, and others
- Narrated by: Tara Susman-Peña
- Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins
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Because we are continuously taking in information from a variety of sources, we are under constant threat from those who would intentionally (or accidentally) misinform - from foreign operatives, advertisers, politicians, and general scammers to our own friends and family. To better prepare you, IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) has teamed up with The Great Courses to provide a guide for navigating this tricky landscape with this eight-lecture course designed to arm you with the skills you need to be a savvy media consumer.
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Good resource
- By P. K. Bellville on 03-27-20
By: Tara Susman-Peña, and others
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Understanding Cognitive Biases
- By: Alexander B. Swan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Alexander B. Swan
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
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In Understanding Cognitive Biases, you will learn how to recognize biases for what they are, counteract them when necessary, and even use them to your advantage in some instances. In 24 fascinating lectures, Dr. Alexander B. Swan uses examples from psychology experiments, history, politics, movies, TV, comics, social media, and more to illustrate dozens of cognitive biases that affect us all.
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Interesting, informative and well organized
- By William on 07-11-23
By: Alexander B. Swan, and others
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The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints
- By: Emily Graham, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Emily Graham
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
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Over the course of 24 in-depth lectures, Professor Emily Graham, an Associate Professor of History at Oklahoma State University, surveys the global history of Christian sainthood. As you’ll discover, the stories of Christian saints are not just fascinating—they’re also an integral part of Christian history.
By: Emily Graham, and others
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Storytelling and the Human Condition
- By: Alexandra Hudson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Alexandra Hudson
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
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To examine the connection between the storytelling impulse and our implicit desire to understand our lives and our place in the world, you will go on a globe-spanning, time-travelling, media-traversing tour in the 12 lectures of Storytelling and the Human Condition. Your guide is award-winning journalist, author, and storyteller Alexandra Hudson, founder of Civic Renaissance, a community of lifelong learners, which she invites you to join at Civic-Renaissance.com. In this course, she will illuminate the many ways stories shape our lives throughout history and across cultures.
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Lip smacking every 1 minute
- By Meow on 05-06-24
By: Alexandra Hudson, and others
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How to View and Appreciate Great Movies
- By: Eric Williams, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Eric Williams
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
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Sit down with renowned professional filmmaker, author, and award-winning professor Eric R. Williams to unpack the elements of more than 250 “great” movies to gain insights and secrets that will change the way you view films. You’ll discover how from the moment you sit down, great filmmakers control every sensation the movie experience evokes: tremors or tears, goosebumps or giggles, and why it is that we invite them to do this.
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very informative
- By Greg Bensch on 01-18-21
By: Eric Williams, and others
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Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body
- By: Heidi Sormaz, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Heidi Sormaz
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
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The 12 half-hour lectures of Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body, taught by acclaimed yoga teacher Dr. Heidi Sormaz, are the ideal first step for a newcomer and a fascinating journey of discovery for those who already practice. If you think, "I'm not flexible enough to do yoga," you should try this course. Dr. Sormaz reveals that there is a practice that will work for you and help you on your road to a healthier mind and body.
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Great Course not hardly
- By HIYBRID on 07-02-19
By: Heidi Sormaz, and others
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The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
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What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
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Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
What listeners say about How Digital Technology Shapes Us
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Marcos Nolasco
- 10-03-21
Up to date, highly informative and captivating
Professor Viskontas does an excellent job of critically summarizing a large amount of data from high-level research. Her diction is excellent, and she masters rhetoric very well, characterizing an excellent teacher. The course is worth every minute, providing highly relevant knowledge on a subject of capital importance.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mario
- 10-30-24
Very interesting view of all technologies that surround us
She takes a view that is not radical to any side, as we are used to seeing. There are benefits and problems to every technology, and we need to find the right amount. I found very interesting the last chapter about the future and AI, when she explains which fields will most likely be replaced by automation and which will not. She quotes a lot of other authors and during the entire course other sources are used to base her view.
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- Nash
- 06-08-23
Very current…
Great listen…. Enjoyed the topic and how the ideas were presented in this book. Excellent!
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- nonrachitect
- 12-19-20
Beyond my expectation!!!
I’m usually (not always) impressed by the great courses audio programs. But this one, I didn’t expect much. All I wanted was to learn more about digital technology and how I might have some knowledge to talk to my colleagues about it. But as it turned out, the professor is so good at explaining difficult things in such a way that anybody can understand. I am forever indebted to this professor and this amazing audiobook. Thank you.
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13 people found this helpful
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- Mark
- 11-15-20
The Hidden Costs of Our Digital Lives
Professor Viskontas does a fine job guiding us through the growing body of research assessing the social and psychological consequences of our online lives. As you might expect, there’s a wealth of conflicting data, so conclusions are hard to reach. Silicon Valley would like us to believe in the utopian promise of digital technology, but Professor Viskontas’ balanced critical analysis raises some serious questions. I appreciated this course because it made me aware of how the screens in my life are conditioning me (and, even moreso, my children) in ways I had never imagined. The second lecture on distractibility and the downside of multitasking was itself worth the cost of the entire audiobook. Ditto lecture 17 on how the internet reinforces in-group/out-group associations, contributing to the polarization we see in contemporary Western politics.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Patrick Mullane
- 02-26-22
A slanted snapshot of IT/Society
Positive: Provides a precis of what are the key Computer / Societal issues which the general reader should be aware of.
Negative: A bias progressive academic viewpoint that for instance seems unaware of the irony of decrying bias in AI/Machine intelligence yet the author spends much of the course decrying opposing worldviews as unworthy to be on social media.
In summary: worth a listen if free but not worth a credit.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Siri
- 05-06-22
The content is okay
I don’t want to recommend this course to anyone, the lecturer is so ableist that it hurt to listen to her inexperience about anyone that is not a Nero typical with USA citizen.
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- Spitfire
- 03-01-22
Perhaps a book for expectant parents
Another academic writes a book without any meaningful content. Time to get out of the classroom and find the real world.
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