The tools we use change the way our brains work

Recently, fMRI researchers have taken these results a step further, by showing that the hippocampus in humans supports map-like spatial codes. A key feature of a map is that it preserves distance relationships: entities that are closer together (vs. farther apart) in the real world are closer together (vs. farther apart) on the map.

[Patricia Greenfield] concluded that “every medium develops some cognitive skills at the expense of others.” Our growing use of the Net and other screen-based technologies has led to the “widespread and sophisticated development of visual-spatial skills.” We can, for example, rotate objects in our minds better than we used to be able to. But our... See more

support the creation of location-specific virtual content such as in-game treasures, effects, or even portals to virtual worlds that contain other content.

“ Stories are actually a form of technology. They are tools that were designed by our ancestors to alleviate depression, reduce anxiety, kindle creativity, spark courage and meet a variety of other psychological challenges of being human. ”― Angus Fletcher, Wonderworks

Simple tools make it possible to create complex ones; this is just as true for cognitive tools as it is for physical ones. Humanity has developed thousands of such tools throughout history, ranging from double-entry bookkeeping to the Cartesian coördinate system. So, even though we aren’t more intelligent than we used to be, we have at our disposal... See more

Four days later, Venkatesh Rao followed up with another article that went deeper into the topic. In this article, he used one of his usual 2x2 matrixes to coin a new term: The cozy web. The cozy web is the antithesis of the dark forest. It's a place where people can share their thoughts and ideas without fear of being attacked. It is by nature... See more

In the parable of the blind men and the elephant, each paid attention to a different aspect of the creature. The brain may do something similar by mapping out the qualities of perceptions, experiences and abstract concepts along various dimensions, with the help of the same system that it uses to map out physical spaces.

Tools extend our reach, give us new abilities, and help us shape societies in profound ways. When we design a tool, it takes on a life of its own and exerts its will upon us. Example: a car was a way to get from point A to point B, but when we realized we needed roads and parking lots which changed our cities. We shape the car, and then the car

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received over email:

A personal search engine. A personal digital collection. A social media platform. A knowledge management platform. A digital playground. A second brain. The Pinterest of ideas. A living digital library. A bookmarking tool.

A boutique search engine. Sublime to me is not any of those things, it is not another platform, another

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