Digital dementia—Smart devices don’t necessarily help people act smart

When was the last time that you dialed a phone number from memory? It probably depends on how long you have been using technology like a cellphone. While some generations can 【小题1】 the days of memorizing phone numbers, it’s possible that members of Generation Z have never had to remember a single contact. Why is this? Because smartphones offer quick and 【小题2】 ways for storing and accessing information. There is no need to memorize anything. But this isn’t without 【小题3】. As digital devices develop more and more, user’s heavy reliance on them may be having bad effects. “Digital dementia (痴呆症)” is the term being used by medical professionals to identify some of these effects.

Some professionals like Jim Kwik, an expert in memory improvement are taking a closer look at this effect. Kwik 【小题4】 digital dementia like this; “we depend so much on our smartphones that they are making us stupid.” As medical studies show the decline in memory and cognitive (认知的) skills among smartphone user, a connection is made between symptoms 【小题5】 with dementia.

The seriousness of overuse becomes apparent when you consider just how young smartphone users are becoming. The overstimulation of screens and sounds can lead to 【小题6】. So now parents , teachers and managers are asking how to handle the influx (涌现) of young people with this kind of addiction

【小题7】, smartphones aren’t all bad. They’re incredibly convenient, and the connectivity they create cannot be taken for granted. The key is figuring out how to strike a 【小题8】 between usage and no—use. Here are a few ways people can try to 【小题9】 cellphone addiction and fight against digital dementia.

First, monitor your cellphone use. Cut back on any 【小题10】 usage. Set a specific goal of how much you think you should use your phone.

Second, determine designated (指定的) areas for cellphone use. For example, while you are at home, only allow yourself to check your phone somewhere like a home office. This way, the time in between tasks isn’t automatically filled with staring at your screen.

My mother had never used a mobile phone until she received one for her birthday this year. Since then, she has been addicted to the internet, using different kinds of software applications on her mobile 【小题1】 . She spends a lot of time each day exploring websites and 【小题2】 with other people online. She has set up her own email 【小题3】 and she does most of the shopping online through an 【小题4】 instead of going to supermarkets. Nowadays, she just 【小题5】 a button and then her orders are 【小题6】 the next day. At first, my father had some concerns that she was spending too much time in 【小题7】 worlds, but now he sees how happy she is. She even 【小题8】 some materials that can help my father with his work, so now he’s very happy, too! We are all very proud of her as she has proven that it’s never too late to learn a new skill.