iGod Analysis

In Nicholas Carr’s article iGod, he discusses search engines, namely Google, and how they affect society. His main focus is how more intelligent search engines can either hinder or help society become more or less intelligent. Carr refers to “pancake people,” or those who have stretched themselves far and wide in order to find information. He also discusses how some scientists have come up with the idea to implant machines into the human brain in order to make computers as smart as or smarter than humans. Carr focuses on the subject of artificial intelligence. He utilizes many sources such as the interview with the creators of Google and many other scientists who have done research with artificial intelligence. In comparison, Neil Degrasse Tyson’s Cosmos discusses the subject of the universe through astrophysics. Both authors explore science and how that information changes the way people think and view information processing. The difference lies in the implementation of the subjects. In Tyson’s Cosmos, he utilizes a movie platform and this allows him to engage more with his audience. He is able to use visuals to explain his material better and to keep the information exciting. He breaks down material into easier to digest chunks and simple metaphors. In Carr’s article, he uses concrete examples, facts, and statistics in order to highlight his concepts. There is less dialogue between the author and reader. Much of the information is dry and hard to follow. Carr treats the reader as if they already know about computer science and how the technology already works, which can make it hard to understand. His voice is strong and the tone is conversational throughout his article. Carr’s article follows Huxley’s 3 dimensions by focusing on the object and historical aspects. He also covers topics of moral dilemmas and growing technology.