Dear Mohamed,

Yes, I believe our capacity to remember has been reduced as a result of technology usage. In the past, we used to make all calculations: add, deduct, multiply, devide, without using even a calculator. Nowadays, our capacity of remembering has been affected.

Priority to retain gets missed.

Technologies affects and risks developing brains can become more easily habituated due to juggle homework and entertainment, than to constantly switching tasks and less able to sustain attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

A very nice question, Thank you for raising it. I personally believe since I am having problem with remembering the past events quite frequently but my other few friends they don't have same problem(especially females). There are two aspects of my tale. I agree the technology has influenced our lifestyle. We depend heavily on electronic calenders to remember important events such as birthdays, meeting deadlines and even protocols since they are easily available online, periodic tables etc. I follow the same habit very frequently.

But on the other hand few of my friends(very small no.) from my generation have quite good memories. They remember the details of past events quite clearly and they do remember the future events too. They too use the technologies but yet they have preserved their natural instinct to remember the things quite clearly. This is common among girls.

Our past generations of grand parents also states the same thing. My grandmother had more sharper memory than my grand father. The long term memory  preservation has some link with gender. Male tends to forget easily(not all) while females tend to remember the details very clearly.

I hope I have made my view clear.   

I´m not sure, that we lost the ability to remember. I think we weight our data "worth" or "not worth" to keep in mind, because we have media. In early times without the ability to write, we had to learn by heart. Later on we invented the notice book eg as calendar etc.

Today we take our labtop or our handy to keep in mind our call numbers, adresses, do calculations and record our talks. So we have the possibility to free our mind. Wonderful!

But no come the drawbacks.

If you don´t train your memory, it looses its abilities and I´ve experienced many times that young "digital" people can not keep in mind the simpliest data. They are unable to do the elementary mathematical calculations without computers, don´t know any call numbers (the look at the face on the iphone).

I´m waiting until they forget their own name, the names of their friends and any foreign languages because they use eg google translator.

So modern techniques can facilitate our daily routine, but they is also a temptation to forget any brain training.

The right and proper dose is needed. The teachers and lecturers should give the impulses not to forget all our abilities.

People they use to deciamate e.g “The Mahabharata” or Homer’s epics, consisted by thousands of lines by heart. After writhing discovered, people loose step by step their ability to have so strong memories. Why I should remember something if I can write down!

Some general problems of reading can be found in the book:

Stanislas Dehaene, Reading in the Brian: The science and revolution of a Human Invention. Viging, 2009.

Dear Costas, Indeed Homer's epics is what I meant in building to my question. Thank you for bringing that up.

I personally would not be that worried about this phenomenon. It is a fact, indeed, that we have lost our memory due to the most recent technologies. Historically quit the same  happened when we went from the oral tradition on to the written tradition.

However, we have gained much more than what we have lost. I am an optimist about all this.

Let me please say that memory can be stored and used when it is necessary. That way we can devote some of our time to be more creative, more imaginative. In my view, the most salient view of evolution is not so much about loosing memory as about gaining information. 

Yes, it is about the comfort we have for accessing the data / information and lot of such stuff. We have stopped training our brain to remember things which are easily accessible like calculations through calculators, phone numbers through cell phone. Even to the extend we don't try to remember the information which is important for us and available on internet, as we know it will be available when we require it. 

I have seen many professionals becoming handicap during presentation, if there is a interruption in the electronic aid one is using. Still we are able to remember our life events, friends, liking - disliking of friends, family members.  So its all about the to what extend comfort we are giving to our mind. Largely based on the today's education pattern, non availability of parents's attention to child's such skills are creating the today's and tomorrow's society in the same manner. 

Good point Carlos. It certainly adds substance to the current debate.

Thanks for your thoughts

Nowadays we have to remember different things than our ancestors. Think of the many commands you need to control your computer and smartphone. People in technical jobs need even more memory devoted to control sequences, which they have to process in short time. We need a different structure of this memory and must be able to think in processes not just the plain data, which as such have no meaning.

Moreover, do not forget people like stage actors who have to remember their texts and, nevertheless, use their Android devices every day. As Carlos, I am rather optimistic in this regard.

Do not forget there is more and more accessible knowledge available!!!

As with any skill, lack of use could lead to reduction in the ability.

I agree with Michael; we have too many things in our mind, which has a limited capacity. Problems come when we overfill our plate and the brain gives signasl that it can not remember more than that. Certainly, it has to do with technology and related factors.

The most serious generational gap nowadays is the technological. We elder people fear technology, with various arguments. On the contrary, we youngsters are tech geeks and love the current trends.

Let us all remember that these "new technologies" barely have 10 years around us: Hence, it is a just new-born phenomenon that still awaits large and big changes for both society and individuals.

Nevertheless memory is a substantial skill of the pharmacist delivering drugs to patients. Indeed you don't have time to download information when you are giving information about drugs, particularly if it is a matter of cross-interaction.

But it is not due to using electronic devices that our memory is declining but we don't train it not enough during primary and secondary school time

I think an increase in the usage of technology means an increase in the amount of accessible data, which in turn leads to more information being remembered but for a shorter duration of time. In the past human beings might have had to remember a lot less information but they did remember this information for a lot longer than nowadays, where teenagers are flooded with information and only remember bits of it for longer than the duration of the day.

Our capacities to remember have probably been affected by our dependence on technology. That extends to our capacities for sustained attention as well, with the sheer deluge of online material and the readiness with which we can access large volumes of content. Anything time-released that requires imagination, contemplation, reflection, and incubation may have also taken a beating. However, visual and multimodal literacy has gone up. And in order to cope with all these lost capacities, we need to work with a newer set of competencies tailored to meet the needs and challenges of the electronic age. The other strategy is to initiate limits on electronic usage so that growth is balanced and the virtues of the different kinds of cognitive processing, preserved.

Why should there be a substantial difference between a library of books (low tech) and a computer screen listing these books (high tech) from a memory point of view? 

I Think that the change is deeper than just remembering. I think that Marcel's question is very important to address with an affirmative yes(at east this is my view), there is a difference between a book and the listing of books(Google) and more importantly the rest of the Internet  documents.

Internet documents are mostly fragmented and do not necessarily reflect a coherent development of a subject matter. This leads to people obtaining a fragmented view of the subject.

With the book listing what is happening that people depend on the search engine to figure out what they meant and do not even form accurate queries to their questions. this did not happen with books where people had to learn the structure of the book (and therefore the content, at least in summarized form) or become proficient with indexes.

These two phenomena are affecting people's recall of information( in my opinion), since the information stored in memory is less coherent. While I do agree that we must evolve to absorb more complex pieces of information, we must also do so in  a manner that does not deteriorate our capacity to learn and remember.

just a thought

Memorization differs from remembering. Technology may decrease the need for memorization but that does not preclude the necessity to learn and understand. Some may attempt to substitute technology for original thought. This is nothing new, just easier an easier way to copy someone else's work.

Memory is exercised when we reason. Those who reason remember.

Memory is exercised we when use a computer or personal devices. Memory is exercised in sports, art, and music. 

Yes, I also believe that our capacity to remember is decreased because of  too much dependency on usage of technology. 

My professor late Prof. Jamal Nazrul Islam never touched a key of calculator or a key of a key board of laptop or desktop, but he used to do all calculations manually and he remembered them well (not memorized) and he used to re-called them well. 

More of this Passionate Learner's work, see link below:

http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2013/03/17/jamal-nazrul-islam-the-passionate-learner/ 

Humanity has changed dramatically from the Stone Age to the Dark Ages through the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. This evolution is marked by advances in technologies that appear to make people’s lives better. The ability to control fire gave man the ability to warm himself and cook food. The invention of the wheel has paved the way for transportation and industry, while the ability to make energy from coal and oil has shaped entire societies. Now however, we are in the midst of a new digital era, where cell phones, Facebook, and twitter have dominion. Technology has made leaps and bounds in recent history and shows no signs of slowing down. With this exponential evolution occurring at a pace so fast that it takes constant attention to keep up, the fundamental questions arise: What implications will this new era have on society and how will it shape the future.

“Daily exposure to high technology- computers, smart phones, video games,  Search engines such a Google and Yahoo- stimulates brain cell alteration and neurotransmitter release, gradually strengthening new neural pathways in our

brains while weakening old ones.” Our brains are changing because of technology, and at a remarkably rapid pace. Testing the computer illiterate group showed upregulation of activity in the same brain area as the computer literate group. This means that after just five hours of time on the internet those people’s brains had formed entirely new neurological connections

http://www.eckerd.edu/academics/ford/files/11/Zoe_ODonoghue.pdf

Technology such as the Smartphone is quickly becoming an extension of the human brain. The problem is not the use of the Smartphone itself. However, problems arise when the device takes over functions that the brain is perfectly capable of performing. For example, a basic phone can store and remember the phone numbers of people one calls most frequently, thus phone users hardly need to remember the numbers of even their loved ones. The Smartphone offerings on the market now are significantly more complex than versions a few years ago and are jam-packed with countless applications which help with myriad tasks which ease the burden of the cognitive load. This ‘outsourcing’ of tasks can be considered the start of encouraging the brain to succumb to the risks of dementia. Currently, there are ongoing clinical trials and research efforts being developed for the prevention and treatment of dementia

In think exercises are the most important, I used to know many telephone numbers by heart but now because of saving them on my cell phone I remember nothing. 

Dear all,

exercises are needed, like in all abilities in life. Personally I train my brain pointedly to keep it working, doing calculations, keeping languages in mind, learning new scientific facts etc.

But like dear Aiman stated, he starts to forget his phone numbers because of convenience.

Yes, I agree with many of contributors that our memory has changed as advanced technology developed. For instance,  I used to remember 10 digit phone no before but after evolution of mobile phone it is very difficult to remember those 10 digit numbers. 

Yes,  our capacity to remember has been reduced as a result of technology usage.  I think that the use of  computers and smartphones leads to decrease our remembering power, now a days for most of the people google is the easier tool to know about anything but it is not too good for the next generation as most of the students are using Google  instead of books and habit to go to the library is decreasing. However the potential of our mind to remember is same as in ancient time,we have just place a cover on it in the name of technology advancement. and the solution to enhance our memory  is the mental exercise and meditation to enhance the oxygen supply.

I think yes, why do I need to remember my friends number, Its' already saved in my mobile.

I didn't read about it in the literatire but I think it has reducet a lot. Everything we have to remember we write and save into mobile phone.

I think our capacity have diverted but not really reduced. I remember myself able to recall almost 50-60 people's phone number some 5 years ago and now i can't even remember mine sometimes. However, I do remember for example a number of hashtags in twitter, many websites names by heart or lets say a number of research publications that i liked which i didn't have any idea before. So, i think it's a give and take. 

Actually it is individual. Modern technology can be used as an educational tool in learning process and memorizing and practicing technical procedures through use of interesting educational games and multimedia.

@Amir is right, with his statement. Of course, modern techniques can be used for learning processes. But in most cases they are used to stay lazy and to facilitate the daily routine. It´s not bad, but we were asked for the influence to our ability to remember.

Our capacity to remember is not diminished  by technology but it is altered. Driving a car does not mean that we forget how to walk! A balance has to be achieved between machine-human being thinking process. Over dependence on technology may lead to sterile thinking.

I agree with Mahfuz Juded, when I was I child, I used to make all calculations without using a calculator. Today in most cases I use a calculator. I suposse my brain is lazy.

Though in many ways we can rationalize and blame our Memory and remembrance skill being affected by the Comfort due to technological support, It is really of an immense help in the following aspect as a 'assistive technology'  where any device or system that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease and safety with which the task can be performed.

This includes equipment and devices to help people who have problems with:

• speaking
• hearing
• eyesight
• moving around
• getting out and about
• memory
• cognition (thought processes and understanding)
• daily living activities, such as dressing and preparing meals
• socialising

Assistive technology ranges from very simple tools, such as calendar clocks and touch lamps, to high-tech solutions such as satellite navigation systems to help find someone who has gone missing.

Assistive technology can:

• promote independence and autonomy, both for the person with dementia and those around them help manage potential risks in and around the home
• reduce early entry into care homes and hospitals facilitate memory and recall
• reduce the stress on careers, improving their quality of life, and that of the person with dementia.

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=109

Nowadays, many young people have to use calculator to make arithmetic basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and división. It´s so sad.

It´s important that in schools teachers and parents, teach students to make operations without calculator.Technolgy is important, but the key is to think and brain needs to excercise.

In the area of memorization of long mental pieces of narration, music, verses in Bible or Koran, and other areas of lenghty rote memorization which our forefathers centuries ago prided in, we are as a society weaker.  Once people could read and write rather than memorize and recite, we would become weaker in memorization of lengthy texts because the impetus may have no longer been their for most.  

Think about how, before the Bible or Koran were written down, everything was done and shared by rote memory.  That means that the entire play or book of Job had to be performed by rote.   Once books were printed, the incentive for lengthy memorization disappeared as a societal demand.

However, the fact that new routines--sports, games, arts--are always being created, the memorization length of some of these new tasks and routines are still astounding. In short, although we seldom memorize to recite anymore as a society, some still do memorize the Holy texts but society still demands people know lengthy formulas, recipes and other connected patterns of memorized effort, routine, data, etc.

This will always be the case.  

What we may improve on--as our knowledge of how brain and memory is researched--is how to learn and memorize better and more efficiently--combining our technologies with our brain networks.

No,I don't think technology is responsible for loss of memory capacity. Why we need to remember phone number or addresses of all the person ? just remember the phone number or addresses of those people whom you think you need to. There is a misconception that we think that if we don't memorize some information then our memory capacity is decreased.

Let me take an example of Albert Einstein like he did not memorized all the phone numbers, addresses, social science subject but he concentrated only on physics and mathematics and he remembered all of the things related to physics and maths.

Simply Blamming technology is not good, if you want to remember anything then you should put effort on it like do meditation. The main problem of ours is blaming others but not looking to ourselves. As we all know if a person put efforts to do something then he/she is able to do ,e.g., Alan Turing put his effort to crack enigma code.

We can take example of Swami Vivekananda who improved his memory power through meditation.

Lastly I want to conclude that today the english language that we are writing, we remember the english words and grammar. So, don't worry we all have a strong memory power.

I share this paragraph:

" Led by Columbia University psychologist Betsy Sparrow, the researchers conducted a series of experiments whose results suggest that when people are faced with difficult questions, they are likely to think that the Internet will help them find the answers. In fact, those who expect to able to search for answers to difficult questions online are less likely to commit the information to memory. People tend to memorize answers if they believe that it is the only way they will have access to that information in the future. Regardless of whether they remember the facts, however, people tend to recall the Web sites that hold the answers they seek". source Replacing Our Ability to Remember? By Larry Greenemeier on July 14, 2011