In Defence of Podcasts

Not that they’re under attack really. But it does seem topical after I listened to a talk by Nicholas Carr about his book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. Here’s the article that was the catalyst to the book. I haven’t read it since I just listened to the talk (which ties in nicely with my position on podcasts!).

The basic premise is that the internet is overloading us with constant distractions and interruptions and making it harder to engage in sustained, focussed, private thought (like the kind you engage in while reading). Usually I find cries of “OMG what’s technology doing to our brains?” to be hysteria. Especially when they get to the cheap rhetorical device of “INSERT TECHNOLOGY is rewiring the brains of our children!!” — since of course every experience rewires everyone’s brain.

However Carr did make some good points backed by actual scientistical research. Online activity seems to increase cognitive load. For instance, the mere presence of links inside a blog post is distracting enough to reduce reading comprehension even if you don’t click on the links. Also, being online tends you to multitasking (or pseudo-multitasking since we mainly just rapidly switch between tasks losing time on the overheads of switching). And as Carr mentioned, those who perform online “multitasking” a lot are actually worse at multitasking!

This is usually interpreted as just being anti-technology. As Carr points out though, there are definite cognitive benefits to online activities. The optimum would therefore be to have both modes of thinking in your life: the breezy online mode and the calmer more contemplative reading-style mode. As well as other modes, for they probably exist. The main problem with the online mode is that because of its ubiquity, it tends to expand into more and more areas of our life. When your dog has a blog AND a Twitter account, this leaves little room for you to engage in anything over and above superficial multitasking.

On the other hand, just like there’s been a perception for over 2000 years that “today’s” youth are the most disrespectful hoodlums ever and the world’s about to collapse, I think the perception that “nobody can concentrate any more” is also just a constant of our perceptions. I would think even before mass media not everybody read books all the time. And perhaps the replacement of TV with the internet is actually getting us closer to contemplative thinking not further. But I’d agree that there is a potential problem if concentrated activities go on the decline. So, do keep reading.

This is where podcasts come in. I realised while listening to the talk that Carr is engaging me in some quite concentrated, linear thought through podcasts. Podcasts retain the breeziness of online media (including following me into my car, public transport and so forth with more ease than the intertubes). But on the other hand they’re very linear! In fact I wouldn’t be surprised that listening to podcasts might be better than reading since (1) the information is presented more slowly and you don’t get to skim (2) you probably form a closer emotional connection with the content when it’s presented through voice.

And so, yay podcasts! Not just because they’re great but for all sorts of Important Cognitive Reasons. Tomorrow I’ll list the ones I listen to in case any catch thy eye.