iBrain or How to Figure Out What's Wrong and Work Toward Fixing It

iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind by Gary Small, M.D. and Gigi Vorgan

Those of us who grew up with television as our amazing means of communication technology have had to learn to adapt to the magical world of computers, cell phones, instant messages, email, and all those other things George Jetson took for granted. The 12 year old down the street would find the Jetsons quaint and criticize the size of the computers in George's world. Though we may silently curse these Digital Natives, they need us because we, the Digital Immigrants, bring valuable skills from the analog world that they need. Bwahahahaha.

In iBrain, Dr. Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan, show us the natural science behind what's happening to our brains as we adapt to a world where it's not always necessary to have face to face (F2F) interaction to get a task completed. For some people, this is a dream come true, for others, it's beyond nightmare. The touchy feely crowd is not comfortable with the emoticon that sums up a techie's feelings. By understanding each other, we can actually help each other to live better.

It's fascinating to know how today's technology, is affecting the development and thinking of the people who use it and how it can be as addicting as a drug to some. The same chemical reactions fire off and I can now understand better why some people walk around with a device plugged into their heads. They just can't help it. They want the high. Is it okay to feel the same way about a heroine addict as we may feel about a person who can't put down the celly long enough to grocery shop?

iBrain not only explains the why, it offers solutions to beating a techno-addiction or the burn out some of us experience due to job demands and ever changing technology. It's good to be reminded we can step away from the computer and the world will not end.

This book was helpful to me and gave me some insight to the differences between the Digital Immigrants and the Digital Natives. iBrain is on order for our department's reference library. I work in an instructional technology and distance learning department at a college. Our instructors are Digital Immigrants. Many of our students are Digital Natives. The insight offered in iBrain made so much sense to me as I related it to the work and people I'm involved with.

I recommend iBrain to anyone who lives between digital worlds. If you live with a computer addict, this book lists helpful resources. If you wonder what's wrong with kids these days, this book gives evidence they need human interaction. If you find yourself fried after a day of emailing, instant messaging, on-line shopping, talking on the phone and cooking dinner (all at the same time!), you'll find sensible advice to getting your life under control - and utilizing your brain to your advantage. This is the new manual for the modern brain.