Do we lose skills because of technology?
Do microwaves make us forget how to cook? Do Velcro shoes make children forget how to tie their shoes? Do we know how to navigate without a GPS? The Podcast “Problem Solvers” asks those questions in the episode number 184 “Do we lose skills because of technology ?” and discuss different historical references to answer : “maybe we don’t lose skills, but we no longer need to learn them”.
To do or not to do, that is the question
In History, technical progress always led to questions and fear about human skills. If we no longer DO that, maybe we lose HOW to do that. Losing something is not an attractive option for our loss averse human brain. So let’s change the framing: with technology we no longer learn HOW to do, because we no longer have to DO. With the human evolution, our brain has chosen which skills are essential to stay alive in our environment. We no longer need to calculate the time according to the sun with a watch. We no longer need to read the stars with a GPS. We no longer need to learn how to make fire with a lighter (except if you are passionate about wilderness survival activities !).
What can Social Practices teach us about skills?
This popular fear of human irrelevance is not rational. Our skills evolve with our physical and material environment. The Theory of Social Practices gives us a good example with the evolution of automobile and driving practice. In this theory, practices emerge from the meeting of “tools”, “skills” and “meaning” (Shove, Pantzar & Watson, 2012). Those 3 elements are interconnected and linked in a dynamic way which means, for example, when we have no tools, we don’t practice, even if we have skills and meaning for this practice. That’s the case for example for a young driver’s license holder who wants to drive but has no car because he can’t afford it.
And because those elements are interconnected, they can influence each other. At the beginning of automobile history, cars were so difficult to use, only rich people could afford to buy one and have their own “driver-mechanics” to repair and drive the car with an impressive toolbox (Shelley and Urry, 2000). The unaffordable “tools”, at this time, has led to create a representation of car for adventure, a true travel experience during which anything can happen, and of course a prestige experience for the wealthiest.
With the technical progress, the toolbox disappeared. The car became easier to drive alone for owners who no longer need to hire driver-mechanics. The car became more accessible to travel everywhere and became the symbol of freedom, independence. So, do we lose some skills with the evolution of cars? Not really! For the Theory of Social Practices, skills to repair our cars are more or less stored in memory, to stay dormant (how to monitor the oil level, read a map…).
So tomorrow, do we will know how to drive with autonomous vehicles?
Will Artifical Intelligence lead to Human Stupidity ? Trust the evolution ! Even if today we struggle more to navigate with a map, we have learnt to navigate with a GPS. And that’s a good thing ! Because today all smart services are designed with an egocentric point of view (from the user), compared to an allocentric point of view defined by the environment, outside the considerations for the user. Technology has evolved towards a user-centric vision. That is the opportunity to learn new skills, and keep other in memory. The debate should be more on : what skills make us human ? First scenario : we can process larger amounts of information on different screens. But, Second scenario, we are less patient in processing this information with quality (less critical thinking with fake news, less creativity with mimicry behaviors on social networks to make the “buzz”, binge watching…). Is the first scenario really important in a world where technology provides so many solutions? What skills make us human?
Sources :
Shove, E., Pantzar, M., & Watson, M. (2012). The dynamics of social practice: Everyday life and how it changes. Sage.
“Do we lose skills because of technology” Episode 184 from “Problem Solvers” Podcast by Jason Feifer (02.01.2021)on Apple Podcast
