Track 7

Unit 5

Cognitive psychology

Memory

Page 50

Extend the topic

Part A

Thanks for being here today Aisha. So, tell our listeners, what exactly is meant by the future of memory?

Well, first it means that our understanding of memory is changing. Memory is now seen as extending beyond our mind. Obviously our memories exist in our minds but they also exist in our environment.

Like when I write something down on a piece of paper?

Yes, that’s a good example but an even better example might be computers or technology in general. And that brings us to the second point about the future of memory. Technology is changing our conception of memory.

Could you give an example of that?

Sure, just look at computers, huge amounts of information can be kept on these devices, right? For instance, we can have the names and email addresses of thousands of people with us at all times.

So you’re saying the information on the computer would be considered part of our memory?

Yes, exactly. It’s an extension of our biological memory. And future technology will have an even stronger impact on us. For example in the future we’ll wear eyeglasses that have automatic face recognition. If you see someone you met several years ago, the eyeglasses will show you the results of a database search. If the faces identified, then the person’s name will be shown on the inside of the glasses.

That’s amazing. So the future of memory is an increasingly seamless integration between memories in our brain and information available on high-tech devices.

Right and seamless is the key word there.