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Forty-five years ago, futurologists predicted that by 2000 humanity will experience stagnation in scientific development, which will lead to the collapse of civilization. The reason for such a gloomy forecast was brewing “information explosion.” Ants daily swallowing elephants For the first time about the threat of “information explosion” scientists started talking in the 60s of the XX century. It was estimated that every ten years in science there is a doubling of new results, in connection with than the flow of information every three to four years doubles – and in information overproduction, we will soon simply drown, being unable to master the flow of new information. And this will inevitably lead to stagnation in scientific development and, as a result, to the collapse of civilization. IN the scientific community has long had a joke that “man is a being, whose most delicious food is information. “From these positions our contemporary can be compared with an ant that has to daily swallowing an elephant. But the year 2000 is long behind, and if believe research capable of blowing up the world “critical informational mass “by the time we read this material, already quadrupled. Where are the nightmarish consequences of “information explosion, “in the epicenter of which we continue to live? Are forecasts turned out to be wrong? Let’s not rush to conclusions. After all, among scientists today have no common opinion on this subject. Some argue that problems only moved away for a while, while others – that disaster is happening right now, we just haven’t we can fully appreciate its sad consequences. Who is right? The waste factor Our psyche, with all its unique opportunities have limitations. It is experimentally proved that the brain ordinary person is able to perceive and process correctly information with a speed of no more than 25 bits per second (in one word average length contains just 25 bits). At that speed a person can read information for life no more than three thousand books. And then on condition that he will master daily 50 pages. The most stubborn such speed once allowed to master basic knowledge accumulated by mankind around the middle of life. Today, alas, this is no longer possible. A few more decades back a new discovery or literary work right there attracted the attention of the public. Now only in the scientific several million books appear annually. And even if study exclusively fresh literature, then for every read the page will have 10 thousand others, which to master unreal. Experts have even introduced the definition of “waste factor” – for zero-demand literature (not only about artwork). German researchers spent in one of the Berlin libraries study the demand for located in it 45 thousand scientific and technical publications. And it turned out that The “waste factor” worked for 90 percent of these books! it means millions of pages storing the latest technical knowledge was never read by anyone. In a word, we manage to study only a fraction of the constantly accumulating information – and this half the trouble. The problem is that the information we receive has the property is quickly obsolete and requires replacement. Half life relevant knowledge It is this humorous, but quite scientific the term refers to the period of time for which half of the learned information loses value to us. And it is getting shorter. Today in higher education this period is about seven to ten years, and in some areas (for example, in computer technology) was reduced to a year. It means that if you study computer courses for 12 months, then by the end of the half of the information you receive will be worthless: it will become obsolete. All this resembles a situation where a man climbs up a descending escalator: only few, and even at the cost of incredible stress, manage maintain the necessary “level”, but it’s worth a little slow down – and … Today, in an avalanche of information falling upon us, orientate yourself only “encyclopedically semi-educated person”, knowing everything, but not too deeply – and there are very few of them. IN mostly wanting not to be “on the bottom rung of the escalator,” people seek salvation in “narrow specialization” – the “narrower” the easier maintain level. As a result, an increasing number of people live less knowledge about the world … There is so much nonsense in the world that in my head doesn’t fit. If the brain is overstrained, it discards something in than there is no urgent need. Who can brag that remembers logarithms, Faraday laws, chemical formula of cellulose or exact date of the reign of Vladimir II Monomakh? But we all learned this in to school! They taught, but forgot – that is, we do not know again. The situation exacerbates the appearance of technology designed for “fools.” Devices that operate on the principle of “click on a button – you will get result, “create the illusion of meeting the requirements of the times. We easy to use technical innovations, but the subconscious unwillingness to accept new information is manifested in a peculiar psychological case: choosing the most “sophisticated” unit, rarely who is trying to explore all its possibilities. As a result, the novelty exploited at best half-power … I don’t know if they noticed you, that in advanced schools and institutes psychology began to change teaching? Pupils and students used to make everyone memorize by heart. Today this is no longer pressed so zealously – fine, if a person remembers a formula or date, but if he easily operates the material in which it can be found is also very good. IN this approach sees a certain solution to the problem of “information explosion “(not to mention saving the health of our overloaded children): it’s not necessary to remember everything, it is enough to learn logic thinking in different areas of knowledge and the ability to quickly find the right one, when it is needed. Scientists offer information solutions One problem is more fantastic than another. For example, implant a brain computer microchips that could store colossal volumes of information. However, is it really so fantastic? Via the implanted microchips, doctors have already managed to return mobility several paralyzed patients. So, it is possible that microchips with additional memory are not so distant of the future. But no matter what scientists come up with, the reserves of our brain still not limitless. It is possible that total alcoholization – one of the consequences of information stress, which today experiencing humanity. This is indicated by research results, conducted at the Brain Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Scientists have concluded that the threat alcoholism lies in the first place those whose brain is exposed information reloads. Experiments conducted on rats showed that animals that had to look for food in especially difficult maze, in the end they preferred alcohol to water … Over it’s worth considering. The selection is natural and … unnatural To create an encyclopedia that is capable of to embrace all knowledge of mankind at every moment of time, its “will need to be reprinted at least annually, each time doubling the volume of material. And even if “the whole world” solve this task, then who will be able to read everything that is written in such book? Experts see a way out in the rigid selection and screening of information – and this is already happening in all areas of knowledge. Really, such a process for the time being to some extent softens consequences of the “information explosion.” But who can count how many priceless facts have already been forgotten and discarded just because did they seem to someone superfluous? And most importantly, who is “in charge of the truth”? We should not forget that in this case ordinary judges are people – moderately developed, moderately limited, with their personal and departmental interests … Simultaneously with such an artificial the selection of information is the process of “natural selection”. On the culture is being replaced by pop culture. Bible thrown onto the market in comics and abridged versions of classic works. On the tacit ban appears on television – don’t say anything intelligent, beyond the knowledge of the “average” viewer. Thin humor is replaced by “jokes”, poetry of romances – by cheap “jagi-jagi”, exquisite speech – slang. And radio and television hosts are very natural keep overall low by messing up cases and losing thread conversation … Perhaps all this was called the end of our civilization futurologists of the 60s of the last century? A.Maramon “Interesting newspaper. Oracle “№10 2012
Life time
