Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee |
17.3.24
Popcorn
Brain
‘Popcorn Brain’ refers to a multitude
of kernel-like thoughts jostling about in one’s brain, rather than one or more
substantial concepts. Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011, it refers to a
person’s attention jumping from thought to thought like the kernels popping in
popcorn. A 2003 study by the University of California Irvine found the average
attention span was two minutes and 30 seconds. Recent studies have shed light
on Gen Z's shorter attention span, revealing significant implications for every
industry. Research conducted by Microsoft in 2015 found that the average
attention span of Gen Z individuals was only about eight seconds, four seconds
less than that of millennials.
We are inundated
with a deluge of information, comprising both meaningful data and trivial
details. This flood of content overwhelms our brains, diminishing their ability
to discern what truly holds significance. With our mental landscape crowded by
a constant barrage of information, there's little room left for the cultivation
of clear, cogent thoughts or opinions.
This is so
pervasive, that I
strongly suspect we are heading towards a popcorn brain pandemic.
Graphic Novel
I was writing an
essay on Graphic Novel on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the publication
of ‘A River of Stories’ considered to be the first Indian graphic novel. There
is a difference between Comic Book and Graphic Novel. Comic Books are serialized
stories, mostly short in length and the stories they contain can continue over
months and sometimes years. Graphic Novels on the other hand
tend to be much longer, and also usually have their story lines wrapped up in
one or two books. Graphic Novels are usually more
complex and layered.
Incidentally the
first graphic novelist of the world Will Wisner was born on this month- March, 107
years ago. His graphic novel ‘A Contract with God’ was published in 1978,
though it was not promoted as a graphic novel.
I first heard about graphic novel about six years ago from a fifteen year old boy, who was writing one himself. He named it Monster Park. That teenager Himanshu Parija, son of Neelima BN, Professor of Mass Communication at Tirupati based Padmavati Women University is 21 now, pursuing graduation in veterinary science, because he wants to treat sick wild animals. If ever I write a book on Graphic Novels in India, which I am planning to do- I’ll dedicate that book to him.
The Wise Owl
Our house is located
almost inside a forest. It borders a reserve forest on the back side. There are
a number of mango and jamun trees and bamboo groves across the boundary wall on
the front side.
The other night I found
an owl sitting on a bamboo grove in front of our house. We often meet. And
whenever we do, he hoots- and in its language, gives me some gyan.
That night he said
something, which I found printed on a banyan some days ago: may the forest be
with you.
When I retire (in two years) and shift from this place, adjacent to a reserve forest to Bhubaneswar, the only thing that I’ll definitely carry with me is this forest. It’ll remain with and within me for as long as I live.
AI Teacher
A school in Kerala
has introduced India's First Artificial Intelligence Teacher, Iris. The saree clad Caucasian, early thirty
looking female teacher, an Artificial Intelligence driven robot is claimed to
be able to answer complex questions of the students.
I can understand
the reasons behind introducing AI teacher at a state where there probably are
more teachers than students. There are two sets of reasons: one- pushing the
boundary of knowledge and technology; two- no salary, no pension, no lafda, no tension.
I am thinking of a
future scenario. In not a very distant future, in our schools the robo-teachers
will teach robo- students, while the human beings search for another planet to
live as the planet earth is increasingly becoming unlivable.
The present world is full of ironies.
Consider this: Recently AI powered robo teacher has been launched. So in near
future, robo teachers will teach robo students, while the human beings search
for another planet to live.
Human beings are now called Homo
Sapiens; ‘Sapiens’ mean wise men. The future human beings, as my friend J P
Jagdev says, “will be called Hobo Sapiens: intelligent and homeless.
Height of Marketing
Holi, being a festival of colours, it
used to be the occasion to wear dresses- sarees, salwar kameez, kurta- which were
old and soon to be discarded.
Not so anymore.
Specially designed sarees and Kurtas
to wear on Holi are being sold online and on brick and mortar shops. These
sarees and Kurtas have holi motifs printed on them.
Either we have grown sticking rich or
have become stupid.
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