How Machines Have Changed Humanity In Clive Thompson’s essay, “Smarter than You Think” he argues that technology enhances humanity. That it allows for deeper thought and easier access to knowledge. He presents these arguments by opening with a story about how the game of chess changed with the arrival of computers. He uses this story along with techniques like evidence, claims, and assumptions to further his point and strengthen his argument. In the story Thompson presents, he uses claims about past and reality to depict his thesis. He gives scenarios where man alone combats the machine such as the match between Garry Kasparov and IBM’S Deep Blue (Thompson 342). In this match, Mr. Kasparov loses to the machine. This evidence strengthens Thompson’s …show more content…
He gives evidence for this with the presentation of examples of pen and paper, hard drives, cameras, and smartphones. Each of these tools completely changes how people take in information. Before cameras were created people captured images through paintings, before pen and paper history was documented through memories. Before hard drives data was stored on paper then filed in some physical space. Smartphones combined every data tool that a person would need thus simplifying the process of recording and storing data. Thompson makes theses claims for the tools used by humans “make it easier for us to find connects” (Thompson p. 349). The internet made a platform where almost anything can be stored and found in a moment’s notice. This connected humanity on an international level like never before. Where in the past a letter was written then physical carried from one person to the next, now a person need only tap a button on a glowing box and bam they are speaking with another directly. These changes evolved the geography of society drastically and Thompson’s argument bolsters this. Now the daily lives of people everywhere is drastically easier and the life expectancy has drastically