| > "People also said that GPS navigation would hurt people's ability to use a map, or create one in their heads. And I'm old enough to say: it absolutely did." Thing is some people never were good at reading/using maps, much less creating them. Even with GPS at hand I still prefer seeing a map to know where I'm going. Anyway, retaining at least a modicum of "classic" skills is beneficial. After all, GPS isn't infallible. As with all complex technologies, possibility of failure warrants having alternatives. I was recently on a cruise, someone asked the ship's navigator whether officers were trained on using old instruments like the sextant. He replied that they were, and continue to drill on their use. Sure, the ship has up-to-date equipment, but knowing the "old ways" is potentially still relevant. > "The question is: what are the second- and third-order effects of losing those skills, or not learning them in the first place?" Naturally, old skills fade with advent of newer methods. There's a shortage of ferriers, people who shoe horses. Very few people are being apprenticed in the trade. (Though I'm told the work pays very well.) Owning horses is a niche but robust interest, so ferriers have full workloads, the occupation is not disappearing. Point is that in real-world terms losing skills diminishes the richness of human lives because there's value in all constructive human endeavor. Similarly an individual's life is enriched by acquiring fundamental skills even if seldom used. Of course we have to parcel our time wisely, but sparing a bit of time to exercise basic capabilities is probably a good idea. |
Anki has desktop and phone apps, and if you make an account online, you can connect both to it and sync across the two devices with no effort. I can do my daily review and add cards from laptop or phone whenever something comes up.
I use no subdecks, and zero complex features. Add cards, edit in the "browser", delete sometimes if I've second thoughts. 40 new cards each day, reviewing is ~45 mins and a joy.
All that to say - it's a direct antidote to the issues being described here. I rush to new things less, and spend much more time consolidating and forming links between stuff I know or "knew".
It's directly pushing me towards behaviour that fits the reality of how my brain works. Tabs are being closed with me saying to myself - I'll learn the name of the author and book for now, that's a good start.
Great for birthdays, names, an anecdote you loved, a little idea you had, fleshing out your geography, history, knowledge of plants, lyrics, nuggets from the Common Lisp book you're doing, etc etc.
So for me one huge thing to reclaim your brain and get acquainted with your memory is - flashcards!