Spellcheck doesn't make people dumber: experts

Melbourne: Experts have challenged the popular notion that growing dependence on spell check options available in computers is making people dumber. According to writer and consultant, Marc Prensky, this reliance can be beneficial for the human race, but only if we are wise about it.

Presnky said that the storage capacity of certain machines is larger and more reliable than the human brain, 'The Age' reported. When Presnky was asked about how did he feel about technology like Google, Wikipedia and auto-correct, which

allows people to forget basic knowledge like spelling, he replied that spelling was no more the basic knowledge.

This reliance can be beneficial for the human race, but only if we are wise about it, an expert says.

"It all depends on what your definition of what basic knowledge is. Spelling was basic knowledge when we didn't have spell check. Now, why should spelling be basic knowledge? A machine can do it better," Presnky said.

Presnky, however, added that these things are not perfect. He also noted that growing dependence on machines was not wrong. Presnky noted that our access to databases and programmes that carry out complex computing functions allow us to

complete tasks that we are not capable of or at least cannot complete quickly.

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