Before Google Reflection

Prior to doing my research for this assignment, I already knew my heavy dependence on digital objects that we have and how this has greatly affected both the way we look for information and absorb what we find. In the increasingly digital world, which seeks to provide convenience for users, the majority of people in my generation will opt to stay at home and simply go on their computer then have to actively do research at a school or local library for a paper. However, upon going to a library to search for a photograph or document that I would not be able to otherwise access, I likened what I experienced to another now mostly internet dominated activity, online shopping versus retail brick and mortar locations. After, back to school shopping at the beginning of the year, it has completely changed my outlook on visiting a physical location and a means to deter my laziness to not leave my house for the opportunity to have the in store experience. Being able to see the products in person and feel the fabrics, of course accompanied by the ability to try on the clothes had a much more profound effect than simply viewing it online, which has occasionally reached the point where I will order something and forgot that I had even made a purchase until opening the box. I had a similar experience upon looking at the archive of physical newspapers at the library. I was not only able to better retain the information I glanced over because it could be associated with an experience, but I enjoyed it more thoroughly than being able to look at it on a screen. While this ultimately will not change my day to day habits in resorting to the internet to look up my random questions on Google, as I think of Zach Galifianakis saying, "It's worth a google," I do think it has left me more open minded to going to the library should the occasion arise.