Tech = Memory Loss?

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I recently wrote about a man who is using technology to catalog and file every single memory and experience he has had. A new CNN article continues along these lines, reminding us that our memories are not foolproof but that technology can help us overcome this blind spot by remembering things for us. "Archives of your blog, Facebook or Twitter feed -- both in text and in pictures -- might reveal exactly what you ate on important occasions, the papers you were proud of and the outfits you wore."

But can these tools actually hurt us? We've all heard the old adage, "Use it or lose it," and this can apply to memory as well. A psychology professor at Dartmouth says, "The sedentary brain, just like the sedentary body, is going to atrophy."

There are techniques you can learn, consisting primarily of mnemonic devices, to associate faces with name, to remember lists and numbers. Although some of these, like Megamemory, fell into disrepute due to overpromotion - they still work to some degree.

Curt is the founder & CEO of a timesheet software company in Austin, Texas.

Curt Finch has more than two decades of software development and distributed workforce management experience. In 1997, Curt created the world's first internet-based timesheet application and the foundation for the current Journyx product offering. Curt has a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech. His book, All Your Money, is available on Amazon. @curtfinch