4 ms·

I don't follow the link between intelligence and technology. Are you implying smarter people use more?

by duaneb 10y ago

geomark 10y ago
If "using technology" means having a smart phone on which you message, check Facebook, hail a taxi, and play games then I don't think there is any correlation. Or maybe it varies by country. I say that because where I live (Thailand) smart phone penetration is pretty high and rapidly rising, while IQ is pretty low and gradually dropping [1]. [1] http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-public-health-ministry-worries-thai-childrens-iq-dropping.html http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-public-health-minist...
erdevs 10y ago
I meant that greater intelligence and drive mean higher likelihood to invent or incorporate technology, higher likelihood to succeed driving its adoption as a business, etc. To try to make this more concrete and tractable. Imagine this oversimplified scenario: Country A's population is 100 people and their "culture" values education, intelligence and hard work. Country A's average IQ is 107 and the two most desired professions in the country are to be an engineer or a businessperson. Country B's population is 100 people and their culture looks down on "nerds" and favors "coolness" and hanging out. Country B's average IQ is 100 and the top desired professions in the country are being a sports star or a rock star. Obviously I'm drawing at extremes here, but you see where I'm going... which country produces more citizens that contribute to technology? Country A is probably gonna produce more cool tech over time than country B, even with equal-sized populations, due to a combination of cultural values / social incentives and population intelligence.
- gbog 10y ago
  Yes. And same with art. I think western societies really do not have a need for more artists, musicians, djs and so on. We need more engineers, more plumbers, more bike fixers, and more teachers.
- hx87 10y ago
  IMHO the US has been becoming country A more and more for the past couple of decades, but in the mean time a large of part of the population is stuck in (or clings to) country B, hence the particularly venomous presidential campaign season.

I don't follow the link between intelligence and technology. Are you implying smarter people use more?

by duaneb 10y ago

I don't follow the link between intelligence and technology. Are you implying smarter people use more?

If "using technology" means having a smart phone on which you message, check Facebook, hail a taxi, and play games then I don't think there is any correlation. Or maybe it varies by country. I say that because where I live (Thailand) smart phone penetration is pretty high and rapidly rising, while IQ is pretty low and gradually dropping [1]. [1] http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-public-health-ministry-worries-thai-childrens-iq-dropping.html http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-public-health-minist...

erdevs 10y ago

I meant that greater intelligence and drive mean higher likelihood to invent or incorporate technology, higher likelihood to succeed driving its adoption as a business, etc. To try to make this more concrete and tractable. Imagine this oversimplified scenario: Country A's population is 100 people and their "culture" values education, intelligence and hard work. Country A's average IQ is 107 and the two most desired professions in the country are to be an engineer or a businessperson. Country B's population is 100 people and their culture looks down on "nerds" and favors "coolness" and hanging out. Country B's average IQ is 100 and the top desired professions in the country are being a sports star or a rock star. Obviously I'm drawing at extremes here, but you see where I'm going... which country produces more citizens that contribute to technology? Country A is probably gonna produce more cool tech over time than country B, even with equal-sized populations, due to a combination of cultural values / social incentives and population intelligence.

gbog 10y ago
Yes. And same with art. I think western societies really do not have a need for more artists, musicians, djs and so on. We need more engineers, more plumbers, more bike fixers, and more teachers.
hx87 10y ago
IMHO the US has been becoming country A more and more for the past couple of decades, but in the mean time a large of part of the population is stuck in (or clings to) country B, hence the particularly venomous presidential campaign season.