Digital neurodiversity
How the Internet is changing our minds for the better
Declining attention spans. Shorter memories. A shift from abstract to concrete thinking. These are just a few signs that technology is changing our brains, as digital distraction changes how we work, live and communicate. But that doesn’t mean our brains are changing for the worse — or that we have to switch off our devices in pursuit of digital wellbeing. Instead, we can draw on the lessons of neurodiversity: the recognition of unique strengths that come with autism, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities and other neurological differences. In this talk, Samuel maps out the way neurodiversity can help us understand and address technology’s impact on our brains. Sharing data and case studies of neurodiversity in the workplace, she illuminates the strategies and practices that turn difference into advantage, and shows how the lessons of workplace neurodiversity can help us embrace the impact of technology on our thinking, work and relationships.