Saturday, July 29, 2006

Noise can make you smarter


Wired Magazine interviews Bart Kosko, author of Noise, a book that argues that adding noise to our signals can actually make them clearer.
Can background music make you smarter?
The more you can concentrate with background noise, the more it strengthens the brain. Isaac Asimov used to set his typewriter up in stores and other loud places to work. His claim was that you get really good at writing when you’re in a crowd. You want to be energized by that background noise, rather than distracted.
Amen to that. I love working in energetic places like subways, cafes, airport lounges and hotel lobbies. I don't like people actually interrupting me with questions or whatever, but I love working in busy places where everyone is doing her/his own thing. Link



posted by Cory Doctorow at 07:34:10 AM permalink | Other blogs' comments

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