As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remember less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory, your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.

In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it.

In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the Internet. The information was in a specific computer folder (文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remember the folder location (位置) better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called “transactive memory (交互记忆)”

According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organize huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn't mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing.

I am an e­mail user. When I first started to use the e­mail system, I used to read all my e­mail. I didn't have much mail. I gave my friends my e­mail address. Soon I had more mail than I wanted. Some of the mail was junk mail. I was worried. I didn't want my mail to control me.

I've tried some methods to help me get control of my mail. First, I check my mail at the same time every day. Also I try to allow myself only 15～20 minutes every day to process my e­mail. This doesn't always work, but I try. Sometimes I save the messages. Sometimes I just read them, maybe answer a few, and then delete(删除)them.

Sometimes I'm not at all interested in a message, so I don't even open it. I delete it right away. This is very much the way I go through the mail that the postal service delivers to my home.

These methods are very simple. I have some friends who are very clever with computers. From time to time, they teach me new tricks for managing my e­mail. I'm still amazed at what e­mail can do for me! I'm still worried, however, about having too much to read.

The event that stands out in Tom's memory happened one morning when Tom was only ten years old. He was at home with his elder sister Jane. Tom was doing his homework when he heard raised voices. At first he thought nothing of it since customers in the motorcycle shop directly below their flat often became loud, but he soon realized this time it was different.

"Quick! Quick! Remove the motorcycles from the shop." someone shouted. Then a thick burning smell filled the air. When Tom opened the front door of their flat to investigate, a thick cloud of smoke greeted him. The motorcycle shop had caught fire and people were running and crying.

Jane, who had been playing the violin in her room, hurried to the living room. They rushed out of the door and along the corridor (走廊) through the smoke.

They were heading towards the stairway at the far end of the corridor when Jane suddenly stopped in her track. She turned around and headed back the way they came. Tom had no idea what she was doing, but he followed her.

Jane had suddenly remembered the lady in her 70s who lived next door to them, who they called Makcik. Jane began banging on Makcik's door, but got no answer. As the smoke thickened around them, Tom could see many of their neighbors—some still in their pajamas (睡衣)—running for safety. The thought of fear crossed his mind.

"She would have run for safety like everyone else!" Tom cried. However, Jane refused to give up. "I know Makcik's still inside." She said she was familiar with Makcik's daily routine and was certain she would still be sleeping. She pounded against the door. "Go downstairs. Go now! Go!"

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Tom noticed the flame (火焰) was reaching up.

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Luckily, some neighbors passing by stopped and offered help.