Using digital devices, such as smartphones, could help improve memory skills rather than causing people to become lazy or forgetful, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
The article clearly explains that using an external memory device allows users to offload low importance information and focus on remembering high importance information:
This was because using the device shifted the way that people used their memory to store high-importance versus low-importance information. When people had to remember by themselves, they used their memory capacity to remember the most important information. But when they could use the device, they saved high-importance information into the device and used their own memory for less important information instead.
So…without looking at your mobile phone…what is your moms phone number? I remember knowing at least 10 phone numbers pre mobile era.
The article clearly explains that using an external memory device allows users to offload low importance information and focus on remembering high importance information: