"Nope, I have the caffeine patch. It's my invention. Each patch is the equivalent of 12 cups of coffee. You can stay up for days with no side effects. Ahhh! Sorry."

                      In Jamais Cascio's article, he talks about how technology is not an evil, like "Is Google Making us Stupid?" argues, in fact, the truth is quite the opposite. Cascio believes that technology is making us smarter. He believes that all the details and tid bits increased technology made available, is picked up by our brain and stored away for future use without us even consciously doing so. Cascio calls this automatic gathering of information, fluid intelligence. The technological advancements for fluid intelligence go hand in hand with pharmaceutical improvements.  


                      Cascio says that in the drug field, scientists created a drug, called modifinil, that allows you to stay up for 32 hours straight without completely confusing your sleep schedule. In addition to pushing off sleep, the drug also allows people to think more alertly and with more clarity and focus. A Cambridge study supports Cascio's findings. "concluded the modifinil confers a measurable cognitive-enhancement effect across a variety of mental tasks, including pattern recognition and spatial planning, and sharpens focus and alertness" (Casico 3). Casico concludes that through the use of technology we get smarter, and our fluid intelligence increases. 


                     I think the findings in Casico's story to be eye-opening and kind or startling. The sleep process for humans is not only a time for physical rest but also a time for mental and emotion regeneration. A sleep deprived person can act recklessly and foolishly because their brain is hindered from exhaustion. According to Casico's theory, the brain would find a different way to refuel and while sleep-deprived it would actually work more efficiently. I find this dangerous because it goes against our nature. I believe that humans need that time everyday to sleep just to remain sane. Hustling and bustling artificially for 36 hours is unhealthy and has to have detrimental effects somewhere else on the body. 


Question: Would you truly like to be able to stay awake for 36 hours straight?