Essay Prompt: Assessing the Influence of Technology on Human Intelligence

Write a comprehensive essay that takes a definitive stance on whether technology has had a positive or negative impact on human intelligence. Examine the various ways in which technology has transformed our abilities to process, store, and retrieve information. Reflect on the influence of digital tools on cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and critical thinking. Provide concrete examples from scholarly texts, credible studies, or observable trends to substantiate your argument. Discuss the long-term effects of technology on the evolution of human intelligence, focusing solely on the rationale that supports your viewpoint on the matter.