Wednesday 16 August 9.00am repeated 9.30pm
In a new series Mariella Frostrup talks to leading scientists and artists to find out how your memory works.
It's often been said that our memories play a more important role in controlling our future than informing our past. But how can we remember to remember the right stuff at the right time?
Is technology helping us to remember or are we too reliant on it and actually losing the ability to recall information for ourselves?
Mariella's guests include Tudi Ellis from Reading University, an expert in computer-human interaction and Mark Landsdale from Nottingham Trent University who researches memory in the workplace.
Does the way you manage your work reflect on your memory abilities? Are you a filer or a piler and does an empty desk mean an efficient mind or just an empty one?
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Alyson P.
I'm one of a family in which 3 siblings have never been able to earn a living due to what was termed today as "Prospective Memory" problems.At that level of problem it directs your whole life and every day is filled with stress which grows as financial problems build up. I want to make a plea for Careers Guidance or similar to get informed and pick up on this.I have endured 30 years of blank faces and periodic referrals for memory tests which basically miss the point, thereby adding to the problem.An invisible problem is not eligible for help and the default explanation is almost always 'lack of effort'.
caroline howlett
Intriguing programme, listened to in the bath where I was also making a list of things to try to remember to do once dressed!!! Diagnosed with MS 13 years ago (aged 27) I now wonder if some of my failing memory is down to 'it' or impending older age!
As a faithful 'aide meomoire',I have a blackboard in the kitchen, which I refer to as my 'second brain', which has shopping lists and both medium & long term 'things to do'. I also leave copious strategically placed notes to myself, even having a laminated one with 'Take out Bins' for Wednesday mornings and 'Defrost Croissants' on the other side for Saturday nights!!!
Your contributor's comment on the short story 'The Machine Stops' made my heart race - I think this should be required reading for all young teenagers on the perils of over-reliance on technology, forseen in the '30s by its author EM Forster (and not HG Wells as was attributed) and have made it a mini mission of mine to tell as many people about it as possible!
It would make a GREAT R4 programme!!!
