Key Takeaways

• According to the University of California, San Diego, the average American consumes about 34 gigabytes of data and information every day.
• According to a UChicago study, dolphins have the longest memory for non-human species.
• A study also found out that since the modern teacher faced more significant challenges of rapidly growing technological changes, push to teach in more innovative ways, and greater diversity in the classroom, they must be willing to learn and relearn their occupation continually.

Introduction

1. Amount of Information Consumed by the Average Person

• According to a report by the University of California, San Diego, the average American consumes about 34 gigabytes of data and information every day. According to calculation in the report, 34 gigabytes translates to approximately 100,000 words, both heard on radio and television as well as those read on the web and in print. This research relied on the data gathered in 2008.
• The researchers found out that an average American is likely to take in data through various channels such as web, radio, text messages, television, and video games. The study further found out that Americans consume 11.8 hours of information each day, on average.

Information Intake Breakdown Per Hour Each Day

 

Source

 

• Regarding the average amount of information the human brain can contain, scientists found that an average person today can process as much as 74 gigabytes (GB) of data a day. The amount of data that can enter and be processed by the human brain is equivalent to watching approximately 16 classic movies through computers, tablets, television, billboards, cellphones, among other gadgets.

• A study about the human brain's memory capacity found that an average adult human brain can store approximately 2.5 million gigabytes (GB) of digital memory. This means that the memory capacity of an average human brain has an equivalent of 2.5 petabytes. 
• Scientists have found that memory loss can be a normal part of aging. The amount of information a person can store/remember changes as they get older. As people get older, various changes occurring in the body could affect their ability to retain high amounts of information.

2. Non-human Species That Can Remember Or Hold More Information Than Humans

(i). Dolphins

• According to a UChicago study, dolphins have the longest memory for non-human species. Jason Bruck, a UChicago postdoctoral scholar, examined over 50 bottlenoses of dolphins and found that the species could recall the signature whistles of former tank mates after being separated for more than 20 years. This is a remarkable memory feat for a non-human species. Accordingly, the study indicates that dolphins have a high level of cognitive sophistication that can only compare to other species such as elephants, chimpanzees, and humans.

(II). Chimpanzees

• Viewed as one of the nearest primate relatives to humans, chimpanzees are also one of the most intelligent non-human species. Studies by Japanese researchers found out that the average performance of chimpanzees in terms of visuospatial memory span task was slightly lower than humans. This means that chimpanzees have a memory span comparable to humans.
• A similar study involving chimpanzees and orangutans found that the two ape-family species have human-like memories. The finding of the scientific study indicated that both chimpanzees and orangutans' species have autobiographical memories, similar to the type possessed by humans.

(iii). Elephants

• An elephant is another non-human species with incredible memories. A 2017 study by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom found out that elephants are one of the few animal species that can recognize their bodies. Furthermore, elephants can remember specific routes to their watering holes over vast terrain stretches and an extended period. This finding was corroborated by an incident at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 1999, where an elephant named Jenny remembered its counterpart named Shirley after being separated for 22 years. 

3. Occupations That Provide Opportunities To Learn Things Constantly

(I). Software engineer

• A software engineer crafts innovative technology solutions that help organizations become more efficient. A 2017 survey by Deloitte involving 10,000 businesses and HR leaders ranked "careers and learning" as second place in importance out of 10 major global trends. 90% of the respondents in the Deloitte survey thought that their organizations were facing disruptive change brought about by digital technologies. The study concluded that software engineers needed to redevelop their sills every 12-18 months.

(ii). Journalists

• The role of journalists is to gather, create, and present news and information to audiences. The advent of the internet, especially the development of social media platforms, has led to significant changes in conducting journalism. Journalists need to stay current on the latest changes to remain relevant in the industry.
• The disruption caused by social media platforms has led to job losses in journalism. In the United States, newspaper newsroom employment has plummeted since 2008, while the number of digital-native journalists has risen over the same period. Newspaper newsroom employment plummeted from approximately 71,000 jobs to about 31 000 between 2008 and 2020. On the other hand, the number of digital-native newsroom employees increased from 7,000 to 18,000 between 2008 and 2020.

(iii). Forensic Accountant

• A forensic accountant uses accounting skills to investigate embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion, and other irregularities hidden in the form of financial transactions. Demand for forensic accounts is driven by growth in technology and complex financial regulations that have resulted in more sophisticated financial schemes. These create intriguing and challenging occupation opportunities for forensic accountants.
• The United States Bureau of Labor and Statics projects a 4% growth in accounting jobs (including forensic accounting) from 2019 to 2029.

(iv). Physicians and Surgeons

•  Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat illnesses or injuries and contribute to health maintenance. The growing and aging population is expected to increase physicians and surgical services. In addition, the rising rates of chronic illness have driven consumers to seek high levels of healthcare that require advanced diagnostic tests and the latest technologies in surgeries. The current crop of physicians and surgeons will need to learn new insights into their careers.
• According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statics, the overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 3% from 2020 to 2030.  

(v). Teacher/Professor

• Teacher/professor performs the tasks of imparting knowledge in a wide range of academic and vocation subjects. They also conduct research and publish scholarly journals and academic materials. A study performed by the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES) found out that American children required a broader range of skills and technological expertise. In this regard, teachers ought to learn to instruct students in ways that provide such skills. The study also found out that since modern teachers face more significant challenges of rapidly growing technological changes, push to teach in more innovative ways, and greater diversity in the classroom, they must be willing to learn and relearn their occupation continually.

Research Strategy