Can an iPod Make You Smarter?

The iPod has become a mainstay in our popular culture since it was released by Apple back in 2001. Many people have elected to all-but-abandon compact disc players, terrestrial radio, and music television in favor of their own, personal radio station programming that is delivered to them via their favorite playlists on their iPods. However, music isn't the only medium that the iPod is capable of delivering at the touch of a click wheel. Many people utilize their iPods to expand their horizons in ways that previously would have taken a much bulkier load of equipment and resources, if they were available at all. Is it then plausible to say, then, that the iPod is capable of making you smarter?

Apple offers iPods with a storage capacity of up to 80 gigabytes. Depending on song length and recorded resolution, that can translate into well over 20,000 songs. However, many people opt to listen to less music on their iPods and listen to more books. Audible books have exploded in popularity along with the iPod for obvious reasons. They are inexpensive, readily available by Web connection, and the iPod can store literally hundreds of them. Due to the iPod's automobile integration capabilities, many listeners take their books with them on their commutes, effectively learning and/or enjoying literature while they drive. While books on tape and CD are nothing new, the ability to download and listen to dozens of books on tape at your fingertips is.

The iPod also helped spawn the introduction of the Podcast. A podcast is an audio segment that is downloaded to a computer and then an iPod that consists of some kind of commentary or opinion piece. Many bloggers, companies, and other internet-savvy entities embrace podcasts as a manner in which to further connect to their fans, readers, and public in general. Since podcasts' content range from the inane to the brilliant, there are plenty of podcasts that have educational value as well. Political commentators love podcasts because it gives them an even wider net to cast for their messages to be spread. Educational resources utilize podcasts because of the convenience it allots students that are on-the-go.

And what good would an article that featured iPods and intelligence be without singing the praises of classical music? Psychologists and researchers have known for decades that listening to classical composers such as Mozart and Bach can help stimulate the neurons in the brain, promoting increased memory and cognitive activity. Additionally, these musical tracks are widely available on the Web for download for even cheaper than most new music; some are even available for free.

While the Apple iPod won't do your homework for you and certainly won't help you get a raise at work all by itself, using it wisely can give you that extra edge as far as your educational and intellectual growth.