Shingo, the character of the day from Pokémon Episode 140, "Wired For Battle!," had what many considered an unusual ideology. He had developed a tendency to use his laptop to anticipate the outcomes of battles rather than actually fight them. Whenever he was convinced to fight, he would use his Scizor and superior data to win every time. Ash and co. made it their duty to teach him the joy of actual battles and the importance of putting away the computer. While Shingo's complacency might have been a problem, his approach to battles wasn't.
Shingo was made out to be in the wrong for using his computer too much, but he was actually on to something. In real-world competitive Pokémon battles, players rely on data and analytics all the time to optimize their gameplay. Of course, not even these players rely on computer data as much as Shingo did. What's important is to understand how Shingo used his computer data, how it reflects real-world use of data, and how well that data can be applied to actual battles.
The first thing Shingo does when meeting a new Trainer is look them up. He can find out just about anything about any noteworthy Trainer from the last five years, including their Pokémon, what tournaments they've placed in, and how they might have won or lost their matches. Similarly, real-world players can learn more about noteworthy players and matches by consulting forums, Nugget Bridge, and recorded matches. It's a good way to get to know a Trainer, their style, and what strategies they use that could potentially be incorporated into one's own playstyle.
Shingo's real issue stems from his assumption that battles are unnecessary because he can always predict the outcomes by looking at the statistics. He's definitely wrong, but not for the reasons everybody thinks.
Players use computer data to anticipate how battles will play out all the time. They have things like damage calculators and simulators that can create authentic battles with moderate success. As for statistics, they can consult sites like Smogon and Pikalytics to better anticipate the moves and stat distributions of the most commonly used Pokémon.
The problem with Shingo believing he could win any fight he simulated is that there are all sorts of margins of error that can't be accounted for. For example, there's a point during his battle with Ash where Heracross' reaction time to Scizor's attacks goes from 0.29 down to 0.18; if this were the game, this would be like Heracross' Speed stat randomly jumping up, which shouldn't just happen on its own. Since Pokémon stats aren't as concrete in the anime as they are in the games, Shingo can never know exactly what numbers to punch in for his calculations. Even the most sophisticated damage calculators can only give a range of potential damage percentages based on presumed stats.
Shingo's other problem was his reliance on his computer to win his battles for him. When Ash's Heracross threw him through a loop, his response was to do a quick analysis and let the computer choose his next move. Taking notes during battles isn't a bad thing; players do it all the time during VGC matches. However, if Shingo really wanted to win, he needed to learn how to think on his feet and adapt to his opponent's unique battle style.
Shingo's reliance on his computer really bogged him down as the match intensified. He had trouble finding a way to alternate between watching the match and consulting his computer. This eventually led him to abandon his laptop entirely and put all his focus on the match. This was the right move, but even after the match, he decided that he didn't need his computer anymore.
Ash and co. may have convinced Shingo to stop using his computer, but his computer wasn't the problem. It was his overreliance on data to predict and win matches for him which was sucking the joy out of them. However, using data to optimize one's play is perfectly fine in moderation.
What Shingo really needed was to find a balance between analyzing and actually battling. He could use data to come up with winning strategies, but then he would have to rely on his own brainpower to carry him through the unpredictability of an actual fight. If his computer were to be used for anything during his match, it would be to record the fight; he could later rewatch his fight to see where he went wrong and where he could improve. If he battled like this, he could maintain the thrill of actual matches while still learning and growing from them.
Ash and co. were right to tear Shingo away from his computer, but they were wrong to make him abandon it entirely. The fact that he had been undefeated before Ash challenged him is a testament to the value of his computer data. If he ever picks up his laptop again and learns how to use it properly, he could become nigh invincible.