They have done research which shows that multi-tasking is less efficient than we think. Certainly David Strayer, the director of Applied Cognition laboratory at Utah University found out much on the subject when researching the use of mobile phones whilst driving. He said it was not that the hands were not on the wheel; it was that the mind of the subject was not on the road, it was on a mental picture of the person at the other end of the phone.
Multi-tasking was introduced years ago with the advent of computers where programmers discovered they could increase efficiency by enlisting the help of microprocessors to run multiple applications at the same time. It is acknowledged that whilst we can shift attention from one task to another, we must actually tell ourselves, “Well, now I want to do this instead of that.”
The whole multi-tasking wave of enthusiasm has also being exacerbated by the proliferation of social media where short messaging and texting reigns supreme. It seems that the teenagers lead the way in the thousands of texts they are capable of sending out every month, partly in their effort to belong, connect, acquire and comprehend. Of course the depth of these connections may well leave them feeling disconnected in reality and unfulfilled at the end of the day, so to speak.
With the so-called partial attention in play as we text, chat, email, check messages and generally go crazy, we are also scanning for additional information, knowledge, wisdom and a damn good reality check that some person with a little intelligence may provide.
It seems that there is certainly an incredible volume of information out there, with little ability in many to process it in an understandable and intelligent manner. The bottom line seems to be that we spend less time on more things with less ability to deal with the real matters of life, love and significance.
What is more, we have less interest at the end of the day to do much more than unwind, recover, recharge and try and have a good time. In short, the way we are going about earning our daily bread, keeping our health and enjoying ourselves is becoming increasingly more difficult.
Cheers
Chris Borrett
Image Credit: FreeImages.com/Mihai Eustatiu
If by chance, you have not encountered my previous posts outside this blog, one of my favourites is about “A Woman’s Labour of Love.” You have the luxury of reading it by clicking here.