In her book, Always On, Naomi Baron discusses the ways in which people multitask while carrying out conversations through instant messaging. A 2007 study conducted by the AP along with AOL further examined not only the multitasking nature of instant messaging conversations, but also looking at the types of conversations that both teens (aged 13-18) and adults (aged 18+) found acceptable to carry out through instant messaging. For more information about the study, including a link to the statistics, keep reading.
Open iTunes. Start Mix 1 playlist. Ok, now I am ready to do my work.
In the fast paced society we live in today, multitasking has become a societal norm. In the book “Always On,” by Naomi Baron, research from the United Kingdom shows that through multitasking seven hours of activity is added to everyday.
IM from MegBee26 pops up on screen. I respond.
Technology is ever-changing and is still trying to find its niche in society.
Blinking orange tab on the bottom of the computer, I respond to MegBee 26 again.
Because teenagers and young adults have grown up with technology, we think we are more capable to multitask; however, is this really true? We may think we have exceptional listening skills and attention span, but I wonder how many mistakes could be avoided or how many accidents would not take place if we gave our full attention to the task at hand?
Text message from Mom asking me if I received the package she sent me. She interrupts my train of thought, so I guess I will switch topics.
In class we have been talking about how technology allows us to edit what we are saying. Is a delayed response from someone the result of them editing their language or is it that they were multitasking and could not respond right away?
Return to iTunes, change song.
I am a member of the multitasking generation. Even as I sit here and write this blog, I have had numerous interruptions that distracted me from my train of thought.
As I watch this clip, I see myself in every one of them. Technology has given us so many advantages in society; however, it is necessary to weigh the downfalls.
I was asked if I want to watch a movie with my housemates. As I walk down the steps with my computer and cell phone in hand, I see a member of my house texting, a member playing bubbleshooter and another one attempting to read for class. Who is even going to be watching the movie on the TV?
In her book Always On, Naomi Baron discusses the phenomenon of multitasking. Combining the knowledge that technology is getting increasingly more sophisticated and the idea that we are "Always On" it is no wonder that we are finding more ways to spread our attention to several different activities at the same time - even if that means just watching TV while you are doing homework, or talking on the phone while you conduct a web search.
Even at a young age, children are introduced to computers, video games, and even cell phones. This younger generation, like it or not, is even more immersed in the technology craze than we as college students are. So how will this idea of multitasking affect the cognitive performance of this younger generation? Are they adapting like the London taxi drivers that Baron mentioned in her book, or is their attention being spread to thinly? Baron notes that perhaps the extent to which the person actually thinks that they are multitasking has an effect on the detriment to cognitive performance. This would suggest that children who have grown up with technology will not so much see their actions as multitasking, but simply doing something that is natural to them.
The question I have to ask is even though we don't see ourselves as multitasking, when do we stop actually paying attention to the task at hand and begin to go on auto-pilot? A real world application of this would be driving a car while talking on a cell phone. This action is second nature to most of us - but this is a skill that could potentially be a downside of multitasking. Even though this task seems to take no effort, research has proved that it can be a detriment to not only yourself, but other drivers on the road - which led several states to ban drivers from talking on their cell phones at all while driving. This leads me to the question, how can we learn how to control the noise so that we can give enough cognitive attention to each task presented to us? Consider these questions the next time that you are doing homework and an IM pops up - are you giving each task the proper amount of attention? Is it worth it to "add" seven hours of activity to our day if we are not giving each one adequate attention - how do we control the noise?
Naomi baron begins the third chapter of Always On with an interesting discussion between herself and students of her focus group. The students were complaining about their parents, “The worst thing I ever did was teach my mom to IM over Christmas” (p. 31). At first I laughed at this response, having heard the very same complaint from some of my friends. However, this quotation brought me back to our last class discussion on how technology is affecting our ability to socialize. We all like to think that texting, AIM, and the countless other means of faceless communication have not impacted our ability to hold face-to-face conversations, but I believe we have developed a crutch.
In class we were discussing how much technology has become incorporated into our everyday lives and to what point we even depend on it. Well, today I think I witnessed a new height of dependency. While going on a walk to stretch my legs on the floor of the hospital I was admitted to, I noticed that one patient was sleeping with not just one, but two laptops in bed with her.
Yes, I guess you could call me a hypocrite because I too am on my laptop while in the hospital, but still, when is this concept of being "always on" too much?
