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Continuous Partial Attention?
Jeff Kenton | Mar 30 2006
Hi everyone, I was reading the March 27 Newsweek, and Steven Levy's column caught my attention. In the article, he quotes a conference talk given my Linda Stone. Linda used to work at both Apple and Microsoft. She's concerned about a phenomenon called Continuous Partial Attention (CPA). This affliction (my word) involves trying to engage oneself in two worlds simultaneously. Levy also provides a metaphor: "A live Blackberry or even a switched-on mobile phone is an admission that your commitment to your current activity is as fickle as Renee Zellweger's wedding vows." (Ouch.) and: What can be done? Is it rude to assume that I can ask my conversation partner to unhook the bluetooth earbud when talking to me? Can I take away my meeting group's Blackberrys until the meeting is over? Does anyone have any strategies for dealing with this? 17 Comments
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 Yet, when I am having...Submitted by Merlin Also on March 30, 2006 - 5:17pm.
Berko wrote:
Yet, when I am having an actual "goddamn human conversation," I dismiss calls on my cell phone, shut my computer, and at least pause the iPod. I admit to often being guilty of exactly what I hate -- especially with my wife, which makes me feel like a jerk. The second that I catch myself being a half-assed doucehbag as she tries to tell me something, I very elaborately sit up straight, decisively close the MacBook, and say, "I'm sorry, that was insanely rude of me" or the like. Clean break. [="2"]Mindfulness: It's not just for Buddhism any more. ;-)[/] » POSTED IN:
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