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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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 Whatever Mr. LevySubmitted by randellt on March 30, 2006 - 7:13pm.
Carrying a BlackBerry and mobile phone that are always on is not the problem. Using them at inappropriate times is the problem. Levy and Stone seem like they want to pin the problem on technology and connectedness while ignoring the fact that people are choosing to act inappropriately. Just like people talk in the movies and cut in line, this is another manifestation of the rudeness and selfishness of most of our planetmates. » POSTED IN:
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