Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price

[Andy Nguyen]

This article describes me. And probably you. And most people who are reading this.

Your Brain on Computers - Attached to Technology and Paying a Price - NYTimes.com

Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information.

These play to a primitive impulse to respond to immediate opportunities and threats. The stimulation provokes excitement — a dopamine squirt — that researchers say can be addictive. In its absence, people feel bored.

 

[iddqd]

I scored 100% on that distraction test yet... I'm still paranoid.

 

[Eugene Krel]

The distraction test was weird, it fills up your whole screen. So technically even if you are a multi-tasker it's easy to concentrate on it.

I think that particular family is a bit on the extreme side. I doubt that most people go quite that overboard with technology.

 

[Scooot]

100% and a 92%...I flew through it pretty quickly tho.

Still not sure if that's a good thing or not. It says I can filter out irrelevant information very well...something my girlfriend could attest to.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

If possible, try to outsource all that stuff.