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Computers are not really able...

ferrouswheel's picture

Computers are not really able...

Computers are not really able to multitask either, except for true parrallel processing machines. They usually just assign small amounts of time to different task, just like you mention people that claim to be multitaskers do.

However the one things computers do that we could learn from is interrupt driven switching of tasks. ALthough I’m pretty sure I saw interrupt driven work mentioned here at some stage.

As an example, I often find myself waiting for things to finish compiling, or simulations to run, or even web pages to load when the net is overloaded at my University. So I may not really doing multiple things personally, but I’m waiting for tasks to complete on my computer and dealing with them as they come around. The computer is doing multitasking for me :)

43F Podcast: The Myth of Multi-tasking By: Merlin Mann (31 replies) October 20, 2005 - 10:49am
  • Computers are not really able... By: ferrouswheel (2005-10-20 11:56)
  • Semantics semantics. Washing dishes while dinner... By: Jeff (2005-10-20 12:14)
  • [...] The myth of multitasking.... By: Jokerbone » Multitasking (2005-10-20 12:20)
  • Meh. I think that’s more... By: Merlin (2005-10-20 12:45)
  • Fair enough. ... By: Jeff (2005-10-20 15:03)
  • There's a lovely example... By: stephen judd (2005-10-20 17:05)
  • So true. Many women claim... By: Laura M. (2005-10-20 19:23)
  • Hy from Barcelona, Merlin! I would... By: flaneuse (2005-10-20 20:31)
  • Agreed. [takes sip of coffee, looks... By: Nick (2005-10-20 17:16)
  • I'm with flaneuse on the... By: Gabriel (2005-10-21 04:06)
  • …listening to a podcast is... By: Merlin (2005-10-21 04:20)
  • My feeling was that the... By: Laura M. (2005-10-21 04:34)
  • I just multitasked by listening... By: Dell (2005-10-21 04:35)
  • About Goldratt’s Critical Chain: When I... By: Rhandir (2005-10-21 04:44)
  • Oh, come off it--for the... By: freddy (2005-10-21 07:08)
  • Oh, come off it—for the... By: Merlin (2005-10-21 07:24)
  • When you're done with that... By: kuz (2005-10-21 08:09)
  • The computer equivalent of doing... By: Steve (2005-10-21 11:32)
  • Merlin: It’s not a Papal... By: Nick (2005-10-21 11:36)
  • Merlin, I won't ask you... By: Clementina (2005-10-21 14:55)
  • You are constantly multi-tasking. People manage... By: Petro (2005-10-21 20:12)
  • Petro, yes, it's possible, but... By: Mike (2005-10-22 01:43)
  • Great podcast! I just... By: Max Leibman (2005-10-23 16:30)
  • I'm wondering if anyone has... By: Vinnie (2005-10-23 22:19)
  • I would say that listening... By: Chris (from L.C.) (2005-10-24 02:46)
  • Let's look at this via... By: Michael (2005-10-24 04:41)
  • i disagree, but not in... By: wdk (2005-10-26 14:47)
  • If women claim to... By: peggy (2005-10-27 16:48)
  • Multi-tasking - we all do... By: Winnie (2005-10-30 08:55)
  • [...] Steven Johnson on battling... By: SBJ: Filtering interruptions to enhance focus | 43 Folders (2005-10-31 03:08)
  • Hello Merlin, I found your site... By: Ken Chen (2005-10-31 05:33)
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