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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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 In my world of business...Submitted by solidsnot on March 30, 2006 - 4:41pm.
In my world of business (Marine Corps) that is totally unacceptable and is seen as being totally unprofessional. When someone is engaging you in conversation, especially on business, you stop what you are doing and listen and interact with that person. If your cell phone goes off you ignore it until you are done talking with the person. That is if you even have the balls to check your cell phone when you are in a meeting. Basically what it boils down to for us is that someone checking their Blackberry or cellphone obviously isn't listening to what you are saying and are bored with what you have to say. If they don't have the common courtesy to turn off their phones or PDA or whatever then they are seen as unprofessional, and, as we say in the business, a shitbag.* * There are a lot more terms we use here but this is the cleanest I could think of for a public forum. :) » POSTED IN:
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