Written by Riina and Anu (topic from lecture 2)
Multitasking, what a great topic to discuss. These days it seems to be rare that one can focus on one single task at a time, since multitasking has become an increasing every day norm. We’re walking with phones in our hands, doing work while travelling, is it efficient? Is it worth it?
There are cases where multitasking has cons, but there is also light at the end of the tunnel. Technology has many brilliant ways to help with multitasking - making it easier and not making it feel like a burden.Gestalt laws do help with this. There are ways to make user interfaces more lighter to recognize. Multitasking divides attention, which means one can’t focus properly on one task, using Gestalt laws focusing on the main task can be easier. Gestalt laws include similarity, closure,area, symmetry and many more.
One great example of multitasking where technology can help is navigation while driving a car. Presentation of the information helps with multitasking. Navigator’s user interfaces are made light and simple, so while driving it doesn’t take a lot of effort to see the directions.
Navigators also use other senses to help with multitasking such as voice. When driver can listen to the directions, he can focus mainly with the main task - which is driving. This will decrease the attention going to the navigation.
Attention is a funny thing, it works sometimes automatically, but usually selectively. Selective attention can become automatic within time. An example of selective attention is looking for searching bar from a website. Selective attention is used one at a time, it needs more focus than automatic attention. Additionally there is divided attention, it means that there are irrelevant messages which include something relevant. You can run into this when someone calls your name out of nowhere, you usually recognize your own name. Divided attention is suitable for small and simple tasks.
Multitasking is not always the best option.
Source:https://www.necessities.me/why-we-need-to-rethink-multitasking/
In future it might be that multitasking is even easier to us. Imagine using your phone with augmented reality. Instead of looking at your phone you could watch your surroundings and see the content from your phone as part of the environment. That way it would be even easier to walk while using your phone because you get a better see where you are going. There is of course still the problem of reading. Reading takes so much of your attention and concentration that it would still be hard to walk, read and notice your surroundings at the same time. That can of course be solved by audio books and stuff like that but some people don’t like that or it might not always be an option.
Do you eat and watch Netflix at the same time?
Source: http://www.atalduwaisan.com/2017/08/08/lets-design-a-side-table-together/
One of the most common multitasking might be eating and watching something. Many people watch TV or Netflix while eating. Some might even do something more useful and watch for example lecture recordings. What multitasking you do? And what technologies you find most useful to help multitasking?
Multitasking, what a great topic to discuss. These days it seems to be rare that one can focus on one single task at a time, since multitasking has become an increasing every day norm. We’re walking with phones in our hands, doing work while travelling, is it efficient? Is it worth it?
There are cases where multitasking has cons, but there is also light at the end of the tunnel. Technology has many brilliant ways to help with multitasking - making it easier and not making it feel like a burden.Gestalt laws do help with this. There are ways to make user interfaces more lighter to recognize. Multitasking divides attention, which means one can’t focus properly on one task, using Gestalt laws focusing on the main task can be easier. Gestalt laws include similarity, closure,area, symmetry and many more.
One great example of multitasking where technology can help is navigation while driving a car. Presentation of the information helps with multitasking. Navigator’s user interfaces are made light and simple, so while driving it doesn’t take a lot of effort to see the directions.
Navigators also use other senses to help with multitasking such as voice. When driver can listen to the directions, he can focus mainly with the main task - which is driving. This will decrease the attention going to the navigation.
Attention is a funny thing, it works sometimes automatically, but usually selectively. Selective attention can become automatic within time. An example of selective attention is looking for searching bar from a website. Selective attention is used one at a time, it needs more focus than automatic attention. Additionally there is divided attention, it means that there are irrelevant messages which include something relevant. You can run into this when someone calls your name out of nowhere, you usually recognize your own name. Divided attention is suitable for small and simple tasks.
Multitasking is not always the best option.
Source:https://www.necessities.me/why-we-need-to-rethink-multitasking/
In future it might be that multitasking is even easier to us. Imagine using your phone with augmented reality. Instead of looking at your phone you could watch your surroundings and see the content from your phone as part of the environment. That way it would be even easier to walk while using your phone because you get a better see where you are going. There is of course still the problem of reading. Reading takes so much of your attention and concentration that it would still be hard to walk, read and notice your surroundings at the same time. That can of course be solved by audio books and stuff like that but some people don’t like that or it might not always be an option.
Do you eat and watch Netflix at the same time?
Source: http://www.atalduwaisan.com/2017/08/08/lets-design-a-side-table-together/
One of the most common multitasking might be eating and watching something. Many people watch TV or Netflix while eating. Some might even do something more useful and watch for example lecture recordings. What multitasking you do? And what technologies you find most useful to help multitasking?
Very interesting post !
ReplyDeleteI think it could be important to notice that we can become addict from multasking. For example I do not want to clean my flat if I know that I can't listening music or the radio, when i am not in the cinema theater it is difficult to watch a movie without watch my cell phone at the same time... In fact, it is difficult to be concentrate only on one thing. Actually I don't want to be concentrate on just one thing. Thus, I am a little bit afraid of the futur regarding more and more multitasking...
Mathieu HENRY
I've found that when multitasking, I like for one of my tasks not to require a lot of thinking - that way, I can still concentrate on the other task. For example, I'll listen to audiobooks or podcasts while cleaning or cooking, or I'll listen to instrumental music while studying. In the first case, it's because I like to feel more productive while doing chores. In the second case however, I've found that lyrics in a language I understand distract from the study material, while no music at all will lead to me becoming distracted as well.
ReplyDeleteSarah
It is interesting how AR will change our everyday life in the future. Are we able to multitask more efficiently or are the added objects distracting even more and drawing our attention away from the reality? It is true that we all multitask somehow even without really thinking that it is multitasking, like watching Netflix and eating at the same time. Personally, I do that every day. Maybe in the future it will be even more important to remember to unwind after focusing attention to multiple tasks at the same time.
ReplyDeleteVilma
Interesting post! Personally I multitask a lot. Since I was little, I have been reading/watching TV at same time as eating and nowadays eating might even feel boring if I don't have company or something to do at the same time. I think this addiction to multitask can hinder e.g. studies since I have sometimes hard time to focus on the studying without doing anything else at the same time. I don't know if AR is going to help this focusing problem or make it worse, time will tell.
ReplyDeleteTuomas