I loved Linda Stone’s presentation at Supernova 2005 about “Continuous Partial Attention” – focusing on how we will manage all the incoming information (from our phones, computers, cars, websites, refrigerators, etc.) so that we’re not miserable.
She described one company in the UK that holds “Email free Fridays” in an attempt to make people talk to each other in person, to give them a break from all the typing, pointing, clicking, and routing.
She also theorized that we don’t make decisions anymore. Instead, we send emails around, we “collaborate” and we get “buy in” from others, but nobody is making decisions. (Is this true?)
She discussed her perspective that attention is not static. It’s dynamic. For example, it depends on where we are, who we are, what is acceptable in what settings, and what others are doing.
Our focus on all our gadgets and information sources is an aphrodisiac. It allows us to “feel” connected – but question this: are we really more connected? What is the quality of these connections? Does it really make you feel more “connected” to have 100s of people in your flickr social network?
Linda proposed that the next aphrodisiac (surpassing continuous partial attention) will be committed attention, intention, and focus. I CAN'T WAIT!