http://instantlyresponsive.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/the-skill-of-continuous-partial-attention/ a blog about the impact and consequences of Enterprise 2.0 and beyond Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:58:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://instantlyresponsive.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/the-skill-of-continuous-partial-attention/#comment-30 Linda Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:57:18 +0000 http://instantlyresponsive.wordpress.com/?p=18#comment-30 Continuous partial attention is another name for a type of complex multi-tasking where we are attempting to do multiple activities that are NOT automatic and that require cognitive skill. Examples: Driving AND texting on a cell phone. Emailing and talking on the phone. We may experience some feeling of success doing this, but, for the most part, doing this means we cannot fully engage our attention with any activity and our capability (whether we feel it or not) is likely compromised to a degree. To follow Twitter -- even just reading a stream, and to participate in a conference call at the same time, is to do neither very well. CPA is a useful attention strategy in some cases, particularly cases where we want to scan multiple activities. Fully engaged attention is far more effective in most cases. Continuous partial attention is another name for a type of complex multi-tasking where we are attempting to do multiple activities that are NOT automatic and that require cognitive skill. Examples: Driving AND texting on a cell phone. Emailing and talking on the phone. We may experience some feeling of success doing this, but, for the most part, doing this means we cannot fully engage our attention with any activity and our capability (whether we feel it or not) is likely compromised to a degree. To follow Twitter — even just reading a stream, and to participate in a conference call at the same time, is to do neither very well. CPA is a useful attention strategy in some cases, particularly cases where we want to scan multiple activities. Fully engaged attention is far more effective in most cases.

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