4 ms·

Despite plenty of studies showing multi tasking for humans is less efficient than single tasking ( e.g. http://news.stanford.edu/2009/08/24/multitask-research-s

by harryf 10y ago

Despite plenty of studies showing multi tasking for humans is less efficient than single tasking ( e.g. http://news.stanford.edu/2009/08/24/multitask-research-study-082409/ http://news.stanford.edu/2009/08/24/multitask-research-study... ) here we are inventing new ways to be even more distracted.

StavrosK 10y ago
Why do you say that? I'd love something like this product, and my work flow is single tasking. I have all my windows open in full screen all the time and switch between them, and usually have a movie playing on the second screen while I work. Yes, it takes me a day to watch an hour's worth of movie, but it's a nice and easy distraction when waiting for stuff to build or doing other low cognitive impact work.
- kabouseng 10y ago
  That's what's commonly known as multitasking...
- harryf 10y ago
  I said it because their product pitch (from the website) is; > Start multi-tasking with your virtual reality headset
pvinis 10y ago
Well, even though they market it that way, it's more like a multi-monitor setup, which is totally valid to have for, at least, a developer.
shade23 10y ago
You look at it the wrong way.The point is to make the system multi task.Its like you opening several tabs/windows. I often spend time browsing HN while my project builds in the background.Similary while a site I am opening opens(yes this is a thing because developers love making heavy websites these days),I shift to other tabs. And when you have to port design specs to code.It is much easier to just turn your head instead of switching tabs/windows. This would indeed be a much better option.
vidarh 10y ago
While I can agree with that, currently I do most of my work on a 17" laptop. I don't need to multitask to benefit from this - being able to keep working on a laptop but having a workspace big enough to bring up a site I'm working on at full size, while having plenty of space to be able to also see developer tools, my editor and reference material at the same time without having to e.g. switch workspaces or cram any of them into less than ideal size spaces would be great.
fennokin 10y ago
It's a false assumption that multiple windows equates to multitasking. Just because you have multiple applications open doesn't imply you are multitasking. This is an angle of VR that hadn't occurred to me other than entertainment.
- harryf 10y ago
  Their product pitch is (I quote from their website); > Start multi-tasking with your virtual reality headset
  - SparkyMcUnicorn 10y ago
    When it comes to technology, multi-tasking is completely different. For iOS, some "multi-tasking" features include "switch between apps by double clicking the home button and selecting a recent app", and split view. Windows considers "window snapping" to be a multi-tasking feature. As we all know, multi-tasking isn't really thinking about two things at the same time, it's switching between those two things very rapidly. When it comes to technology, you can hardcore multi-task by having 5 video chats going while watching a youtube tutorial and writing your grocery list (which is more along the lines of the study you linked), or else you "multi-task" by having plenty of windows open in a larger viewing area to lessen the need to constantly switch between apps. e.g. As a web developer, I would not be productive without switching between code, terminal, and chrome.
  - jklein11 10y ago
    This is an issue of semantics. What the studies above are referring to are humans attempting to take on multiple tasks at once. The product pitch is referring to the machine accomplishing multiple tasks at once.
ksk 10y ago
And so what if studies have shown that?
empath75 10y ago
There's a difference between your computer multi-tasking and you multi-tasking. Right now, I have two shell windows open, textmate, and two browser windows open -- one in jenkins, one in aws. But they're all related to the project I'm actively working on.

by harryf 10y ago

StavrosK 10y ago

Why do you say that? I'd love something like this product, and my work flow is single tasking. I have all my windows open in full screen all the time and switch between them, and usually have a movie playing on the second screen while I work. Yes, it takes me a day to watch an hour's worth of movie, but it's a nice and easy distraction when waiting for stuff to build or doing other low cognitive impact work.

kabouseng 10y ago
That's what's commonly known as multitasking...
harryf 10y ago
I said it because their product pitch (from the website) is; > Start multi-tasking with your virtual reality headset

pvinis 10y ago

Well, even though they market it that way, it's more like a multi-monitor setup, which is totally valid to have for, at least, a developer.

shade23 10y ago

You look at it the wrong way.The point is to make the system multi task.Its like you opening several tabs/windows. I often spend time browsing HN while my project builds in the background.Similary while a site I am opening opens(yes this is a thing because developers love making heavy websites these days),I shift to other tabs. And when you have to port design specs to code.It is much easier to just turn your head instead of switching tabs/windows. This would indeed be a much better option.

vidarh 10y ago

While I can agree with that, currently I do most of my work on a 17" laptop. I don't need to multitask to benefit from this - being able to keep working on a laptop but having a workspace big enough to bring up a site I'm working on at full size, while having plenty of space to be able to also see developer tools, my editor and reference material at the same time without having to e.g. switch workspaces or cram any of them into less than ideal size spaces would be great.

fennokin 10y ago

It's a false assumption that multiple windows equates to multitasking. Just because you have multiple applications open doesn't imply you are multitasking. This is an angle of VR that hadn't occurred to me other than entertainment.

harryf 10y ago
Their product pitch is (I quote from their website); > Start multi-tasking with your virtual reality headset
- SparkyMcUnicorn 10y ago
  When it comes to technology, multi-tasking is completely different. For iOS, some "multi-tasking" features include "switch between apps by double clicking the home button and selecting a recent app", and split view. Windows considers "window snapping" to be a multi-tasking feature. As we all know, multi-tasking isn't really thinking about two things at the same time, it's switching between those two things very rapidly. When it comes to technology, you can hardcore multi-task by having 5 video chats going while watching a youtube tutorial and writing your grocery list (which is more along the lines of the study you linked), or else you "multi-task" by having plenty of windows open in a larger viewing area to lessen the need to constantly switch between apps. e.g. As a web developer, I would not be productive without switching between code, terminal, and chrome.
- jklein11 10y ago
  This is an issue of semantics. What the studies above are referring to are humans attempting to take on multiple tasks at once. The product pitch is referring to the machine accomplishing multiple tasks at once.

ksk 10y ago

And so what if studies have shown that?

empath75 10y ago

There's a difference between your computer multi-tasking and you multi-tasking. Right now, I have two shell windows open, textmate, and two browser windows open -- one in jenkins, one in aws. But they're all related to the project I'm actively working on.