3 ms·
Repeating "people can't multitask" as many times as possible doesn't make it true. People can multitask. Some can do it better than others, but everyone can.
by wladimir 16y ago
Repeating "people can't multitask" as many times as possible doesn't make it true. People can multitask. Some can do it better than others, but everyone can.
- ugh 16y agoWhat do you mean?
- brisance 16y agoHowever, the argument that multitasking on computers is bad because humans can’t multitask is flawed. That was right in the article itself. I believe the author's point is that focus/attention is more important than being able to "multi-task". Refer to Daniel Simons's experiment (the invisible gorilla) on selective attention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
- mcrider 16y agoPeople can multitask perfectly fine when the tasks they are doing are automatic (that's why you can usually drive and have a conversation [with a passenger] at the same time without any difficulty). When you're doing multiple things that require cognitive resources, your brain has to share its (surprisingly limited) short-term computational power/memory, resulting in decreased performance. There aren't many things people do on computers that are automatic (at least not many things I do). But I'm typing this on a computer with three monitors, and I can say objectively that my efficiency is way higher than if I had one small screen with at least two clicks to get to my next app.
- piguy314 16y agoMy experience is the same. Rote, repetitive tasks based largely on muscle memory can be done along with cognitive activities like listening to lectures or the radio, but anything that requires abstract reasoning feels very difficult when I'm trying to do two or more things at once.