Growing up in a generation where technology is at our fingertips, the brain changes its organization and functioning to accommodate the abundance of stimulation forced on it by the modern world. I recognize where Restak’s logic comes from because individuals are so dependent on phones and laptops that it becomes a challenge for people to complete work on their own. People feel as if it is necessary to have an electronic device by their side, tricked into believing multitasking is an acquired skill when in reality the brain is struggling. With the constant use of extra devices, Restak suggests “multitasking”
In the essay “Multitasking can make you lose … Um … Focus” Alina Tugend exams why multitasking can make you lose focus. Tugend explains what multitasking is in the first section she also explains why it is bad. She then brings in a professor to explain how multitasking works in a scientific way. Alina Tugend then uses case studies to show how multitasking can cause loss of focus and impairment in motor activities. She then shows how multitasking can actually delay your progress on completing projects by constantly switching to different tasks. Tugend then sums it all up by trying to teach us how to better ourselves and to not multitask.
The negative effects from multitasking were found to affect our young adults more than our mature
In “Multitasking Can Make You Lose...Um...Focus,” Alina Tugend examines the negative aspects and many disadvantages that occur through multitasking. Tugend begins by stating that multitasking is the norm for today’s fast paced society; however, in reality it is pulling focus from the task at hand. The author continues on to cite various researchers who express that the brain cannot simultaneously do two tasks at once and is actually just flipping back and forth between tasks rapidly. Although multitasking seems like a time efficient method, Tugend reveals, it is actually creating a large amount of stress and pressure on the individual. Furthermore, the author notes that multitasking actually pulls away from the task at hand creating a great time loss. Tugend even goes on to explain that multitasking is proving to be bad for innovation by not allowing an individual to think in depth about one task for an extended period of time. With Tugends article in mind I agree that multitasking puts a lot of stress and pressure on the individual, creates a loss in time, and is awful for innovation.
In the essay “Multitasking can make you lose … Um … Focus” Alina Tugend exams why multitasking causes you to lose focus and how it is counterproductive. Tugend explains what multitasking is in the first section and that since the 90s we have widely accepted it into our daily lives. She also brings a credible professor named Earl Miller to elaborate on multitasking and how it is explained in a scientific manor. As this professor goes on he talks about how its misleading and that multitasking doesn’t actually benefit us, it actually hinders are ability to be productive. Tugend uses multiple case studies to back up this information and to even support her own argument that multitasking causes loss of focus.
Multitasking is an action where one person can ultimately act on two tasks or more at once. In the article, “The Myth of Multitasking”, Nass summarizes that the cause of this issue is simply that the human brain slows the thought process of doing multiple tasks at once instead of one task at a time. This conflict is important because it poses potential risks to us in a mental or physical way. We should teach the younger generation this valuable information which will reduce the amount of problems that deal with multitasking in the future.
The gravity of the issue is certainly more pronounced in Wallis’ essay compared to Turkle’s. She begins by providing the reader with several scenarios that are likely to play out in the average American household. Each of the twins is in their own world as they veraciously absorb the stimulus coming from their computers, phones and tablets. They are supposed to be finishing homework but even a task with this much importance falls to the wayside. It suddenly becomes apparent that these kids are addicted to their devices, something that has become all too common in many of our own homes. The term multi-tasker was once used to define a person who could do many things at one time successfully. However, Wallis explains that this is nearly impossible.
Sarah D. Sparks wrote an interesting article in “Education Week,” that shows that multitasking is not an activity that reflects great results for most people. Sparks learned from Larry D. Rosen’s study that 13 to 18 year olds use an average of four to six types of technology simultaneously while they are not in school. Did you know when people multitask they never actually fully focus on anything? For people to do multiple things at once, it actually takes them longer to complete each task than if they did them one at a time. If someone has to make a decision, there will be a delay in their thinking process. In Sarah D. Sparks’ article, she refers to Steven G. Yantis’s research that explained that people who multitask actually perform lower on memory and attention tests than people who did not. This is due to them focusing more on their distractions. The effect of
In today’s society we are overwhelmed with technology. Technology is changing everyday, and will forever be a staple in our lives. The effect that technology has on our children has brought on some concerns and some praises. Children these days have no choice but to some how be influenced by the ever growing technology in our societies. Our common concern has been that although digital technology has boosted children’s talent for multitasking, their ability to process information deeply may be deteriorating (Carpenter, 2010). Many people have a wide range of opinions on if technology is having a positive influence on our children or a negative, there is a vast amount of evidence to support both of these arguments. Technology can refer to
“Attention Deficit: The Brain Syndrome of Our Era,” a chapter from The New Brain deals with the effects of modern technology. Here Restak examines the brain’s ability to multitask and the consequences of multitasking, for example, the risks of talking on a cell phone while driving. Our tendency to juggle tasks, Restak warns may be both unproductive and damaging to our brains. Multitasking forces our brains to process ever-increasing amounts of information at ever-increasing rates. Although technology has bettered the world, it is addictive and can lessen the human brain. With the constant use of phones and laptops it makes multitasking less productive. Your mind should be able to concentrate
Unit 06: For the discussion board, I watched the video “Surviving the Teenage Brain” and read chapter 03. I chose to discuss the topic on divided attention and multitasking. I also talked about some strategies for parents to help their children do homework without multitasking, and without media distractions.
One reason why the school should participate in “Shut Down Your Screen Week” is because multi-tasking, on and off computers can cause focus problems. In the article, “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price”, Matt Richtel, the author, states that scientists say that shuffling between information such as emails and phone calls are able to change the way humans behave and think. A lot of people think multi-tasking saves time, but studies show
Sana, Weston, & Cepeda (2013), Laptop multitasking hinders learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education 62 (2013): 24-31.
Multitasking is becoming very significant on the workplace to complete the task in less time. In fact, some people believe that multitasking saves time and can be done at all together. On the other hand, some people think that it is a distracting activity which leads to a lack of concentration. According to David Silverman, “In Defense of Multitasking”, multitasking is “crucial to survival in today’s workplace” (522). However, I do not agree because multitasking reduces productivity, increases stress levels and it is, especially, problematic for students.
Through extensive research we are now able to see that multitasking is not an effective learning method, but is a bad thing to do.