Distracted: Staying Connected without Losing Focus

(Hardback)

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What are the benefits and negative consequences of our increased connectivity at school, at work, and at home Is being constantly distracted now a worldwide problem This book examines how new technologies and social pressures have changed the way we use our attention, and the extent to which they drive us to distraction, by interpreting hundreds of scientific studies from the literatures in cognitive and social psychology, sociology, communication, management, and decision making. While distraction is ever-present in daily life, staying connected in an efficient way is the goal for one and all. To accomplish that, some amount of fine-tuning of typical interactions with technology is in order. Nearly everyone recognizes the addictive nature of constant connectivityand its destructive effect on productivity and quality of work. But the availability of technology also promotes better engagement, control, and flexibility in both professional and personal settings. An in-depth analysis of these tradeoffs can lead to smarter choices about when and how to be connected throughout the day and across settings. The ultimate objective is to have technology enhance our lives without serving as a source of constant distraction. Distracted: Staying Connected without Losing Focus explains the nuances of what this addiction stems fromconsidering both societal and technological factorsand identifies both the invaluable opportunities and the counterproductive consequences of living in our technology-enabled, instant-access-to-everything world. The chapters examine a wide swath of scientific research to expose how technology use affects our attention and the extent to which it causes distraction. Authors Terri Kurtzberg and Jennifer Gibbs apply the science of human attention to reveal how specific areas of our lives are significantly changed with the advent of "continuous connectedness," including in the workplace, in personal relationships, in childhood development, and with regard to education and learning. Readers will clearly understand why multitasking fails us, what the consequences areto ourselves and those around usof being focused on a screen for much of the day, and how each of us can adjust our use of technology in order to improve our lives.

Reviews

"Distracted: Staying Connected Without Losing Focus serves to give perspective to the overall issue of distraction in our lives and foster the importance of more thoughtful and conscious choices in respect to daily interactions with technology. Because most mass communication in the 21st century is through technology, Distracted: Staying Connected Without Losing Focus is timely for readers." * Communication Booknotes Quarterly *

Author Bio

Terri R. Kurtzberg, PhD, is associate professor of management and global business at Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick, NJ. Jennifer L. Gibbs, PhD, is professor of communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara.