Continuous Partial Attention

There's a fascinating article over on MSNBC about something called Continuous Partial Attention." Basically this describes the way that modern communication devices such as Blackberries, cell-phones, laptops, wi-fi access everywhere etc. keep us from ever giving our full attention to one particular task. Instead we constantly flit back and forth from one thing to the next, always waiting for the next input from our ever-present, always-on digital assistants.

Levy says:

But there's a problem in the workplace when the interruptions intrude on tasks that require real concentration or quiet reflection. And there's an even bigger problem when our bubble of connectedness stretches to ensnare us no matter where we are. A live BlackBerry or even a switched-on mobile phone is an admission that your commitment to your current activity is as fickle as Renée Zellweger's wedding vows. Your world turns into a never-ending cocktail party where you're always looking over your virtual shoulder for a better conversation partner. The anxiety is contagious: anyone who winds up talking to a person infected with CPA [continuous partial attention] feels like he or she is accepting an Oscar, and at any moment the music might stop the speech.

I think we can all relate to the image of talking to someone and feeling like at any moment they are going to cut you off in favor of something better, more interesting, more pressing, or more alluring. It's amazingly annoying. And, truth be told, I am as guilty of this crime as the next person.

Of course, the temptation is to say, "well, big deal, so I spend a lot of time talking on my cell-phone." But, in light of recent blog posts and comments about quiet time/devotionals/prayer, I am concerned about how this intrusion of technology really damages both our relationship with God and with other people. It's impossible to ever connect deeply with another person if part of you (or me) is constantly keeping one ear/eye/chat channel open for some other more important/more urgent need.

We have stopped watching the main program and are instead obsessed with the constantly moving news ticker racing across the bottom of the screen.