Sam, Thanks again for your contributions. I (we?) think we are getting closer to an understanding of multitasking. I believe the perspective of humans having multiple "processes" is appropriate. This is in conflict with your suggestion of "sensory array shifts need attention." While I have not reviewed the literature, my perception is that we respond to multiple sensory channels with various degrees of attention. The extent to which these sensory channels overlap creates conflict. Very different tasks will not be in conflict. Much like interrupts in computer operating systems, the various areas that we perceive are brought to our attention when they become important. What qualifies as "important" is very individual. For instance, I'm more productive with music in the background, I think that this is because the area of me that expects music does not send out "Need Music" distracters and that other parts of me are not distracted by processing the appreciation of the background music. Back to my dissertation, Charlie -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Sam Tilden Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 9:35 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] multitasking Charlie, Cognitive neuro-science suggests that even our sensory array shifts attention in the same parsing behavior we see in computers. As I said several posts ago, some people are able to do this quite well and others not. The fact is that, this ability is normally distributed across human population and can be improved with practice. HCI research suggests that multiple screens provide an advantage in that it allows holding some data set in a fixed frame while allowing another to be dynamic. This research suggests that 2 dynamic screens effects performance adversely.For example writing computer code in one screen and testing it in another. The Apple people have been doing this for years while the PC crowd has been limited by the operating system (until recently). It all comes down to the human perception in real time. Based on a normative evaluation this parsing proves to be an impediment while listening to music and doing homework. It seems more efficient to study a short period, listen to relieve the boredom and then go back to studying. There is a vast body of research available in education, psychology and cognitive neuro-science. This is a very rich area for cross-disciplinary Netspace research. Sam Charlie Balch <charlie@balch.org> wrote: Great points. I happen to have a perfect opportunity to do a little research here. I'm teaching two sections of the same class. In one section, I'm lecturing in a computer lab and in the other in a traditional classroom. I do not discourage my students in the lab environment from using the computers while I lecture. (Those that want to yell at me for this should start a new thread.) Assuming that my lectures are the major factor in student learning, tests are meaningful, and that use of computers is a distracter, I'm going to compare the test results at the end of this semester. Charlie http://charlie.balch.org --------------------------------- All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. _______________________________________________ The air-l@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/