Preview

Multitasking In An Always-On World By S. Craig Watkins

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
396 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Multitasking In An Always-On World By S. Craig Watkins
Fast Entertainment and Multitasking in an Always-On World was written by S. Craig Watkins. This essay appeared in the author’s book, The Young and the Digital, written in 2009. S. Craig Watkins is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and a writer on the side. Watkins addresses the issue of multitasking and its relation to fast entertainment. The context surrounding this issue is that people in our society are trying to multitask to save time and become more productive. Watkins notes that this is due to the accessibility of entertainment being easier than ever before. This problem affects children, as young as two, to college aged students. Watkins’ essay targets this age group because they are most influenced by this issue. Watkins

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    they are multitasking children consume an average of 7 hours and 11 minutes of screen media…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Johnson and Carr’s articles both examine the change in our society through the cognitive effects of today’s media. Johnson explains how the complexity of media like, television and video games, are helping kids multi-task, and think more deeply, thus becoming smarter. Johnson says, “The kids are forced to think like grown-ups: analyzing complex social networks, managing resources, tracking subtle narrative intertwinings, recognizing long-term patterns”(229). This shows Johnson’s idea that some of the skills learned by kids today, through television and video games are useful in other avenues as well as later on in life. Carr gives us his own examples of changes in media and their positive effects in the expansion of knowledge. Carr explains throughout the course of history, great minds have feared change; he speaks of Socrates and his worry about the written word, Carr tells us, “He could not foresee the many ways that writing and reading would serve to spread information, spur fresh ideas, and expand human knowledge (if not wisdom)”(970). We are able to see a parallel between Jonson’s explanation of mental labor and skills learned and Carr’s discussion of spreading information, spurring fresh ideas and expanding human knowledge. We also find that Johnson and Carr do not always agree on everything when it comes to media.…

    • 1343 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Walt Watkins Summary

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages

    He asked them about their tendencies to multitask and their responses were all along the same line. Their answers showed they all multitasked and felt it was an important method to getting work done. This benefits Watkins’ argument because other college students will be the same way and want to stop after reading his essay. Watkins cemented his purpose with a strong conclusion, which called his audience to action. He urged them to stop multitasking, as it will hurt academically and sociologically. His powerful last sentence explains to the audience that if they continue to multitask and consume huge amounts of media, they may know information, but will lack intelligence. In addition, Watkins notes the potential consequences as being more radical than ever before, which discourages the audience from disobeying him. Overall, Watkins’ essay effectively caters to his audience and provides the necessary support to achieve his…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Multitasking is the most detrimental activity in the human race. It is used in multiple aspects of life, including technology. Technology is revolutionary. In Restak’s “Attention Deficit; The Brain Syndrome of Our Era,” he expresses how today’s society has affected humans to the place where their brains have been rewired. Additionally, in the documentary Digital Nation, the film, like Restak, also shows how technology has affected humans. As a result of technology, there have been many advances in medicine like the creation of the MRI and CT scanners that have saved numerous people from life-threatening injuries. However, technology is also destructive. Continually, countless people have not developed the…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Day in, Day out we all start our day doing more than one thing at a time. The morning starts with ironing our clothes while we listen to the news, delegating tasks to our family members to get our day going in what we call a productive manner, or better yet, “killing two birds with one stone.” We are all guilty of some form of multi-tasking. The article written by Alina Tugend gives an outlook on the art of multi-tasking and the effects.…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The excessive use of computers has drastically changed the lives of many users. As a multifaceted tool, the computer is used for tasks to include research, homework, business related activities, and even communicating with distant friends and family. Although computers can serve many useful purposes, they can become a reason for procrastination as well as cause people to retract from “real life” social activity. “As changes occur in technology, we must also contemplate the effect these changes will have on individuals. We must realize that individuals are vulnerable to the virtual world and that they can get lost,” (Computers and Their Impact, California State University Northridge, n.d.).…

    • 1156 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Using quotes and statements like this is what helped make Clay’s opinion on multitasking seem like more of a concern. This type of information presents a real issue and helps make teens and parents who read the article more aware of the effect of multitasking on the brain and…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Multitasking Hurts Performances but Makes You Feel Better, the title says it all. The authors’ main reason for this article is to share the truth about multitasking with the public. The article talks about studies taken on individual students over a period of time and their urge for multitasking. The students who multitasked seem to think that when they are studying and listening to music, watching television, texting, or on the internet that it makes them more productive. In reality the students are only obtaining an emotional boost from doing so. The author argues that when juggling too many tasks that you will perform poorly so you should refrain from doing so. They also claim that if you are a victim of multitasking now, you will most likely continue this trend and make it a habit. “It is critical that we carefully examine the long-term influence of media multitasking on how we perform on cognitive tasks.”…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    (MIP-1)As humans in america today we are engulfed in technology which overwhelms our daily lives. (SIP-A)americans today us too much electronics. (STEWE-1) “ the average child clocks in more than seven hours a day” (Rideout 2010). 7 hours a day is more than fourth of a day they spend a fourth of a day on technology a day. (STEWE-2) “ what I call electronic screen syndrome. These children are impulsive, moody, and can’t pay attention” (Rideout 2010). Kids are developing these symptoms because they are immersed in tech and they spend most of their time on it. (SIP-B) Technology is a crutch and we should learn to walk away sometimes. (STEWE-1) “ up 2.5 hours over the last decade — estimated by the American Academy of Pediatrics that kids spend on…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I also tend to avoid multitasking and prefer concentrating on one activity at a time. I agree with you that there are many people who are trying to do the multitasking by texting or calling and driving at the same time, and every time I see them, I feel uncomfortable. I know that multitasking would make completing daily activities more efficient because it could save your time. However, I feel it would disturb me a lot when I try to concentrate on doing something important. I used to like listening to music while studying because I felt it helps me feel less boring, but I found myself only listening to music instead of studying or doing homework at some point. I agree that exercising and listening to music together would not disturb…

    • 185 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some may say that the constant use of technology by children is an addiction, but Boyd insists “They aren’t addicted to the computer, they’re addicted to interaction, and being around their friends. Children, especially teenagers, don’t want to only socialize with parents and siblings; they want to play with their peers”. (Para…

    • 1025 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to Lauren Shinozuka, in her essay, “The Dangers of Digital Distractedness,” we are a digital generation. She asserts we are celebrated for our aptitude in effortless interactions with society through technology. However, the author questions the effect that this mass use of digital media has on societal and personal interactions and suggests we are alienating ourselves from those around us. She offers the point that we have developed an obsession with high-tech communication and are afflicted by fruitlessly attempting to do too many things at once, as well as automating our interpersonal interactions, disconnecting from genuine contact, and promoting a falsified version of…

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    multitasking

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages

    When we multitask, we harm ourselves and don't do things as well as we would if we were focused on a single task. According to the author, "a recent article published in the science journal Neuro Image revealed that when we attempt demanding task simultaneously,we ended up doing neither as well as we should because our brains have cognitive limits". In other words,the author is trying to say that is better to do one thing at a time than multitasking because the brain will work better, and if we are multitasking,we will have a worse memory. For example, sometimes at my job, I have to multitask. This made my memory worse because I try to do three or more jobs at once, like holding wires, connecting them, connecting outlets talking on the phone, and making sure other people are doing their job right, and at the end of the day, i forget to do an important job. Just like tge article says, it is better to have our brain concentrated on once thing at the time to do a good job and avoid any harm to ourselves or others.…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    “Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave.” (Attached to Technology and Paying a Price) They also say that peoples’ ability to focus is being weakened by bursts of information coming from technology and the internet. These bursts cause a primitive impulse to respond to the immediate interruptions. The impulses causes a stimulation of excitement that researchers say can be addictive. Even after “unplugging” people would be craving the stimulation created by the electronic device. (Source 3)…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Joe is sitting in class. He can't focus on what the teacher is teaching as a result of the games he is playing on his phone. Whenever he can't focus or is bored, he pulls out his phone and enjoys the countless apps he has installed for entertainment. A large number of people in today’s world feed their short attention span with electronic devices. Electronic devices promote distraction, lead to social isolation, and are addictive.…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays