The Continuous Partial Attention Wiki, launched by Linda Stone (who also coined the term). CPA is similar to multi-tasking, but differs significantly because it spreads attention across tasks rather than simply switching among them. The wiki's still pretty sparse, but there are links to several magazine articles and conference presentations on the topic.
This is not a new phenomenon. Ironically, attention to it apparently is. In my head, I'm seeing Albert Brooks, in Broadcast News, drinking vodka and frozen, concentrated OJ, reading, singing, and watching William Hurt steal his anchor job on the evening news. "I can sing while I read; I am singing and reading both." (Maybe I wasn't supposed to be considering him as a role model.)
[via Boing Boing]
Posted by johndanseven at July 24, 2006 11:19 AM