Technology as a whole has engaged with such an incredibly rapid rate of growth and transition in the last twenty or so years that it is difficult to understand how we ever lived without it. Obviously, it goes without saying that the benefits of technology and how its various forms enable our learning and constant growth and development. In one room alone, I currently have on my computer screen in front of me WordPress, Facebook, Hotmail, Spotify, Instagram and my iPhone to my right. While yes, this provides a constant stream of stimulation (some of which is more thought provoking than otherwise), you have to wonder whether this is a hindrance more than anything else.
For me, this brings to the fore the consideration as to whether or not I would be more constructive and efficient with both my time and resources, were I to have less complicated and varied sources of information constantly coming at me? The generational shift in cognitive modes and styles has developed simultaneously with the growth and transformation of technology. Thus there is a wide dichotomy in terms of how different age brackets prefer to learn and communicate with one another.
In summary, the ability to fixate your attention on a single stream of information/ content (potentially for long periods) ascribes itself to the deep attention mode. Whereas, to the contrary, the preference for engaging with multiple information channels simultaneously is associated with the hyper attention mode of learning and doing (as is a strong dislike of boredom and mundanity).
As a product of my generation, I can acknowledge my preference for the hyper attention mode in operating with various concepts, mediums, pieces of information and external influences at the one given time. In the media and communication industry this is likely an asset more than anything else. Technologies and ways of doing things are constantly changing and, as an individual working in industry, its highly essential to identify the need to constantly adapt to these changes, to grow and to diversify your skills and knowledge base accordingly.
But, as a downside to this continuous influx of information coming at us, we no longer possess as nearly a good ability to localise our thoughts on one sole task or concept. I know myself I am highly prone to becoming easily bored or distracted on tasks that I feel to be mundane, which is an instinct I should be constantly working against. A key trademark of the hyper attention mode is also the need to be constantly stimulated and living through our phones (etc) more than anything else. To me, this is a massive downside of the culture in which we live and, going beyond methods of learning or otherwise, an issue that we as a society should contemplate and consider.
