The attention span of a.... ooh look, a squirrel!

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15/10/2007, 4:15 PM
Bald Student

Quote:

Originally Posted by John83

A minority is less than half Adam. ;)

Anyway, yes it's a big problem, and I've done it myself. The other day I had it pointed out to me here by Kingdom Hoop. Now, that particular Anto's on my ignore list (I forget why), but I still should have picked it up.

I find that it's far worse on a computer, where I'm accustomed to scrolling down through a large document, picking out stuff. I nearly have to print out an academic paper to be able to read it thoroughly - I'll can't focus properly on an electronic version. Conversely, I've a decent attention span

Why is that? Is it habit, or a physiological thing? If it's habit, we need to look at how young people learn to use computers. If it's physiological, the ball's in Sony and co's court.

Pete's correct about the multi-tasking. Computers let us 'do' a lot more things at once than we're actually efficient at doing.

It's because academic papers are printed in 2 columns.
15/10/2007, 4:18 PM
pete

Dunnes Stores clothes is cheap rubbish...

I hear some Designer sueing them for riping off designs. Apparently McDowell representing the Designer & despite enacting some sort of law/rule while he was Minister for Justice that Judges should not be referring to M' Lord anymore he broke it himself :D
15/10/2007, 4:47 PM
John83

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bald Student

It's because academic papers are printed in 2 columns.

Has that been shown to be more distracting on a screen than off?
15/10/2007, 6:31 PM
Dodge

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Ten. What's not to get? What category would you put it in? It's sport ffs.

(I'd argue that I get it a lot better than some of the people on Foot.ie. There's a minority there that seriously need to go out and get laid.)

adam

sigh. Should I bring your car fetish?

Each to their own and all that...
15/10/2007, 6:46 PM
dahamsta

But cars are entertainment too! :)
15/10/2007, 6:48 PM
kingdom hoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by John83

I nearly have to print out an academic paper to be able to read it thoroughly - I'll can't focus properly on an electronic version. Conversely, I've a decent attention span

Why is that? Is it habit, or a physiological thing? If it's habit, we need to look at how young people learn to use computers. If it's physiological, the ball's in Sony and co's court.

I'm the exact same as you John, I find it very hard to read anything academic on the net, and it's definitely a visual thing, unrelated to my capricious contempt for websites. I find increasing the font helps a bit sometimes, or else get your girlfriend to do the multitasking, as she claims to be great at, and read it to you as she pulls you off, nice. :p
15/10/2007, 7:12 PM
dahamsta

Lovely image there kingdom hoop, I'm sure everyone is delighted with it.

If stuff on the web is longer than a couple of pages, I have to print it out and bring it to bed with me, otherwise I scan and usally miss the point. Makes a great excuse to go to bed of course.

adam
15/10/2007, 9:08 PM
pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

If stuff on the web is longer than a couple of pages, I have to print it out and bring it to bed with me,

I am sure someone thought at some stage that computers would mean less use of paper when in fact it has multiplied exponentially.
16/10/2007, 9:39 AM
John83

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete

I am sure someone thought at some stage that computers would mean less use of paper when in fact it has multiplied exponentially.

Any of you seen this new e-ink stuff? A friend of mine has this Sony reader (http://www.eink.com/products/matrix/High_Res.html). It's like reading paper.
16/10/2007, 9:55 AM
dahamsta

I posted my comments about them on the Book Depository blog.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBS...cle.php?id=395

Must buy one sometime, see how they perform in reality.

adam
16/10/2007, 11:59 AM
pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

I posted my comments about them on the Book Depository blog.

The real question is though who was on the grassy knoll... :o
16/10/2007, 2:52 PM
kingdom hoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

I posted my comments about them on the Book Depository blog.

Heehee, very good contribution there! Those things look pretty nifty alright, handy to save space for travelling when you might want to bring a few books, and I often find it hard to get the right position in bed when grappling with those damned two-faced books. Excuse my snap perusal of the site, but was there any price mentioned?
16/10/2007, 3:47 PM
John83

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingdom hoop

Excuse my snap perusal of the site, but was there any price mentioned?

$235 used on Amazon.com (I don't think they'll ship electronics to Ireland, but these are third party sellers.)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

$280 direct from Sony :http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...umber=PRS500U2
17/10/2007, 12:56 PM
superfrank

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Lovely image there kingdom hoop, I'm sure everyone is delighted with it.

I actually burst out laughing when I read it then I remembered I was in the college library. I'm still sniggering away now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

If stuff on the web is longer than a couple of pages, I have to print it out and bring it to bed with me, otherwise I scan and usally miss the point.

I always do that. Miss the point that is. I usually have to read things over two or three times, except with books or kingdom hoop's post above. I can only absorb so much information in one sitting. I'm still surprised I actually studied for the LC.
17/10/2007, 4:20 PM
kingdom hoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by John83

$235 used on Amazon.com (I don't think they'll ship electronics to Ireland, but these are third party sellers.)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

$280 direct from Sony :http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...umber=PRS500U2

Good man John thanks. I'm afraid I can't justify that spending in the monthly budget just at the moment though! As ever, I'm sure the prices will plummet after a while.
17/10/2007, 8:18 PM
CollegeTillIDie

adam

You said some posters here should go out and get laid. Some of the posters couldn't even get laid in a henhouse :D
18/10/2007, 9:52 PM
onceahoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by John83

A minority is less than half Adam. ;)

I find that it's far worse on a computer, where I'm accustomed to scrolling down through a large document, picking out stuff. I nearly have to print out an academic paper to be able to read it thoroughly - I'll can't focus properly on an electronic version. Conversely, I've a decent attention span

Why is that? Is it habit, or a physiological thing? If it's habit, we need to look at how young people learn to use computers. If it's physiological, the ball's in Sony and co's court.

Pete's correct about the multi-tasking. Computers let us 'do' a lot more things at once than we're actually efficient at doing.

I find it almost impossible to proof read anything on a PC. Need to print it off to be sure.

On the subject of Internet, I read in the Sunday Times last weekend where companies in America are having E-Mail free days where they have to use the telephone if they wish to contact people. Personally I feel we've lost the personal touch when dealing with people because of our almost slavish us of e-mail. We'd a major fcuk up in our place one day because a new manager sent out an urgent e-mail, but we were all too busy too read it and major embarrassment ensued. He only had to pick up the phone and it could have been avoided.
22/10/2007, 10:37 AM
Bluebeard

My guilty pleasure is anyting by the Mamas and the Papas.

What month is this again?
22/10/2007, 10:43 AM
CollegeTillIDie

Atlantic 252 used to be the radio station for people with short attention spans. The regularly played the same 6 songs every hour.

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