Comments on: Multitasking: You can’t do it, my friends http://futurismic.com/2008/10/03/multitasking-you-cant-do-it-my-friends/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: TomMarcinko http://futurismic.com/2008/10/03/multitasking-you-cant-do-it-my-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-16476 TomMarcinko Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:07:48 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=4235#comment-16476 FWIW: I think a study comparing how men and women (supposedly) multitask would be interesting. Throw in some non-U.S. cultures for added interest. Sometimes studies do confirm, or seem to confirm, what we already know. Or think we do. I think they're worth doing anyway. If (random example) U.S. legislatures have to consider bills to outlaw texting while driving, then some people clearly aren't getting the message. Though in a case like that, my guess would be that driver/texters would concede that they are exceptions, and obviously other people shouldn't be doing it. FWIW: I think a study comparing how men and women (supposedly) multitask would be interesting. Throw in some non-U.S. cultures for added interest.

Sometimes studies do confirm, or seem to confirm, what we already know. Or think we do. I think they’re worth doing anyway.

If (random example) U.S. legislatures have to consider bills to outlaw texting while driving, then some people clearly aren’t getting the message.

Though in a case like that, my guess would be that driver/texters would concede that they are exceptions, and obviously other people shouldn’t be doing it.

]]> By: Karen http://futurismic.com/2008/10/03/multitasking-you-cant-do-it-my-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-16466 Karen Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:09:41 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=4235#comment-16466 Another study confirming info already known. Notice this was a study of men -- one with women may have very different findings. Studies of male vs. women drivers who also performed another "task" (even something most take for granted as possible, "conversing with passengers", not the apparently much harder and needing legislation against "conversing with someone on the phone") showed slight to significant degradation amongst male drivers (female drivers were able to multitask much more effectively). No doubt it is due to growth differences that take place due to hormones - male brains tend to be better at focusing on a single task, while female brains are able to handle more tasks at once (although not at the same depth). From an evolutionary standpoint, concentrating while hunting vs cooking, gathering and keeping track of the kids/toddlers all while watching out for marauding lions and bears required different structuring of attention and multitasking. Although true that experiences from infancy until adulthood will also change brain structure and the connections that are most used, there will always be some differences in structure that are "more male" vs "more female". Another study confirming info already known. Notice this was a study of men — one with women may have very different findings. Studies of male vs. women drivers who also performed another “task” (even something most take for granted as possible, “conversing with passengers”, not the apparently much harder and needing legislation against “conversing with someone on the phone”) showed slight to significant degradation amongst male drivers (female drivers were able to multitask much more effectively). No doubt it is due to growth differences that take place due to hormones – male brains tend to be better at focusing on a single task, while female brains are able to handle more tasks at once (although not at the same depth). From an evolutionary standpoint, concentrating while hunting vs cooking, gathering and keeping track of the kids/toddlers all while watching out for marauding lions and bears required different structuring of attention and multitasking. Although true that experiences from infancy until adulthood will also change brain structure and the connections that are most used, there will always be some differences in structure that are “more male” vs “more female”.

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