MOBILE-MEDIATED INTERRUPTION MGT (poster)
Submitted by: Char Easter, Lindsey Latiolais, Shane McDowell, Silke Wesselink.
596 Research, Professor Judy Ramey, 2010
Title: Mobile-Mediated Interruption Management
Poster Design: Char Easter
Cognitive effects of being interrupted
While companies churn out smarter phones, more mobile apps, faster web access, and sticky networking systems to satiate the desire to stay in constant contact and engaged, is it going against popular demand to mitigate the flow of information? Studies show the freedom we gain from our mobile phones, has negative side affects.
The anywhere, anytime concept is reaching a critical mass. As the ubiquity and power of mobile devices improves, new problems arise.
The mobile phone promotes a continuous and almost addictive relationship, as it becomes a central and indispensable character in our lives. The ability to communicate via multitudinous formats has accelerated the reasons to check in to the device and check out of our environment.
Social boundaries are being redrawn. Synchronous and asynchronous communications defy the physical laws of time and space. The present moment is increasing virtual. While a person’s attention is focused on their mobile device, they are insolated from their physical space and the events and people in that environment. This can lead to compromising the quality of a task and, in some cases, such as walking or driving, endangering the user or people in the environment.
As technology vies for our attention, we can offset its gravitational pull. By being aware of how the rules have changed, we can make steps to rebalance our lives. Ironically, another solution is the very technology that is causing the problem. We are calling this solution, computer-mediated interruption management (CMIM).
