Sunday, September 21, 2014

Multitasking or Mass ADD by Ellen Goodman


            New school vs old school. The ever expanding industry of technology and social media has consumed the lives of Americas next generation. Without cell phones, laptops and Facebook day to day life would be dysfunctional. According to Ellen Goodman, author of Multitasking or Mass ADD, multitasking has taken on a whole new meaning.

What was once productive chores around the house is now a day consisting of Facebook updates and text messaging. In a recent study Clifford Nass, a human- computer interactions professor at Stanford, believes multitaskers of the new generation are easily distracted and less attentive. After reading this article, however, I feel as though Goodman highlighted only the negative attributes technology offers to the new generation.

New school multitasking is as efficient as it is effortless. With the use of technology productivity can increase dramatically. A smart phone for example, is an all in one tool that offers the user access to anything they may need. Within a matter of minutes a smart phone user can pay bills, schedule doctor’s appointments, email colleges and even check up on family across the country. Prior to smart phones chores such as this could occupy an entire afternoon.

“We may be breeding a generation of kids whose ability to pay attention may be destroyed” said by Goodman. Technology and social media serve a greater purpose than just entertainment. Law enforcement has turned to social media to locate criminals and people who have went missing. Unsolved cases are now being further investigated by the help of millions through social networking.

The older generation is stubborn to learn the benefits of technology and social media. Technology is constantly evolving and there is no way of avoiding it. I rely on my phone as if it were another organ of my body. I convinced my old school grandparents to give in and purchase a laptop. Years use to go by before I’d be able to see my grandparents. Now, while cooking dinner and writing this blog I’m able to video chat with my grandparents from Italy.  

 

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