Six years ago when I unpacked my very first Blackberry wireless e-mail device I was elated. I could now receive e-mail anywhere, instantly. Better than that I could respond to messages and completely conceal the fact that I was not dutifully sitting in front of my computer just waiting for new messages. It was the realization of the “I’m my own boss I make my own schedule” declaration/feeling/complex/illusion. Over the years I upgraded from the black and white small screen model, to the black and white large screen and then to the color large screen with international capabilities (more on the international in a minute).

Between the blackberry, new remote access capabilities, an e-mail support ticket system, and an after hours telephone follow-me service I was getting more done. I could golf and e-mail, eat dinner and update websites, and watch TV while doing server updates.

Then it hit me… even after I left the office I was always working. It seemed perfectly normal to catch up on odds and ends after hours. But with the blackberry always beeping, always up to date with the latest e-mail even when I wasn’t
actively working my mind was always on work. The problem with the timing of this realization was that it occurred on my Honeymoon in Italy with the ever capable Blackberry (with international access) beeping away and taking me “away.”

This condition has been coined “Continuous Partial Attention” and it occurs when multi-tasking or in the presence of devices, such as a Blackberry or Cell Phone that interrupt and are always demanding attention.

I improved the situation by turning off all Blackberry notifications and noises but when the battery died a few months back I made the tough but un-regrettable decision to retire the device to the trashcan. I realized that I already had systems in place so that I could be reached in a true business emergency and that unless something came in over the emergency line it could wait until the next day.

Here are some related links on Blackberries and Continuous Partial Attention:

(Some) Attention Must Be Paid!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11899893/site/newsweek/

Blackberry users learning painful lesson
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-10-20-blackberry-thumb_x.htm

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 15th, 2006 at 8:02 am and is filed under Good Reads/Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.