Sure, new technology is great. However, here are five recent technologies or features of technology that have probably added to my Distraction Quotient (DQ) rather than making my life easier:
1. Tabbed browsing: While it's a real time-saver, it also allows me to multitask my distractions. Same for Firefox.
2. Push email: While it's a life-saver as far as having my Blackberry now become my primary work PDA, it's distracting as hell to have it buzz me every time I get an email. Then I feel the need to view it, reply to it, or just get involved with whatever strikes my fancy on the Blackberry at the time.
3. DVR's: The ad says "Take control of your TV." But what it also does it causes you to watch more TV than you might have otherwise. In the past, if a show was on when I was working, oh well. Guess I didn't watch that show. Now I can record any show, any time, for playback whenever I want. The really bad news: If you DVR a late-night talk show like The Tonight Show and then watch it an hour or two later, it feels to your internal clock like it's still only 12:30, when in fact it's much later, resulting in less sleep and disrupted circadian rhythms. Argh.
4. RSS Reading Software (in particular, Viigo): Another "get it whenever, wherever" technology. Sure it saves time over reading full web pages, but it's more "push" technology that "pushes" me to distraction.
5. Satellite Radio: Used to be, I turned the radio off if it didn't have something I liked playing. Now that's not a problem, because I can find something I like any time I want it. More choice = more choices to make = more time making choices. It's a vicious cycle.
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