"Mind Over Mass Media" →
Yes, the constant arrival of information packets can be distracting or addictive, especially to people with attention deficit disorder. But distraction is not a new phenomenon. The solution is not to bemoan technology but to develop strategies of self-control, as we do with every other temptation in life. Turn off e-mail or Twitter when you work, put away your Blackberry at dinner time, ask your spouse to call you to bed at a designated hour.
via nytimes.com
… and I think we should create more digital tools that help people develop these kinds of strategies. Tuning off is just one of many imaginable scenarios for self-control and it demands a lot of self-discipline. What if our digital toolset for information and communication would suggest and motivate us in some way to enjoy some silent periods every now and then?
That's the good thing about advertising breaks on TV: most people I know actually leave their television set for a few minutes, going to the bathroom or their balcony for some fresh air, a drink – or a cigarette.
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