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Microsoft

Microsoft Study Finds Technology Hurting Attention Spans 109

jones_supa writes: Conducting both surveys and EEG scans, Microsoft has published a study suggesting that the average attention span has fallen precipitously since the start of the century. While people could focus on a task for 12 seconds back in 2000, that figure dropped to 8 seconds in 2013 (about one second less than a goldfish). Reportedly, a lot of that reduction stems from a combination of smartphones and an avalanche of content. The study found also a sunny side: while presence of technology is hurting attention spans overall, it also appears to improve person's abilities to both multitask and concentrate in short bursts.

Comment Re:Easy fix (Score 2) 247

I also had this in business ethics class. Apparently this particular case was singled out in analysis within Ford. They were actually dumb enough to calculate, whether putting in that wall was going to be more or less expensive than paying the families for the loss of life, which they pinned at around $300k. It's the $300k that made everyone go batshit. The lesson learned in business class: when you have to make your trade off on human life, make sure that the value you put on it doesn't offend anyone.

Comment Re:Not the typical iPhone experience. (Score 1) 484

It may not be typical iPhone experience, but judging by some comments here, it's not rare either. And, yes, I'm annoyed after buying 5 iPhones and a bunch of other gear from the company in question. After ditching Dell for PCs and Nokia for phones I was hoping for a long and beautiful friendship. Meh..

Comment Re:WTF? (Score 1) 484

The reason you don't see many iPhone owners complaining is because they're probably ashamed that they spent the money on them and are still unhappy. I'm not an Apple hater. We own an Air (6 years and counting) that survived being dipped in champaign, a Time Capsule, an Apple TV and have bought together a total of 5 iPhones over the years.

Our phones previous to the iPhones were Nokia N900, N97, E97, N95, Samsung Galaxy Omnia, Nokia 6310i, Sony Ericsson, and some other Nokias and Siemens, but that was a decade ago or more. iPhone stability beat everything else by far when we got in at 4S. It has declined since then.

As for user culture, my wife regularily closes all apps, so as to limit their impact, she doesn't use stupid apps and doesn't play games. She learned to close apps ever since the N97.

The previous best phone before 4S was by far the N95 and the 6310i before that.

The decrease in stability over the Apple phone hardware and is versions is real. If you want hard data, please ask Apple for their support numbers ;) alternately, just check the support forums.

Comment Re:Is it the phone or the stupid stuff installed o (Score 2) 484

The question was on a "fully featured smartphone", so basic smartphones don't fit the bill. iPhone 4S was fully featured. Mind you, the Nokia N900 had more wizzbang, but iPhone had a good balance.
Both the wife's iPhone 6 and my 5S now take several seconds to *dial a number*, which isn't explained away with the apps I have installed.

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