Measurement of Multitasking with Focus Shift Analysis

Perhaps one of the most prevalent, yet least understood, forms of modern behavior is human multitasking aided by technology. Multitasking is both difficult to define and to measure. Based on Activity Theory and the concept of focus shifts, this study defines multitasking as shifts that occur when the flow of work is interrupted and tasks are interchanged during a session. The analysis of focus shift diversity, with respect to the tasks that receive attention, enables researchers to measure multitasking. With this approach, several indices of diversity are examined in order to provide recommendations about alternative measurement choices. This methodological study advances our understanding of the possibilities and limitations of using diversity indices for measuring multitasking

Examining the Effects of Distractive Multitasking with Peripheral Computing in the Classroom

The growing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in college campuses has dramatically increased the potential for multitasking among students who have to juggle classes, school assignments, work, and recreational activities. These students believe that they have become more efficient by performing two or more tasks simultaneously. The use of technology, however, has changed the student’s ability to focus and attend to what they need to learn. Research has shown that multitasking divides students’ attention, which could have a negative impact on their cognition and learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of distractive multitasking on students’ attention and academic performance in a classroom setting. Several studies in cognitive psychology have focused on individuals’ divided attention between simultaneously occurring tasks. Such research has found that, because human attention and capacity to process information are selective and limited, a performance decrement often results when task performance requires divided attention. Distractive tasks are defined as tasks or activities for which cognitive resources are used to process information that is not related to the course material. Multitasking is defined as the engagement in individual tasks that are performed in succession through a process of context switching. Using a non-experimental, correlational research design, the researcher examined the effects of distractive multitasking, with computer devices, during classroom lectures, on students’ academic performance. This study used a monitoring system to capture data that reflected actual multitasking behaviors from students who used computers while attending real-time classroom lectures. The findings showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between the frequency of distractive multitasking (predictor variable) and academic performance (criterion variable), as measured by the midterm and final evaluation scores. The results did not support the hypothesis that distractive computer-based multitasking could have a negative impact on academic performance

An Entropy Index for Multitasking Behavior

This study conceptualizes multitasking in a tri-dimensional framework consisting of task, time and technology, and proposes an entropy measure called the Multitasking Entropy Index (MEI) to study multitasking behavior. Entropy indicates the level of disorder or heterogeneity in a system. In natural and social sciences, entropy measures have been used to study the dispersion of objects of interest. However, to date, these measures have not been applied to study human multitasking behavior. Multitasking is defined in terms of the focus shifts that occur when a person changes attention between ongoing tasks. MEI calculates the diversity of focus shifts that take place in a period of time. The index can also be applied to measure focus shifts across different technology devices. The results of an empirical test show the potential of the proposed index. The framework and index presented in this paper are poised to seed a new stream of research

Flow in multitasking : the effects of motivation, artifact, and task factors

textThe aims of this dissertation study are 1) to examine how the interplay of motivation, artifacts, and task interconnectedness affect users' flow experience, 2) to understand users' multitasking patterns by analyzing approaches and strategies in multitasking environments through a participatory design session, and 3) to come up with design insights and implications for desired multitasking environments based on findings from the quantitative and qualitative data analysis and synthesis. This dissertation employed the PAT (Person-Artifact-Task) model to examine factors that affect users' flow experience in computer-mediated multitasking environments. Particularly, this study focused on users' flow experience - sense of control, focused attention, curiosity, intrinsic interest and interactivity - in the context of multitasking. The dissertation begins with perspectives on human multitasking research from various disciplines. Emphasis is placed on how researchers have defined the term multitasking and the scope of previous multitasking research. In addition, this study provides definitions of the term task switching, which also has been used to describe human multitasking. The second section of this dissertation focuses on the literature, which characterizes factors and theoretical frameworks of human multitasking research. In this section, human multitasking factors were classified into internal and external factors to analyze factors from the micro to the macro perspective. More detailed definitions and comparisons are also addressed. To summarize and conclude the literature review, this study provides a synthesis framework of internal and external factors of human multitasking contexts. In section III, this dissertation introduces theoretical frameworks that include the constructs of the PAT (Person-Artifact-Task) model and flow model. The next three sections present the research design and two research methods - the experiment and participatory design. The results and discussion section includes the implications of interpreting people's flow experience with motivation, artifact (technology affordance type), and task interconnectedness through the PAT model. The study findings and implications should extend our understanding of multitasking behaviors and contexts and how the interplay of person, artifact, and task factors affects humans' flow experience. A concluding chapter explores future work and design implications on how researchers and designers can take contextual factors into consideration to identify the most effective multitasking in computer-mediated environments.Informatio

Diminished Control in Crowdsourcing: An Investigation of Crowdworker Multitasking Behavior

Obtaining high-quality data from crowds can be difficult if contributors do not give tasks sufficient attention. Attention checks are often used to mitigate this problem, but, because the roots of inattention are poorly understood, checks often compel attentive contributors to complete unnecessary work. We investigated a potential source of inattentiveness during crowdwork: multitasking. We found that workers switched to other tasks every five minutes, on average. There were indications that increasing switch frequency negatively affected performance. To address this, we tested an intervention that encouraged workers to stay focused on our task after multitasking was detected. We found that our intervention reduced the frequency of task-switching. It also improves on existing attention checks because it does not place additional demands on workers who are already focused. Our approach shows that crowds can help to overcome some of the limitations of laboratory studies by affording access to naturalistic multitasking behavior

A Realistic Simulation for Swarm UAVs and Performance Metrics for Operator User Interfaces

Robots have been utilized to support disaster mitigation missions through exploration of areas that are either unreachable or hazardous for human rescuers [1]. The great potential for robotics in disaster mitigation has been recognized by the research community and during the last decade, a lot of research has been focused on developing robotic systems for this purpose. In this thesis, we present a description of the usage and classification of UAVs and performance metrics that affect controlling of UAVs. We also present new contributions to the UAV simulator developed by ECSL and RRL: the integration of flight dynamics of Hummingbird quadcopter, and distance optimization using a Genetic algorithm

Impact of Smartphone Multitasking on Walking Behavior: Is Cognitive Absorption the Key?

Smartphones have revolutionized multitasking across various aspects of life but can also pose risks, particularly to pedestrian safety. Research shows pedestrians\u27 smartphone use during road crossings contributes to accidents and fatalities. Studies reveal that slower walking speed and decreased awareness due to smartphone multitasking heightens collision risks. This study investigates the relation between smartphone multitasking behavior and walking behavior of pedestrians, exploring the mediating role of deep task engagement or cognitive absorption. The experiment utilized a smart garment to capture real time physiological data along with self-report measures to gauge the impacts of smartphone multitasking. Participants undertook tasks with different multitasking levels while walking in a gymnasium. Results suggest certain task types increase cognitive absorption, highlighting the need for pedestrian caution during specific multitasking activities. Furthermore, heightened cognitive absorption reduces walking cadence. This study enhances comprehension of cognitive absorption during smartphone multitasking, shedding light on its influence on walking behavior

Choosing Embodiment

The purpose of this paper is to review and consider the way in which both interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships are affected by technology. As commentary surrounding an epidemic of loneliness becomes increasingly common, this paper looks to identify and understand what it truly means to be connected. By bringing awareness and understanding to the effects of technology on the experience of relationship, and by offering a deeper understanding of the role of embodiment, it is possible to work towards balanced and healthy relationships that satisfy in quality rather than quantity