Impact of Information Technology Multitasking on Hedonic Experience

This study investigates the impact of information technology (IT) multitasking on multisensory hedonic experience. Existing literature extensively studies the impact of IT multitasking on user experience in a professional context but still lacks insight regarding this influence in a hedonic context. This study contributes to the literature by examining how technology can alter pleasure induced by hedonic activities. In a context of engaged IT interaction along with multisensory music listening, we hypothesize that the multisensory factor positively influences emotional reaction. We also hypothesize that IT interaction will degrade the hedonic experience. We conducted a multi-method experiment using both explicit (questionnaires) and implicit (automatic facial analysis, and electrodermal activity) measures of emotional reactions. Results support our hypotheses and highlight the importance of avoiding multitasking with technology during passive hedonic activities for better experience. Future research may examine IT multitasking’s influence on active hedonic activities

Multitasking with Information Technologies: Why Not Just Relax?

Multitasking with information technology (IT) may impact how much pleasure people experience during hedonic activities, especially multisensory activities that involve touching, listening, and watching. However, past research on IT multitasking has primarily focused on utilitarian professional contexts. Drawing from dual-task-interference theory and flow theory, we address this gap by hypothesizing how multisensory characteristics positively influence the hedonic experience and how that effect deteriorates with IT-related multitasking. In addition, we examine how personality traits influence this moderating effect. We conducted a mixed-method laboratory experiment using explicit (self-reported) and implicit measures (electrodermal activity, automatic facial analysis, and electroencephalogram) to test our hypotheses. Participants listened to music while sitting on a high-fidelity vibro-kinetic armchair (one that generates vibrations and movement perfectly aligned with the music) and engaged in simultaneous IT-related tasks. The results generally support our hypotheses and represent a call for people to mindfully avoid multitasking with their IT devices while enjoying hedonic activities. In addition, our results suggest that people high in extraversion or neuroticism personality traits are likely to be more vulnerable to IT-related deterioration effects in this context. This study contributes to explaining the multitasking phenomenon with IT during leisure activities and underlines the benefit of such activities’ sensory characteristics