Multitasking Yourself to Death – Literally
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Recently asked a group of cognitive design students to tackle the texting while driving problem. I know a few are still working on it. Check out the excellent article in the NY Times, Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cell Phone Risks. They confirm it is as bad as DWI and that going hands free does not help. More interestingly, they put cognitive science right at the center:
“Scientists are grappling, too, with perhaps the broadest question hanging over the phenomenon of distracted driving: Why do people, knowing the risk, continue to talk while driving? The answer, they say, is partly the intense social pressures to stay in touch and always be available to friends and colleagues. And there also is the neurological response of multitaskers. They show signs of addiction — to their gadgets.”
Serious clues for the cognitive designer.
Also check out this game that measures your change in reaction time while distracted. Would such a device be useful for changing the mental model of texting drivers?
