I’m not 100% certain whether or not Linda Stone coined the term “Continuous Partial Attention” but she has certainly been shedding light on the cause and probable effects of this growing trend. The Continuous Partial Attention Wiki is an interesting resource if you want to learn more about what is sure to impact any of us who have to work in the brave new always connected world…
Thanks, Marc. In fact, I did coin the term, continuous partial attention…. in 1997 -1998, after noticing how differently Microsoft employee attention and computer using habits were from the habits of my grad students at NYU. In 2001, Tom Friedman wrote up an interview he did with me at Davos, and that column is in LONGITUDES AND ATTITUDES. Neal Stephenson, a science fiction writer, when he heard me use this term, posted a quote of mine on his website… I think that was in 1998 or 1999…. don’t exactly recall. I have been researching attention and trends for about a decade now. Endlessly fascinating patterns…. Cheers, Linda