Author Information
Recent Comments
-
AvivA-AvivA replied to a column
-
buenavida replied to a column
-
fruity replied to a column
-
fruity replied to a column
-
1hopefulman replied to a column
Multitasking is derived from computer and internet terms. Before the internet has become widely used, you could hardly hear the term “multitasking”. But now that computers and the internet is used by so many people, the term “multitasking” has become almost as widely used.
Computer multitasking is the computer’s ability to do two or more tasks at the same time. For example, you could be downloading and surfing at the same time, or you could be searching an information on one window and then chatting with your friend on another window simultaneously. This has become quite a popular trend to many users that the term has shifted from computers to a person’s ability to do two or more things at the same time.
If you have been doing computer multitasking for quite some time now, you may have an idea that the tasks that you are attempting to do will slow down your computer performance significantly. In this sense, computer multitasking may not be such a good idea but despite it, so many users are still practicing it. Maybe because it does give a wrong notion that when your computer does multitasking, you get fast result. When in fact, the performance of your computer slows down depending on how many tasks you let it perform at the same time.
On a more human note, human multitasking has become a popular trend. Some people even brag about their ability to do many things at the same time. One of the most well known multitasking is driving and talking on the phone simultaneously. This has become quite rampant amongst drivers that this very same act causes so many unnecessary road accidents. Another multitasking sample is, when a person jogs and put his earphone to listen to music while jogging. This exercise trend is also an accident waiting to happen.
Is multitasking good or bad? While it does sound like a good and productive idea, in general, multitasking may do you more harm than good especially if you lack the attentiveness to your tasks. Multitasking lets you lose focus on what you do and make your work sloppy. Not only that, multitasking may lead to unnecessary accidents.
Promote This Column on Other Sites:
Comments
I am somehow divided on the subject. When something needs our complete concentration, like driving, writing,... or when we want to give our complete focus, like communicating with people, than multitasking is bad.
But on the other hand, when I am walking in the forest, taking the path I took some many time, there is not a lot of need to put all my focus on surrounding (even if it is nice), so listening to the audio programs can be beneficial. Just like reading while waiting for the water to boil (while cooking).
It depend on the task.
But than again, Brucew made a great comment as well. We can take into account the complexity of the task. The more complex the task, the more energy saving and rebooting does the task needs.
Hi Aviva-Aviva, I agree with you completely. Thanks for dropping by and for leaving a nice comment. :)
I multitask if I really need to and so agree with your points, an interesting subject you brought up here.
Thanks for dropping by, Shanny.
Interesting column YOUWHO, I didn't know that the term multitasking came from computers, I love picking up pieces of information like that :) I agree with you on this one, on the face of it multitasking does seem to be a good idea, however like you said it does affect performance and under certain circumstances it can be dangerous too!
Hi Wrenfrost56, thanks for reading and glad that we agree about this issue. :)
I prefer to multitask as a father and a husband, except washing the dishes.:)
lol. I guess you're good at what you do. :)
Some people can multitask very well, for others it's difficult. Of course, mothers with small children do it all the time, they have no choice. I can to some degree. I usually am doing reading for research while I cook or take clothes out of dryer, that type of thing, I cannot do it while I work on the computer.
Hi Tulan, thanks for reading and for visiting. Multitasking is possible but it comes with consequences. Some people are sharp-minded and so, they can do it well. For others who usually can't, it is advisable to just don't do it.
Not for me. The only time I can multitask is listening to music while having my lunch.
Good luck on that also. lol.
Most of the industry right now are engage in multi-tasking. Employees are learning new skills need to perform different kinds of work. It may benefit the employer, and I think also for the employee.
Hello Joel, multitasking is doing multiple tasks at the same time. Some people can do that but others are just not that fast. While learning new skills is beneficial, multitasking usually is not. The work usually become more sloppy and sometimes dangerous.
Thanks for dropping by, my friend. :)
When a computer is multi-tasking it isn't really doing that - it's just switching its attention back and forth between several tasks so quickly that it seems to be doing them all at the same time. But there is a price to be paid: before leaving one task the computer must save where it was and on returning it must load that back in. This takes some extra time. As you say, when a human tries to multi-task there are similar problems.
Hi Bruce, thanks for the new info you've shared and for visiting. :)