RisksRisks14-16 January 2008

And an important foundation from a seminal article:

– Rob Kling (RHN) compares the computer to the automobile.

– Why first viewed as a clean technology? • What things did people not foresee? • Why?

– Some different lessons you learned?

Why Does This Happen?Why Does This Happen?Easy to See the Benefits

◦Easy to identify◦Want to see them

Is it possible to identify every side effect or impact?

What about unintentional side effects?

But Does Difficulty Free But Does Difficulty Free Us? Us? NO!Ethical responsibility to try to

look at consequencesWho has the responsibility?

• Luddites & Neo-luddites– Primitivism

– Jerry Mander

Easy-to-discuss RISKSEasy-to-discuss RISKS

• Technostress• Multitasking• Sidetracking

TechnostressTechnostress

Happens when ….• Some specific causes for YOU?• For your parents/grandparents?

•Cute video: Change in technology affects users

Examples of TechnostressExamples of TechnostressVoice Mail Hell

◦Get Human!Poor User InterfacesHow do you like operating

systems?◦A new idea: BumpTop

How People Try to Relieve How People Try to Relieve their Frustrationstheir FrustrationsMovie: Office SpaceAnother YouTube GoodieI Want to Hurt My Computer

◦Bruce Cameron

One thought: Emotional Mouse

MultitaskingMultitaskingDefinition:

◦Appears to be doing things at the same time

◦Actually just switching rapidlyComes from Operating Systems

conceptsReality is that our brain is simply not

designed for it!

Multitasking - RealityMultitasking - RealityPsychologist Ed Hallowell

◦Multitasking refers to a mythical activity in which people BELIEVE they can perform 2 or more tasks SIMULTANEOUSLY---and as effectively as one

Some tasks we can really do simultaneously

But in general, we’re LESS effective◦Scientific American study

Multitasking Bottom LineMultitasking Bottom LineWe do it because we are bored (a

bit of attention deficit)We seem to know when we really

need to focusWhen we do it, we are less

effective – which can be dangerous or just wasteful

SidetrackedSidetrackedAlso known as Cyberslacking

(Wm Buckley)Definition: everything

unproductive that people do at the computer

Examples◦Reading email◦Endless refinements,

embellishments and searches

Sidetracking WebsitesSidetracking WebsitesTable TennisGoofing Off Online – a collection

of web sitesAnd you can probably add your

own favorites

Low Tech Time WastersLow Tech Time WastersAlways been around

◦Examples?Why is this different?

◦Easier◦More compelling

Escalating War Escalating War We can be clever about

protecting ourselves◦Anti-Boss Key

But Bosses can be too…◦Spyware

“ The greatest fear I havemy greatest fearis that we've become so comfortable with the technology, that we get so many benefits from the technology, that we are becoming anesthetized by the technology….

“ It may well be that we are just going to sleep; that we are just not caring or understanding enough to take that step back and say, WAIT

“ this is great stuff, these are wonderful machines, but let's keep things on the plus side.

“ Let's make sure that we try to understand what the dilatory side effects are.

Let us control the technology; don't let the technology control us.”

Arthur MillerHarvard Law Professor

References: BooksReferences: BooksMichelle Weil and Larry Rosen,

TechnostressEdward Hallowell, CrazyBusyDavid Shenk, The End of Patience

Choosing TeamsChoosing TeamsWork Habits

◦ Yellow = Earlier◦ Orange = Later

Organization◦ Square = Very◦ Star = Own

methodsLeadership circle

◦ Color = Yes◦ White = If needed◦ None = No

Take your individual sheets

Visit stations to find possible partners

Position only needed if a pair

Turn in one Team Worksheet per Team