Think you can multitask?

Alright, Hotshot, Think You Can Multitask?

By · 17 Comments · In Uncategorized

So, people keep telling me that multitasking is an effective management technique, and I keep insisting that it isn’t. When one thing has your attention, you’re not paying attention to the other things on your plate. Until now I’ve never had an effective demonstration.

It took me awhile to track down legitimate embed code for this game, but I did find it, on Hybrid Arcade. This game is composed of four, incredibly simple games that require minimal skill to be able to play.

The catch is, you have to play them all at once.

Try this out! If you like, you can provide your score in the comments section. It would be great if you could offer your thoughts relating the responses you just put into the game to concurrent demands for your attention at work!
 

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Possible lines of thinking:

1) What could you feel happening to your attention as each game was added?

2) How much of your attention was spent intentionally making decisions vs. purely reacting the longer the game played out?

3) If you tried the game multiple times, did you change your strategy?

4) What happened to the quality of your attention as the game progressed?

5) What other feedback do you have?

QuestionsView Results

You can thank @saslockey for the poll suggestion. Boys or girls? Who’s it going to be? Remember that Santa Claus knows if you lied with your answer.

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  • http://twitter.com/jakobbuis Jakob Buis

    Score: 80
    The game goes well up to two. When the third game hits, controls start blurring because game 1 and 2 both use the same directions.

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    80s an awesome score! You made it all the way to four games simultaneously! Yes, I find that too, the third game requires a shift in thinking because you're already responding to the needs of games 1 and 2 with the response game 3 needs.

  • http://twitter.com/saslockey Sas Lockey

    as predicted i am awful at this!
    still, the music makes me want to dance on a table :)

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    It's table dancing for a good cause though, Sas! :-D

  • http://twitter.com/josephgruber Joseph Gruber

    51 – Woot!

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    WOOOOOT! :-D

  • http://twitter.com/jakobbuis Jakob Buis

    Yup, didn't think I would be (that much) above average. It's quite clear that I can't truly multitask: I just keep switching my attention between the games as fast as possible.

    70 on my second attempt one week later, I must be getting old :P

  • http://leonardonogueira.com Leonardo Nogueira

    43… disappointing…

    Geoff do you know the book “Brain Rules” by Doctor John Medina ? When talking about attention he explains why we are not able to multitask and keep attention in a good fashion. Worth reading.

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    Heya Leonardo! Two comments in one day! That's an official warm welcome to the community! :-)

    I don't know the book, but I'll certainly check it out!

  • Candyje

    91 – wow, though it was difficult to switch focus for a short enough time to be sure to give each game enough attention so I knew where I was within it. Now I think I know how my staff feels when I try to multi-task. This is a good lesson indeed! Thanks for the post!

  • cl

    91 :)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DK44ZJJUS7LS4GEFNN6N3CJBMM cos

    68 :D
    This is a great game

  • http://kellycrew.wordpress.com/ Robert Kelly, PMP

    I am not answering, I already admitted to messing up this week and hosting a lessons learned about myself…my ego can’t take anymore. (shhhh…only a 43).

    A lot of fun Geoff sprinkled in with a great post.

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    LOL hey I still get hung up on the red ball so you did awesome! :-) Glad you enjoyed it…feel free to come back and beat your score anytime! :-)

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  • Mike kutuzov

    97 im 17 :P