Pardon the Interruptions — with Gloria Mark

The podcast explores the pervasive issue of distractions and interruptions in the modern digital age, particularly their impact on attention spans and cognitive functions. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics, shares her research, which reveals that people's attention spans have dramatically decreased, with individuals now switching tasks on their computers approximately every 40 seconds. The discussion highlights that about half of all interruptions are self-interruptions, driven by habituation to external stimuli. Cutting off email access for information workers significantly reduced stress levels and increased focus, but the experts acknowledge the challenges individuals face in detaching from constant communication due to workplace expectations and social signaling. The conversation also touches on the ethical considerations of persuasive technology and the increasing predictability of human behavior through digital data.