Human Multi Tasking

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:52 am

Do you do it? Do you think it's good?

I can't and will not multitask. If I am cooking and preparing a meal I can't hold a conversation, watch TV and answer the phone and do any one of these functions justice.

I think Human Multitasking is terribly inefficient and results in miss communication, gross errors and mistakes. Focus, focus, focus on the task at hand and get it done properly.

AGREE? DISAGREE?

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:12 am

I think it depends on ones abilities, experience and what you are doing plus factors such as time and complexity. I can work on 3 cars at once, doing different things to each one and have an easy time of it. Something such as cooking requires all my attention focused on a single task. It will vary from person to person and while women can excell at it they're subject to Murphys law also.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:16 am

In my line of work you either multitask all day long or your will be working 24/7. Multitasking has never caused any problem with my work if anything it has allowed me to accomplish much more in half the time with the same results because IT work is all about result that get users back to work so you better be good and fast. Women are much better at multitasking just a fact.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:38 pm

CARLA;1356886 wrote: In my line of work you either multitask all day long or your will be working 24/7. Multitasking has never caused any problem with my work if anything it has allowed me to accomplish much more in half the time with the same results because IT work is all about result that get users back to work so you better be good and fast. Women are much better at multitasking just a fact.

I agree Carla----women probably do multitask more than men, however, I am not convinced it's very efficient.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:41 pm

Mothers have to multi-task regularly....that's a fact.

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:59 pm

Lon;1356888 wrote: I agree Carla----women probably do multitask more than men, however, I am not convinced it's very efficient.

Are you dipping the bait for a bite Lon :wah:

I recall having to learn to multi-task in the work place, you have absolutely no choice, especially if you are working with the general public. Then comes motherhood, nothing would get done at all if you didn't multi task in that situation.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:07 pm

along-for-the-ride;1356892 wrote: Mothers have to multi-task regularly....that's a fact.

Yup, that's true. That's how women learn to be so good at it.

M.A.S · Post by **M.A.S** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:40 pm

I believe that females :-4 have the ability of multi-tasking processing in their minds.

However, males can do so but females are the best at it

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:43 pm

Wouldn't focusing on one task get the job done FASTER enabling one to then get on to the next task? I have competed with people trying to do several tasks simultaneously and have beat them in the completion of all the tasks.

Multitaskers always seem to leave chaos and a mess in their wake. :wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:46 pm

Oh my, the oposite is the truth. Cooking dinner, taking care of the kids, blabbing to the mother-in-law, etc. All these things done at one time, dinner on the table, etc.

In real life, I cook dinner-while practicing one of my instruments. It takes ingenuity to plan this out-everything ready to put in the various cooking appliances-George Forman grill, microwave, stovetop. Different timing temperatures for each item. I line them all up-of course the instrument is out first, with the musical selection of the day on a stand-my living room connects to the kitchen. Knowing the times needed, in the food items go, up goes the flute, and a nice Bach sonata is played. First timer goes off, the first selection is almost done. Next item to cook, the slow adagio is played. Final food prep-and the peppy ending section is sending lovely notes all over the place. Hot items must cool 2-3 minutes, enough time to properly put away the instrument, stand and music. I take the food downstairs to hubby, and everyone is happy.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:53 pm

You go Chonsi..!! I bet you started a load of wash also.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:31 pm

OK------I concede ladies--------you are truly the masters of MULTI TASKING----You can make love and admire the wallpaper & ceiling paint all at the same time. :wah:

koan · Post by **koan** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:45 pm

hehe. that's pretty good, Lon. Well done.

Pretty cool topic.

I've learned to multi-task but I'm not fond of it nor am I convinced it's most effective. Sometimes more efficient but that doesn't mean it's effective.

I think there are certain things that are considered multi-tasking but they aren't choices. Like parenting whilst working full time. I'd rather not but I have to and I try to do as well as possible. The things I love to do are things that cause me to stop being aware of what's happening around me. That's most certainly not multi-tasking even if there are other things I get done that week. I might even get four things done in a day but I'd rather do them by focusing intensely on each thing one at a time to an exclusion of everything else. Then move on to the next. Otherwise I kind of get a lot of things done instead of really getting a few things done.

If I don't lose myself in the task I'm doing it's because I have to instead of because I want to. If I want to do it, I do it really well.

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:57 am

We all multitask all the time, but women are better at talking about it.

Somethings are easy, like replying on FG and watching daytime TV.

It is not wise to multitask certain tasks though, ie brain surgery and gardening.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:16 am

along-for-the-ride;1356892 wrote: Mothers have to multi-task regularly....that's a fact.

We do indeed, everything from feeding infants to cooking meals etc

I have multi-tasked for years at my jobs, if you cant then you can't do the job.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:18 am

Lon;1356902 wrote: Wouldn't focusing on one task get the job done FASTER enabling one to then get on to the next task? I have competed with people trying to do several tasks simultaneously and have beat them in the completion of all the tasks.

Multitaskers always seem to leave chaos and a mess in their wake. :wah:

Very much depends whether the job at hand requires continuous attention.

Where a job involves thinking through a chain of logic and coming up with a design then any interruption put you back a long way.

On the other hand, where a job involves bringing files back from archive, running programs, collating output then there's enough free time waiting for a step to complete to answer as many questions as they care to throw at me.

Same with cooking - depends on how much waiting time there is in the recipe.

Scrat · Post by **Scrat** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:57 am

I think multitasking can be learned by just about anyone but it's not so hard a chore for women. Lon points out the difference between men and women. Men are hunters, we do what comes easiest we focus on the target. One single task. Women being the gatherers and childrens care givers have to split their attention between several things at once.

I have known women to make mistakes, a wrong parts list or clerical errors that can cause complete chaos. It usually gets to the point of chaos because the error has went under the noses of one or more males without being detected. Sometimes teamwork between the sexes fails due to lack of experience and cross training. Anyone familiar with a system from beginning to end can multitask within that system without much problem provided the proper checks are in place.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:31 am

When I think of Multi Tasking I am thinking about trying to do several things at the same time, not starting a load of laundry in the washer, feeding the dog, changing the baby's diaper and answering the phone, these are all really separate acts and we all do it to some degree. DRIVING A CAR, SMOKING A CIG & TALKING ON A CELL PHONE ALL AT THE SAME TIME IS WHAT I THINK OF AS MULTI TASKING. THAT AIN'T GOOD.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:41 am

Lon;1356927 wrote: When I think of Multi Tasking I am thinking about trying to do several things at the same time, not starting a load of laundry in the washer, feeding the dog, changing the baby's diaper and answering the phone, these are all really separate acts and we all do it to some degree. DRIVING A CAR, SMOKING A CIG & TALKING ON A CELL PHONE ALL AT THE SAME TIME IS WHAT I THINK OF AS MULTI TASKING. THAT AIN'T GOOD.

So would you consider eating my tea whilst replying to FG whilst listening to the radio to be multi-tasking? I see it as no different to answering queries whilst running jobs or washing up whilst cooking.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:20 am

Bryn Mawr;1356929 wrote: So would you consider eating my tea whilst replying to FG whilst listening to the radio to be multi-tasking? I see it as no different to answering queries whilst running jobs or washing up whilst cooking.

I would worry about you getting tea all over your chin and beard, mis spelling your posts to FG and getting the news report from the radio all wrong. (the attack was in Iraq not Tibet), other than that no different. :wah:

Not to mention crumbs in the keyboard.

koan · Post by **koan** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:52 pm

I believe preparing meals is something that should be done without any other tasks interfering. The energy of the meal preparation is thought to affect the quality of the food and focusing on nourishing yourself seems a very good idea. I don't do that enough. I tend to throw stuff on the stove then start working on website code or fixing software issues etc. while it's cooking. Sometimes have to set a timer to remind me to check the food for burning. I'm also trying to ignore small interruptions while I'm doing tasks. Like answering the phone. They can call back. To be honest, most the time the phone rings I'm really annoyed that someone had the nerve to call my telephone instead of texting or emailing. lol