People who often get distracted by their mobile phones, in case of their absence in their vicinity, will find other ways of procrastination, lists a new study. TASR informs Frontiers in Computer Science and Techxplore.
Maxi Heitmayer of London School of Economics (LSE) examined whether Placing smartphones just out of reach of persons will affect their use for activities unrelated to work. The results of March 28 published the scientific journal Frontiers in Computer Science.
“The study shows that Postponement of the mobile may not be enough to reduce the degree of disturbance and procrastination or to increase the concentration. The problem does not steal from the device, but from the stereotypes and habits we have created here, “says Heitmayer.
The study sample consisted of 22 persons who two days alone worked in a soundproof room. The participants brought with them all the devices needed to work, always the least mobile and laptop. The alert settings retained unchanged and the researcher had no effect on them.
The only difference was at a distance between the participants and their smartphones. In the first case, it was laid on their desk, in the second on a separate table 1.5 meters away. When the cell phone was further, the rate of its use dropped, However, the disturbance rate has been preserved And the participants used laptops more instead. The participants worked the same time no matter where the mobiles were.
According to the study, smartphones are a preferred device diverting attention. Heitmayer sees a reason in a number of their features – From communicating with loved ones to playing music to gathering information. According to the scientist, computers are not so popular because mobiles fit better in the hand and are easier to carry.
Although notifications can be optimized or completely turned off, Heitmayer claims that In the foreseeable future, humanity of mobiles is not so easy to give up, because they are designed to distract attention. “Corporations are intentionally developing the greatest poles of attention in their mobiles so that they benefit significantly from our failing attempts to resist the temptation to use them,” explains.
According to a scientist, future efforts should focus on the protection of young users. “These are extremely useful devices capable of promoting learning and creativity. However, their negative effects also cause problems for most adults, so we simply cannot ignore them,” Closes Heitmayer.
