Smartphone, tablet, computer… Screens affect our ability to concentrate. So much so that goldfish can focus a second longer than humans.
8 seconds and then goes. In a decade, man’s ability to concentrate has increased from 12 seconds to 8 seconds on average. One less than the goldfish! The aquatic animal would therefore be more concentrated in turning in its jar than a man walking. Blame it on the multitude of screens that surround today’s homo numericus, according to a study by Microsoft in Canada.
Smartphone, tablet, computer, television… All day long, our attention is drawn to a new event. Thanks to technology, social networks or news media are available all the time and everywhere. An omnipresence of screens that affects our ability to concentrate for a long time.
Zapping and sorting at high speed
To understand the impact of these devices, the researchers performed concentration tests with 2,000 Canadians and measured the time that 112 volunteers remained attentive with an electroencephalogram.
According to the results, our ability to stay focused for a long time was supplanted by a more selective memory. Very quickly, we are able to decide what interests us or to move on. But when a subject interests us, we manage to concentrate for the time it takes.
In addition, the study shows that more than 40% of Canadians say they have to make a significant effort to stay focused at school or at work. A difficulty encountered especially among digital natives, young people aged 18 to 24 and large consumers of social networks.
However, this generation born with all these devices has developed new capabilities. They are versatile and able to maintain their attention despite the simultaneous use of multiple screens. Indeed, for nearly 8 out of 10, watching TV and strumming on their smartphone or tablet is not a problem at all.
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