Txt and email

[Tom]

Workers distracted by phones, emails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a study revealed today.

The constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling tired and lethargic.

 

But the fact that people constantly break their concentration in order to answer and check these messages shows Britons are obsessed with technology.

 

Almost two out three people check their electronic messages out of office hours and when on holiday, according to the study carried out by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard.

 

Half of all workers respond to an email within 60 minutes of receiving one while one in five will break off from a business or social engagement to respond to a message.

 

The survey, in which 1,100 Britons were quizzed, revealed that nine out of 10 people thought colleagues who answered messages during face-to-face meetings were rude.

 

Three out of 10 believed it was not only acceptable, but a sign of diligence and efficiency.

 

24-hour 'always on'

 

But the mental impact of trying to balance a steady inflow of messages with getting on with normal work took its toll.

 

In 80 clinical trials, psychiatrist Dr Glenn Wilson, from King's College London University, monitored the IQ of workers throughout the day.

 

He found the IQ of those who tried to juggle messages and work fell by 10 points - the equivalent to missing a whole night's sleep.

 

This is considerably more than the four point fall detected after smoking marijuana.

 

Dr Wilson said: "This is a very real and widespread phenomenon.

 

"We have found that this obsession with looking at messages, if unchecked, will damage a worker's performance by reducing their mental sharpness.

 

"Companies should encourage a more balanced and appropriate way of working."

 

Dr Wilson said the IQ drop was even more significant in the men who took part in the tests. David Smith, from Hewlett Packard, said: "The research suggests that we are in danger of being caught up in a 24-hour 'always on' society.

 

"This is more worrying when you consider the potential impairment on performance and concentration for workers, and the consequent impact on businesses."

 

Author:dailymail.co.uk

Date:22nd April 2005

Source:dailymail.co.uk

Copyright:©2005 Associated Newspapers Ltd

 

[fsagertyaef]

where do you find all of these articals??? :whistling

[Ozzy420]

What are thay going to put another ban on us now no mobiles sms or emails as it makes us dumber, u can bet ya life thay will bring up some dumb ban were u can only send sms or read emails when thay (so called bigbrother the so called ppl that are supposed to be looking after us and not screwing us like thay do) so...