Ole Eichorn wrote this over a year ago. But it's still a very interesting analysis on how to resist interruptions, particularly by email.
One of the key attributes of email is that it queues messages. Unlike face-to-face conversation and 'phone calls, people can communicate via email without both paying attention at the same time. You pick the moments at which you pay attention to email. But many people leave their email client running continuously. This is the biggest baddest reason why email hurts your productivity. If you leave your email client running, it means anyone anytime can interrupt what you're doing. Essentially they pick the moments at which you pay attention. (Even some random spammer who is sending you a crappy ad for a get-rich scheme.) This is bad.
[Thanks Boing Boing]
Posted by jackhodgson at October 18, 2004 04:37 PM