1. What are digital distractions?
   • Canonical List of Engineer's Distractions Ron Grahm
   • Auditory, visual and physical distractions in the workplace Justin Mardex, Cornell University, Dept of Design and Environmental Analysis
   • Awareness Displays and Interruption in Teams Laura Dabbish & Robert Kraut, Carnegie Mellon University


2. What are the effects of distractions on the employer?
   • Considerate Computing Wayt W. Gibbs, Scientific American
   • HR productivity hit by workplace distractions PersonnelToday
   • Productivity in buildings: the 'killer' variables Adrian Leaman, Bill Bordass
   • $178 Billion in Employee Productivity Lost in the U.S. Annually Due to Internet Misuse, Reports Websense, Inc. PR Newswire


3. How can companies help minimize the impact of distraction?
   • Should overworked employees be allowed to surf the Web on the job? Julene Snyder, The Industry Standard
   • An increasing number of legitimate emails are caught in spam filters News Target
   • Finding the Right Instant Messaging Solution for your Company Jeff Richensen, Tietronix
   • Spam at Work Albert Solecki & Susan Digilio, New York Law Journal
   • Sound Solutions Janet Wiens


4. What can software designers do to help minimize distraction?
   • You There, at the Computer: Pay Attention Katie Hafner, New York Times
   • What is an Intelligent Interface? Annika Wærn
   • Introduction to Intelligent Interfaces Henry Lieberman, MIT Media Laboratory
   • Building Applications with Common Sense D.C. Denison, Boston Globe
   • On the Development of Humane Software Diane Wilson, Thyra Rauch, and Joeann Paige, Firelily Designs
   • Graphical Enhancements for Voice Only Conference Calls R. Alex Colburn et al., Microsoft Research
   • Computer Ergonomics - The Human Interface Dr. Charles Daniels, D.C.


5. Learning to Focus (Maximizing the Cognitive Threshold)
   • Attention, Kids: Play This Game Katie Dean, Wired
   • Emotional Intelligence: Components and Correlates Michael Bernet, Ph.D.
   • Forgetting about Enlightenment Todd Murphy
   • How to Train Your Brain to Keep You Happy and Healthy Desktop Meditation

Study Guide