During the past three decades, neurology researcher James Austin (author of Zen and the Brain) has been at the cutting edge of both Zen and neuroscience, constantly discovering new examples of how these two large fields each illuminate the other. In this BIT, Austin discusses how meditation trains our attention, reprogramming it toward subtle forms of awareness that are more openly mindful. He reveals many subtleties in our networks of attention. They enable us to direct attention voluntarily—from the top down—or reflexively—from the bottom up—and to focus it either internally or externally.
Digital systems, such as phones, computers and PDAs, place continuous demands on our cognitive and perceptual systems. They offer information and interaction opportunities well above our processing abilities, and often interrupt our activity. Appropriate allocation of attention is one of the key factors determining the success of creative activities, learning, collaboration, and many other human pursuits. This book presents research related to human attention in digital environments. Original contributions by leading researchers cover the conceptual framework of research aimed at modelling and supporting human attentional processes, the theoretical and software tools currently available, and various application areas. The authors explore the idea that attention has a key role to play in the design of future technology and discuss how such technology may continue supporting human activity in environments where multiple devices compete for people's limited cognitive resources.
As ever, the onus is on brands to find compelling ways to earn the attention of the consumer. Yet content scarcity has given way to overload, fixed channels have dissolved into fluid networks, and audiences have become participants in consumer-driven conversations. This shift requires a new course of action for brands; it demands new marketing imperatives. Paid Attention is a guide to modern advertising ideas: what they are, why they are evolving and how to have them. Spanning communication theory, neuroscience, creativity and innovation, media history, branding and emerging technologies, it explores the strategic creation process and how to package ideas to attract the most attention in the advertising industry. Packed with real-world examples of advertising campaigns for companies including Sony, Red Bull, HP and many more, Paid Attention provides a robust model for influencing human behaviour. Referencing a wide body of theory and praxis, from behavioural economics and sociology to technology and even science fiction, Faris Yakob maps advertising onto a wider analysis of culture. Containing practical advertising and branding templates, including a new advertising planning toolkit, it is ideal for students and practitioners looking to get noticed in today's cluttered marketplace. Online resources include additional toolkits with advice, techniques and best practice on brand behaviour, new ideas and effective communication.
Feature films, television shows, homemade videos, tweets, blogs, and breaking news: digital media offer an always-accessible, apparently inexhaustible supply of entertainment and information. Although choices seems endless, public attention is not. In The Marketplace of Attention, James Webster explains how audiences take shape in the digital age.
From the author of the award-winning The Master Switch, who coined the term "net neutrality”—a revelatory, ambitious and urgent account of how the capture and re-sale of human attention became the defining industry of our time. "Dazzling." —Financial Times Ours is often called an information economy, but at a moment when access to information is virtually unlimited, our attention has become the ultimate commodity. In nearly every moment of our waking lives, we face a barrage of efforts to harvest our attention. This condition is not simply the byproduct of recent technological innovations but the result of more than a century's growth and expansion in the industries that feed on human attention. Wu’s narrative begins in the nineteenth century, when Benjamin Day discovered he could get rich selling newspapers for a penny. Since then, every new medium—from radio to television to Internet companies such as Google and Facebook—has attained commercial viability and immense riches by turning itself into an advertising platform. Since the early days, the basic business model of “attention merchants” has never changed: free diversion in exchange for a moment of your time, sold in turn to the highest-bidding advertiser. Full of lively, unexpected storytelling and piercing insight, The Attention Merchants lays bare the true nature of a ubiquitous reality we can no longer afford to accept at face value.
In the context of debates surrounding the effects of new technologies on our mental faculties, particularly the attention span, this volume addresses the notion of a deterioration of attention, and the related ideas of cognitive overload, an inability to concentrate, and attention deficit disorder. Through a new conceptualization of attention based not on individualistic or universalistic approaches, but centered instead on the cultural and social variability of cognitive processes and the multiplicity of forces and environments that encourage, stimulate, and inhibit certain cognitive mechanisms, the author rejects the idea of a degradation or crisis of attention and proposes an alternative vision of the problem of attention in contemporary societies. Placing cultural conventions, social norms, and ecological environments at the forefront of our understanding of individual and collective attention, Attention and its Crisis in Digital Society will appeal to scholars of sociology, psychology, and philosophy with interests in social theory, cognitive processes, and the criticisms often levelled at digital society and new technologies.
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by notifications, drained by constant screen time, and yearning for a deeper sense of focus and connection? In our hyper-connected world, technology has become both a blessing and a curse. While it offers endless opportunities for communication, information, and entertainment, it also bombards us with distractions, erodes our attention spans, and threatens our mental well-being. Digital Wellbeing in a Distracted World is your guide to navigating this complex landscape and reclaiming control of your digital life. This comprehensive book, filled with practical strategies and inspiring insights, will help you: Understand the challenges of constant connectivity: Explore the impact of technology on your attention, creativity, and relationships. Discover the power of deep work: Learn how to cultivate focused attention and unlock your peak productivity. Practice mindfulness in a digital age: Integrate mindfulness techniques into your daily life to manage distractions and find inner peace. Develop healthy digital habits: Implement strategies for setting boundaries, minimizing distractions, and using technology responsibly. Create a balanced life: Learn how to integrate technology with other aspects of your life, prioritizing meaningful connections and offline activities. Through engaging stories, expert advice, and actionable exercises, this book empowers you to: Reclaim your attention: Break free from the constant pull of notifications and distractions. Boost your productivity: Learn to focus deeply and achieve your goals with greater efficiency. Improve your mental well-being: Reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of overwhelm associated with digital overload. Strengthen your relationships: Cultivate deeper, more meaningful connections with loved ones. Live a more fulfilling life: Discover the joy and richness of experiences beyond the screen. Digital Wellbeing in a Distracted World is your roadmap to a happier, healthier, and more focused life in the digital age. Embark on this journey today and reclaim your attention, your time, and your well-being. Bonus: Includes a personalized "digital detox plan" to help you implement the strategies in your own life. Features inspiring quotes and wisdom from leading experts in technology, mindfulness, and productivity. Provides practical exercises and tools to help you track your progress and stay motivated. This book is for you if you: Feel overwhelmed by notifications and constant screen time. Struggle to focus on work or studies due to digital distractions. Experience anxiety or stress related to technology use. Want to improve your mental health and well-being. Seek a more balanced and fulfilling life in the digital age. Don't let technology control your life. Take control and reclaim your digital wellbeing today!
Scholarly editions contextualize our cultural heritage. Traditionally, methodologies from the field of scholarly editing are applied to works of literature, e.g. in order to trace their genesis or present their varied history of transmission. What do we make of the variance in other types of cultural heritage? How can we describe, record, and reproduce it systematically? From medieval to modern times, from image to audiovisual media, the book traces discourses across different disciplines in order to develop a conceptual model for scholarly editions on a broader scale. By doing so, it also delves into the theory and philosophy of the (digital) humanities as such.
