I was taken by the quote on the first page of Kris and Jane’s seminar 3 website: "Thinking about information overload isn't accurately describing the problem; thinking about filter failure is" (Shirky, 2008b, quoted in Asay, 2009, quoted in Kear, 2011). I’ve spent the week paying attention to what I pay attention. I realized that I could save myself some time by limiting my time on certain social networking sites and I could reduce my feeling of information overload by focusing my readings and not allowing myself to be completely swept away by the internet’s tsunami of information. As in life, I’m also in control of my choices of how and where to spend online. This epiphany is a relief!
As I reflect on my experience of overload I realize that for me it happens when I’m unable to make connections between what I’m learning and what I already know. I need to organize the information in ways that encourage connection-making. This might involve more careful selection of what I read or it might require a better filter, especially when I’m on Twitter late at night. Being aware of my own habits have already reduced my experiences of information overload.
"We know we’re products of the food we eat. Why wouldn’t we also be products of the information we consume? [..] The responsibility for healthy consumption lies with human technology, in the software of the mind." Clay Johnson, Information Diet
As I reflect on my experience of overload I realize that for me it happens when I’m unable to make connections between what I’m learning and what I already know. I need to organize the information in ways that encourage connection-making. This might involve more careful selection of what I read or it might require a better filter, especially when I’m on Twitter late at night. Being aware of my own habits have already reduced my experiences of information overload.
"We know we’re products of the food we eat. Why wouldn’t we also be products of the information we consume? [..] The responsibility for healthy consumption lies with human technology, in the software of the mind." Clay Johnson, Information Diet