A not-so-new study is making fresh headlines. A recent article in BusinessWeek cited the 2005 study from London University’s Kings College which stated that BlackBerry use lowers I.Q. by ten points. The mention has sent blogs abuzz in recent weeks with debates over the use and abuse of the popular handheld device. The survey of 1,100 Britons revealed that the  ceaseless surge of information—emails, cell phone messages—combined with everyday workplace demands, diminish I.Q. by ten points, six more than what marijuana is purported to do (for you BlackBerry abusers out there, that means pot lowers I.Q. by four points).

 

Los Angeles based psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D. spoke with demo dirt about the effects of information overload on adults and children. “Actually they found out in the last 15 years that adults’ and kids’ attention spans have dropped because of commercials, which can air every eight minutes,” Butterworth explains. “When watching television, you’re conditioning yourself to unfocus because you need to, as opposed to when you’re reading a novel. How many times do you interrupt yourself when reading a novel?”

 

Children are still learning how to navigate their attention spans, explains Butterworth, while “adults can force themselves to focus their attention.” Misuse of technology can have a negative effect on adult-child relationships, creating what he says is “not a gap, a wall” between the generations.

 

Boomers in their 50’s, says Butterworth, who have a hard time keeping up with text messaging lingo, may also experience difficulty with the physical aspects of advancing technology. “They may have thumbs that don’t work! Physically, they could be limited,” he points out.

 

Even without physical barriers, things just aren't like they used to be. “You can play baseball with your kid, or football, but I don’t know about ‘Doom’ or ‘Final Fantasy.’ In a family, everyone’s in their own rooms, feeling alienated,” says the psychologist, who specializes in children and youth, and social, political and trauma issues.

 

Butterworth’s advice is to make technology work for you. “Technology is good. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he warns. “Technology has the ability to make our kids smarter and double their brain power. It will make us more informed, but the problem is that it is not being utilized to its potential.” Parents should work with their kids on the Internet, he advises. For instance, “if the kids are cutting the grass, go online and read about how grass grows.”

 

And how should stressed-out adults handle the pressures of technology overload? Liz Bywater, Ph.D., president of PA-based Bywater Consulting Group, LLC works with companies to increase productivity and efficiency. She observes firsthand the effects that information overload has on her clients. “You know, we live in the age of instant communication. With today’s technology, people can reach us anytime, anywhere, at a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, people often forget that they can—and must—be in control of how and when they can be contacted,” she says. “In my work with corporate executives and senior managers, I frequently see people utterly overloaded with a constant barrage of information. It comes through via Blackberry, cell phone, computer, memo, you name it. It most certainly poses a challenge, and sometimes a risk.”

 

Bywater shared tips for handling information overload via email:

1. Focus on the big picture. Don’t get so mired in all the details that you can’t work strategically. 
2. Organize and prioritize. The better organized you are, the better you can manage all the new information coming at you throughout the day. With your priorities in place, you can tackle the most urgent items immediately and “park” or delegate other tasks as they come across your desk.
3. Delegate where feasible. Have someone else review reports, memos, and email messages that aren’t personal or confidential. Then have them report back to you on the vital details.
4. Multi-task when you can. For instance, you can easily check your email while on hold—as long as the phone call isn’t a complicated matter. Don’t, however, try to read the headlines or use your BlackBerry while driving to work. Driving safely requires your complete attention.
5. Allow yourself to focus on one thing at a time when necessary. If you’re busy working on a project or in a meeting, silence the ringer on your phone. If you’re at your computer, ignore those automatic prompts to upgrade your software. Close your email window and check email at regular intervals. Have your secretary hold your calls. By focusing your attention on important matters, you’ll be far more productive and considerably less stressed.