What does information overload mean for IT?

   Information Overload   

       Now after creating a new digital method for storing information, it is a much cheaper method to write and store blocks of information. Traditional printing systems seem expensive and nearly useless now that technology allows for the efficient share and access of information by the majority of people. The digital age brings infinite amounts of free storage and possibility. It encourages more publishers to post data online and in turn more online interaction. Today everyone can be a publisher and this is the beginning of the age when endless content is made possible. Now we must learn to negotiate this content in a more efficient manner.

           Just as human’s became less sensitive to traditional billboard advertising, we have also become less capable of noticing quality information online. This is why we pick information that is easiest to find, rather than finding information that is of the highest value. When we receive information at its highest peak, we can be overwhelmed by countless media channels. Facebook, twitter, SMS, Email, phone calls, chat, face to face etc… We often miss out on key information, especially when communicating through a non-official channel. Now instead of IT department having to worry about a single line of communication, each department has their own favored communication channel. This creates a whole new meaning to keeping up with your competition. Imagine, in order for you to know everything about you competitor, you have to spend time actively seeking out the communication channels your competitor uses online. Especially since all of this information that we now have access to seems too important for us to let slip by unused. Now we are keeping up with industry wide data, following industry specific professionals on twitter or blogs, as well as participating in WIKIS and online discussions.

            William Badke, a Librarian Associate from Trinity Western University, discovered current research that proves humans are truly overwhelmed when unable to process information as fast as it is received. This, as well as the peer pressure that we receive, communicate via many different channels very quickly. Unwanted stress over inability to comprehend information is mostly to blame. Even as we continue to improve the quality of data online, it will be increasingly difficult to meet future information demands without a better, more organized structure. The key factors for satisfying information overload largely depend on educating users on acquisition of quality information, ability to evaluate information to ensure problem solving, and utilizing newly acquired information.

In all, a surge in the amount of information available today and the increasing amount of interruptions during normally productive time slots have a serious impact on the well being, effectiveness, and quality of work that an employee puts out. An employee who stops working to check an email is said to take an additional 25 minutes to return to work after responding to the email. This is bad news for employers whose employees are continuously bombarded with information from multiple channels.

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Part 1 - Prestwick, Scotland - The Start of an AMAZING trip

Ok so one would think that almost getting thrown in jail the first day would be a bad start. And who am I to say it is or isn't. Though I tend to be an optmist so I'll chalk it up as a great story. What I won't tell you is who almost got thrown in jail. Most of you would be surprised some of you wouldn't. What I will tell you is it could have been the most uncomfortable plane ride I have ever experienced lol!

We arrived in London with lost but excited looks on our faces and had no idea the excitement we would be in for. Layton and I quickly figured out the customs sheets we had to fill out and waited patiently behind a mob of impatient tourists and passersby. After waiting in line for a little under an hour we finally made it into our terminal.

We enjoyed a bottle of vitamin water and some delicious bagels while waiting on our flight discussing our predictions of what our trip was going to be like. What we didn't know, however, was we were about to have an excitable twist in our plans.

Quickly after getting seated on the plane we sparked up conversation with Aman, a scottish 20 something going to visit her family and discuss her honeymoon. Aman was a very worldly and well traveled Scottish girl. We quickly found out that her sister owns a bed and breakfast in Prestick, Scotland. Prestiwick, renown for its amazing golf courses and small town feel. She called her sister and gave us a huge discount on our stay and some incredible things to do while we were there.

It didnt take us long after we landed to gather our bags(well after we found out that we had to retrieve them from customs :) ) and head for central station with our new directions and plans for the day. The train ride was suprisingly quiet and this was good news for someone wanting to catch some sleep.

But for a wide eyed traveler this only made us more eager to reach our destination. Soon after arriving to Prestwick Layton quickly discovered the pay per use toilet. I must say this thing was AWESOME. Sure you have to pay 20 pence to use it BUT the door slides open AUTOMATICLY like a vault dooor!! Wow we were impressed and are excited to use more of them.

 We found our B&B and unloaded our bags then decided to head out to the pubs. It started off slow but around 5pm the pub started attracting more people. After our bartender showed us a few head tricks(shamrocks, butterflies...) we were a bit drunk and ready to play a game of pool. The pub scene shifted from inside to out back about 3/4 through our game so I decided to 'let' Layton win and move out with the locals. Her we got to meet the pub dog "Benji" whom prefers a half lager half water mix. And a slew of friendly old men who excitedly asked about Texas and Oklahoma as well as related with us on other levels. After enjoying a few beers at the Eagle we headed to the next pub where we quickly found dinner and another great pint in Mcewer 70. Let me tell you the beer does not taste the same here and its easy to realize why people drink much more frequently here than in the states.

After finishing dinner I excused myself to the restroom where I walked in on a 20 something male counting money. I thought this was a bit awkward so I ignored the situation. After Jami struck up a full conversation with me while I was using the urinal(yes I thought it was a bit odd at first, but we were both drunk so I dealt) we spent about 30 mins standing there talking about how he just got back from afghanistan with the royal army and my experience in Iraq with the American Army.

Soon after Layton and I decided we should go catch a nap before the late bar experience. We never made it back out, but found ourselves up very early the next morning. I woke up around 5am thinking Layton was still there, grabbed a shower and got out to find he was no where to be seen.

I grabbed some clothes and went out for an early morning walk. Grabbed a cappucino and a hagus breakfast sandwich and started strolling the neighborhood.

 After meeting a few very pleasant locals and enjoying the chilly, slightly misty morning I conveniently ran into Layton at a early morn. snack show a few blocks from our room. We linked up and enjoy our breakfast at the B&B while we finished up the last of our laundry.

What is information overload?

 Today you might start out by checking an email. The first email is high priority and requires immediate attention. Before finishing this task you are personally informed by your boss that he requires your immediate assistance downstairs. Your spouse then sends you several text messages concerning additional errands he or she needs to be done before arriving home. Then, as if you did not already have enough on your plate, your best friend tweets you about his or her feelings being hurt by how you acted to them the day before. Now you are on your way downstairs with your boss to handle a non programmed decision (Untrained or unique). This same scenario happens daily to the average American citizen. Maybe not as complicated as this scenario but none-the-less it is called Information Overload or Brain Overload and it happens because we are handling more than the human brain is capable.

       Information Overload is called a number of different things. The most technical of these terms isAttention Deficit Trait. This is a lot like Attention Deficit Disorder, only it is caused strictly by handling too many stressful situations at one time. When you become overloaded with information and obligations you start becoming more distracted, impulsive, impatient and irritable. As you continue to work and focus even more intently to accomplish all of your various tasks, you still find yourself drowned with information. It is even possible to lose a connection with true reality.  Our own brains are not too much different than a computer system.  Information Overload might be easier to understand if we think of it in terms of a computer systems memory. Whenever a computer uses up its entire RAM by running other programs, the entire system becomes overwhelmingly buggy and slow. This is the same for humans whenever we reach our own information threshold.

        Over time humans have become better about storing information. Whether it was writing important information in books or leaving the dissemination of information to religious groups that pass on important lessons thru values.  It is well known that now we need to be teaching student’s ways to utilize the information available, instead of trying to get them to stop.  The quantity of information will increase over time and if we do not learn how to find the best results at our current state, it will become increasingly difficult in the future. Time has shown that humans have become increasingly better at ignoring, filtering and specifically selecting information.

I have been doing detailed research on the affects of Info Overload and will be posting a series of blog posts thoroughly discussing how it can affect you in most environments :-D.

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Death of Traditional Marketing.. But why?

Marketing techniques such as: email blasts, telemarketing, direct mail, TV, radio etc... Are all good examples of traditional marketing strategies, but the emergence of the online marketplace has completely changed the rules for marketing as we know it.  For example when was the last time you talked to a telemarketer? This is largely because of the new technology in place that allows consumers to easily avoid these calls.  It is not unheard of for good telemarketers to go an entire day without getting a single lead. 

TV advertisements are another good example of dying traditional media sources. Now more consumers than ever are demanding a more mobile and on-demand entertainment channel and TV advertisements are skipped over more frequently than ever. Consumer behaviors are different now with the web, we must all look more to search engines, blogs, and social media to influence consumer purchases.   

Here is an example of how consumers are making decisions now. Before going out with friends for dinner the new consumer will start with a Google search for local restaurants. He/She makes a decision based largely on food type and reviews/past experiences then he/she easily uses the listed number to call in table reservations. New marketing techniques are making consumers even easier to reach by using personal computer devices to store the consumers past preferences and purchasing habits. Over time these preferences can build an individualized experience unique to each user. Focusing advertisements strategically by location and personal interests on an international scale is impossible to achieve with traditional media channels.Traditional media still has its place in today’s marketplace but has consistently declined in effectiveness for the past 10 years.