Human Capacity in the Attention Economy

Book excerpt: The rise of ubiquitous information technology--smartphones, unbridled Internet access, and various applications of these tools--has interacted with the ways we are wired to think, feel, and behave. This book provides a fascinating look at the impact of the Internet and technology through the lens of human capacity. Chapters examine what makes these technologies so addictive; their effect on emotional well-being, memory, learning, and driving; replenishing depleted cognitive reserves; and how to chart a way forward in the attention economy.