Technology Overload

I share Lauren Hirsh's concern about technology overload, but would argue it is actually an information overload problem. This is already being seen in the workforce. The idea that technology can lead to productivity losses is the topic of "When more is too much: Operationalizing technology overload and exploring its impact on knowledge worker productivity." The article includes an instrument by which to evaluate technological and communication overload that could be adapted and deployed for students (Karr-Wisniewski & Lu, 2010, p. 1071).

Technology overload goes hand in hand with information overload, which is exploding at ate of 66% a year (http://youtu.be/j0fkrJgmQxs?t=6m38s). This concept is explored in detail by Wired magazine's founding executive editor Kevin Kelly in conjunction with his concept of the Technium, technology acting as a living organism as its size and capability increases.

Information overload is also explored by Shrivastav and Hiltz in "Information Overload in Technology-based Education: a Meta-Analysis" (2013).  They posit that technology is the delivery system for information overload and that is the actual, underlying problem. "The ubiquitous nature and ease of use of technology leads to a plethora of recorded information. Processing this varied and often redundant information has overloaded students, which is detrimental to learning" (Shrivastav & Hiltz, 2013, p. 1).


Karr-Wisniewski, P. & Lu, Y. (2010).  When more is too much: Operationalizing technology overload and exploring its impact on knowledge worker productivity. Computers in Human Behavior. 26(5). 1061-1072. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2010.03.008

Shrivastav, H., & Hiltz, S. R. (2013). Information Overload in Technology-based Education: a Meta-Analysis. Proceedings of the Nineteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved from http://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2013/ISEducation/GeneralPresentations/6/