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Slashdot Asks: How Do You Handle Interruptions At Work?
This question was inspired by this anonymous submission:
Analysis of programming sessions and surveys note that programmers take 10-15 minutes to resume editing code after being interrupted. Computer scientists and researchers from University of Zurich and ABB Inc. have designed the 'FlowLight' system which automatically determines a worker's interruptibility using a combination of keyboard/mouse usage, calendar information, and login state, and makes interruptibility visible to other employees using a red/yellow/green LED indicator placed near the desk... Knowledge workers in various locations found that interruptions were significantly reduced by 46%. [PDF]
NBC reports these researchers "also tested a more advanced version that uses biometric sensors to detect heart rate variability, pupil dilation, eye blinks or even brainwave activity," and of course one of the researchers tells the New Yorker that a commercial version "is 'in the works.'" But it'd be interesting to hear from Slashdot's readers about their own solutions -- and how interruptions affect their own productivity at work. So share your best answers in the comments. How do you feel about interrupt
NBC reports these researchers "also tested a more advanced version that uses biometric sensors to detect heart rate variability, pupil dilation, eye blinks or even brainwave activity," and of course one of the researchers tells the New Yorker that a commercial version "is 'in the works.'" But it'd be interesting to hear from Slashdot's readers about their own solutions -- and how interruptions affect their own productivity at work. So share your best answers in the comments. How do you feel about interrupt
"automatically determines a worker's interruptibility using a combination of keyboard/mouse usage, calendar information, and login state, and makes interruptibility visible"
I understand this is for coders, and how someone might think that when they don't tap away angrily they are available for interruption, but it would be safer to assume that when tapping slows or stops, there's a reason for that. And that reason might not always be that they have nothing more to do. Researching stuff, reading stuff, and just thinking about stuff might not be done in parallel with mighty mouse movements and constant tapping, but they are equally important. So my opinion about this is that it's a result based on research that just wasted money. The simplest way is generally better: just ask, or even better just agree on a time to discuss issues, it's really not rocket science.
I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I can think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
I find wearing headphones (something kind of large that covers the ear, not earbuds or anything) scares off a lot of interruptions. If i'm doing something light I might even have music playing on them but most of them time they're just for show.
I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
Looking at it from a manager's perspective:
Work in rooms, not an open-plan office. This way, if someone wants to interrupt you, they have to "pay" a higher price, like messaging you (you may not be available or the nature of the asynchronous conversation may not be convenient) or actually getting up and going to your room.
Cultivate a culture of empathy, wherein people learn to pick up signs that someone is busy working. Apply peer pressure when someone doesn't pick up the cues. Make it an "insult" to destroy someone's flow. Don't be a dick about it, though - there are ways of cultivating this slowly and discreetly.
"Programming is life, the rest is mere details"
I have a cash acceptor wired up outside my office, which dispenses sequential tickets. I won't talk to you unless you have a ticket.
It was kinda a stupid joke I setup one day because I got sick and tired of being constantly interrupted. People actually took it seriously, much to the amusement of my boss. The first day I made well over $120 in spare cash from all the interruptions. The next day, I only made $40, but got so much more work done. The day after that, it was around $10, and then finally people got the hint and it was $0.
Occasionally someone still comes and knocks on my door, and for the privilege of interrupting me, they get to pay $10 (in cash or coins). If I'm not too busy I'll drag the machine inside and leave it unhooked, but otherwise it's out there by my (closed) door and plugged in, ready to accept payment. I even landed up building an additional three units for our other developers (it's basically just a laser cut plexiglass chassis with an Atmel AVR development board, an OTS cash acceptor, and an OTS ticket printer). Our productivity has skyrocketed as a result, and management even lets us keep the cash we make. Most of the time, it gets reinvested back into the office as donuts or other treats though, so it's not like we're actually making a massive profit or anything.
Unzip pants, start masturbating.
Did you hear the whoosh as that joke went over your head then?
I am disappoint
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
Prioritizing by Interruption-to-Reply-Questions is a good idea, but what if they have Direct Management Access?
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