The availability of a network might reduce...what was I writing? Oh, yes, attention span: Matt Richtel turns in, as usual, a hilarious piece that combines technology and sociology as he paints a picture of the alpha geeks with something approaching attention deficit disorder.
I, too, am a sufferer. With a wireless network around, I'm compelled to check email, send email, write blogs entries, and communicate via instant messaging.
Maybe I should just listen to the presenter?
A useful exercise for those of us afflicted: take a trip without electronic devices and communication. During a week in Costa Rica, a country with abundant Internet cafes, I limited myself to one mid-week 30-minute email check to confirm that all my systems were running and that no emergencies had cropped up in which someone couldn't reach me. It was a lovely experience, and worth repeating.