The distraction which is always ready to distract.

The gist: There are two types of digital distraction.

The actual and the potential.

Actual distractions are things like notifications and alerts.

Potential distractions are the features a thing has which can provide an escape from a challenging thing we are using it to do.

If someone is using a computer to write an article, and that computer is connected to the internet, the potential escape that the internet can provide will be present in that person's mind.

The more their writing challenges them, the more they will be tempted by the potential for distraction.

E-reader devices can store hundreds of books at a time. This is a feature of convenience, to save space in your bag or home.

For someone reading a challenging book, the easy access to hundreds of other options becomes potential distraction.

It isn't a feature that helps you read a book.

We build an abundance of function and access to information into digital things because we can.

For multi-purpose products, anything that doesn't serve the task being done is still there — attached.

Even if it's invisible, the knowledge it exists becomes a distraction in itself.

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