Continuous Partial Attention

"continuous partial attention n. A state in which most of one's attention is on a primary task, but where one is also monitoring several background tasks just in case something more important or interesting comes up." /wordspy/

Linda Stone who coined the term, distinguishes CP from multi-tasking: "When we multi-task, we are motivated by a desire to be more productive and more efficient. We're often doing things that are automatic, that require very little cognitive processing... (whereas CPA is motivated by the desire) to effectively scan for opportunity and optimize for the best opportunities, activities, and contacts, in any given moment. To be busy, to be connected, is to be alive, to be recognized, and to matter." /WikiHome/

"CPA stems from our desire, Stone says, to be 'a live node on the network'... The message is that the balance has tilted way too far toward distraction, creating a sense of constant crisis. 'We're not ever in a place where we can make a commitment to anything... Constantly being accessible makes you inaccessible.'" /newsweek/