Multitasking Has Its Limits

"For those who think they can juggle several tasks at once with ease, new research from France suggests that humans may not be able to perform more than two complicated jobs at one time."

UC San Diego Experts Calculate How Much Information Americans Consume

"Computer Games and TV Account for Bulk of Information Consumed in 2008. U.S. households consumed approximately 3.6 zettabytes of information in 2008, according to the “How Much Information? 2009 Report on American Consumers,” released today by the University of California, San Diego. One zettabyte is 1,000,000,000 trillion bytes, and total bytes consumed last year were the equivalent of the information in thick paperback novels stacked seven feet high over the entire United States, including Alaska."

Study: US Gov't Cybersecurity Spending to Grow Significantly

"U.S. government spending on cybersecurity will grow at a compound rate of 8.1 percent a year between 2009 and 2014, outpacing general IT spending, according to the government analyst firm Input."

Heavy Duty Video Gamers Have Less Focus

"High-volume action video game players -- those who play about 40 hours a week -- had more difficulty keeping focused on longer tasks, U.S. researchers say."

Students May Not Be as Software-Savvy as They Think, Study Says

"When it comes to basic computer applications, even members of the millennial generation may not know as much as they think they do. A study by North Carolina Central University found that most students overestimated their skill levels when they were asked how they perceived their ability to complete certain tasks and then tested on those tasks."

Nielsen: Kids Spending More Time Online

"Young kids are getting online at a faster rate than their parents and older siblings. A new study from Nielsen Online found that nearly 16 million U.S. children ages 2 to 11 were online in May. They made up about 9.5 percent of Internet users."

Study: More Americans Play Video Games Than Go to Movies

"Nearly two out of three Americans have played a video game in the past six months, more than the number of those who have gone to the movies, says a study from entertainment research firm The NPD Group. Based on responses from 11,000 U.S. consumers, the study finds 63% have played video games. During the same six-month period, only 53% report going to a movie."

Twittering, Rapid Media May Confuse Morals

"A U.S. researcher raises questions about the emotional cost of the heavy reliance on a rapid stream of news snippets from TV, online or Twitter."

Americans Watch Screens 8.5 Hours Per Day

"U.S. adults spend 8.5 hours per day staring at video screens of all sorts, from televisions to cellphones to computers, a study indicates."

Robot Scientists Can Think for Themselves

"Two teams of researchers said on Thursday they had created machines that could reason, formulate theories and discover scientific knowledge on their own, marking a major advance in the field of artificial intelligence."

Study: Technology Can Overwhelm Even 20-Somethings

"They are comfortable with gadgets, yet shudder sometimes as the cell phone rings. This group — primarily male and in their late 20s — is called the 'Ambivalent Networkers' in a study released Wednesday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew found this group notable because its members have lived with the Internet and other technologies for much of their lives."

Texting 'Improves Language Skill'

"Researchers from Coventry University studied 88 children aged between 10 and 12 to understand the impact of text messaging on their language skills. They found that the use of so-called "textisms" could be having a positive impact on reading development. The study is published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology."

Study Finds Online Activities Help Teens' Development

"Surfing the internet, playing games and hanging out on social networks are important for teen development, a large study of online use has revealed. The report counters the stereotypical view held by many parents and teachers that such activity is a waste of time. More than 800 teenagers and parents took part in the three-year US project."

Study Finds Men and Young People Deal Better With Tech Glitches

"When faced with a technology breakdown, levels of optimism and frustration vary depending on age and gender, according to a new study to be released on Sunday. 'Younger users are generally much more optimistic than older adults when their gadgets fail,' says the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project which sponsored the survey of 2,054 U.S. adults."

New Research Shows Technology Driving 'Generation Gap'

"Technology is fast becoming the latest driving force behind what is often called the 'generation gap.' While Americans of every age have become quite comfortable with and dependent on technology, a new study by The Barna Group explores how technology is shaping different experiences and expectations among generations."

'Horizon Report' Names Top Technology Trends to Watch in 2009

The “2009 Horizon Report,” the latest edition of the annual list of technology trends to watch in education, is compiled based on news reports, research studies, and interviews with experts.