A little context: A few weeks back, I wrote about how the isn't as unique as is claimed. I got a lot of responses on that. But, by and large, the one trait that people pointed to that supposedly differentiates gen-Yers from the rest of us is the ability to multitask.
My new favorite science fiction writer, Charles Stross, takes that idea to an extreme. He paints a vivid picture of humans caught in the maelstrom of the singularity (during which machine intelligence outpaces that of humans), and sketches out how it would feel -- as a human on the verge of experiencing artificial intelligence -- to be constantly running multiple mental processes simultaneously.
With all due respect to Stross, it's a very familiar feeling -- for me, and I suspect for him as well. See, much as I love Stross's panoramic vision and vivid storytelling, I think the ability to multitask has been with us since the dawn of time. In fact, it's a survival characteristic. If we as a species didn't have it, we wouldn't exist.
How can I be so sure? Simple. The best multitaskers I've ever met aren't multiple-net-connected 15-year-olds. They're mothers. Ever seen a mother feed a baby, bandage a toddler's bruise, fold laundry, and build out a killer corporate strategy -- all at the same time? I have.
As far as I'm concerned, multitasking is built into our genes. It's the only way we humans could have survived into adulthood. Our mothers were able to keep one eye on us, one eye on the food they gathered, one eye out for predators, and one eye on our fathers. That's a lot of eyes!
It's not merely a feminine characteristic, either. I've written before about the recently named (though age-old) phenomenon of "continuous partial attention". It basically involves keeping an eye on a wide spectrum of rapidly changing information, staying alert for the one anomaly that might signal a problem or crisis. That perfectly describes the experience my dad, who was a naval officer, had while "keeping watch" on board ship: Hours and hours scanning the horizon, keeping an eye out for storms or the approach of an enemy vessel.
Like a lot of creatures, we've evolved to be able to process and respond to a lot of information simultaneously. We also, paradoxically, have the ability to focus attention for hours at a time (again, think how a mother focuses on a truly sick child). And the incredible dynamic range of our multitasking brains is part of what the Millennial generation has in common with the rest of us.
Now if you'll excuse me, the Mexican food seems to have arrived....