Internet resources on information overload and productivity
ManagingIO.com - 24/02/2008
Here’s a list of useful websites/ resources I came across that deal with information overload or closely related subjects. Some of the articles/ studies are not the newest ones, but I preferred quality over publishing dates. Blogs/ Websites with focus on information overload ManagingIO.com ;-) A Feed is Born - RSS as the redeemer of humanity from IO? Blog about RSS, webfeeds and information overload Communication Overload - Another blog devoted to IO
Articles worth reading NY times article pointing to the $650 billion cost estimate of information overload published by a US research firm. The estimate might be still too low though. Information onslaught - IO is even bad for your health Plus, it makes you stupid: Emails ‘pose threat to IQ’ and Why texting harms your IQ Sometimes it also turns nasty: Being Held Hostage by Information Overload But not enough with that, it might even kill you: Information Overload Is Killing You and Your Productivity If we didn’t do it before: Informing ourselves to death - Well-written article on the subject by Neil Postman Information overload - Nice article on IO by William Van Winkle Data smog: newest culprit in brain drain - Psychologists also say IO is bad. Now if that’s no proof ;-) Combating Information Overload - Includes a history section on IO. How it all started… The Tyranny of Email - Correct, it’s a pain. Or is it? Tyranny revisted Too much information? - Yes, indeed. Looks at it from a marketing perspective. Internet suffering from information overload - So not only the users but the internet itself. Includes some good comments on how information will be structured in the future (directories vs. tagging)
Studies and papers on IO How much information? - Study that attempts to estimate how much new information is created each year IO’s impact - Report on the effects of information overload in the UK and worldwide Desperately seeking: Helping hands and human touch - Looking at potential solutions to IO with a focus on agent-like applications, improvements in the information chain and information brokering The role of contextual clues in the creation of information overload (pdf) Study focuses on IO due to email Information Overload, Retrieval Strategies and Internet User Empowerment (pdf) - Paper on information overload and search engines A Framework for Information Overload Research in Organizations (pdf) - How to analyze IO in organisations. Rather theoretical…
Practical tips on how to deal with IO Lifehack.org - Popular blog with tips on how to increase productivity (e.g. check out “Dealing with information overload”) Putthingsoff - Blog on productivity with a cute cat Managing Information - A practical guide on how to focus on the information that is really required Information Overload: The Blogger’s Worst Enemy and 8 Ways to Avoid It Tips for Bloggers on how to deal with IO How to reduce information overload - Useful tips Eight steps to thriving on information overload - As the title says… Tips for Mastering E-mail Overload - Also have a look at Tips for Overcoming Email Overload Handling Information Overload for Lawyers - They are different, that’s why they need special care ;-) 21 Tips to deal with information overload - Useful tips! Other blogs on productivity: Productivity501 and Simple Productivity Blog
Other resources Information Overload Newsletter - Newsletter with articles on information overload, however many articles on other subjects too Change and Information Overload - Article on the negative effects of information overload (published on Feb. 19th 1999, but still true…) Article on Softpanorama.org - Including some interesting statistics on the subject (although a little outdated) Fighting information overload - Article on knowledge management software (a little outdated too, 2001…)
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ManagingIO is a blog devoted to Information Overload and its solutions. You are welcome to comment on this post on ManagingIO.com. Also check out NextFeeds.com, a new and free web service which tries to contribute to tackle information overload.