An international team with scientists from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology has studied the problem of information overload, a state in which we receive more information than we can process. The results of the work are described in Nature Human Behaviour.
“Information space should be treated in the same way as the environment around us, where pollution affects our wellbeing. Daily information overload causes cognitive overload and, combined with fatigue, time pressure and limited working memory capacity, makes it difficult for us to perform tasks”, says Professor Przemysław Kazienko from the Department of Artificial Intelligence.
So what can we do when information overload occurs? On an individual level, we can, for example, limit and control excessive smartphone use through protective applications that measure the time spent online. And at the organisational level, we can train employees in the proper use of communication and Internet tools.
