Multitasking or Multiplexing

“I am very good at multitasking.”

This is the most common phrase we often see in print, hear in the media, tell others, or hear from our friends during conversations.

But if you seriously think about it, do people really multitask? The answer is “no”.

Why not? Because our mind-body complex can only focus on one thing at a time. We can only pay attention to one task at a time.

We cannot focus on two tasks at the exact same time.

So what are we doing when we state that we are “multitasking”? We are actually dividing our attention between the two tasks. We are switching attention rapidly between tasks, giving the illusion of multitasking.

Then you might ask, how is that I can perform tasks such as eating and watching TV at the same time, or cooking and listening to music at the same time, or Reading emails and conversing with a colleague on the phone at the same time?

While you can eat and watch TV, cook and listen to music, or read emails and converse with a colleague on the phone at the same time, if you observe carefully, you will notice something very interesting.

Your attention is likely alternating between these tasks rather than being fully dedicated to both at the exact same time.

Ok.

So if we are not multitasking, then what are we doing?

Multiplexing

We are technically “multiplexing”, and not multitasking.

Multiplexing is a technical word, derived from the telecommunications field, where you divide the multiple communication channels of data into one stream of data, such as when you transmit multiple phone calls through one wire.

Multiplexing is dividing our attention into small chunks of time by first focussing on one task for a very small period of time, and then switching our attention to another task for another short period of time, and then either switching our attention back to the first task, or switching to the third task, depending on the urgency.

We continue this pattern of switching between tasks, executing small portions, whether it’s transitioning from the first task to the second task, moving from the second task to the third task, or switching back to the first task, and so on.

What we generally call “multitasking” is in reality “multiplexing”.

Is it semantics? Yes, it is as we shall see below.

Let us first get our definition straight.

Definition

According to “Merriam-Webster” dictionary, multitasking is:

• the concurrent performance of several jobs by a computer, and
• the performance of multiple tasks at one time

Note the use of the word, “concurrent” as it applies to computer, as only computer appears to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

Even a computer with single processor (single brain) actually performs tasks by multiplexing. If a computer has dual processor (two brains) they can multitask only two jobs simultaneously.

Note: While writing this article, I was using ChatGPT to correct my English grammar. Surprisingly, without me prompting for assistance, ChatGPT provided the same response that I had typed in this article and some new term that is not commonly used.

ChatGPT states, “While some studies suggest that true multitasking is not possible for the human brain and that it is more efficient to focus on one task at a time, it’s important to acknowledge that people often engage in what is known as “task-switching” or “rapid toggling” between tasks. So, the concept of multitasking can vary depending on the context and definition used.”

We humans simply cannot perform two tasks at the exact same time.

Then what about the jugglers, and other artists who do acrobats.

Examples of Multitasking

You may have seen people juggle baseballs in one hand and spin a book in the other hand, and so on. But if you pay attention carefully, they are still doing multiplexing.

They are focusing their attention on “one” task, even if it is for a very short period, such as tossing the ball in the air, and then immediately shifting their attention to the second task of spinning, and then shifting their attention back to the first task of catching that released ball.

In the case of juggling, after extensive practice, jugglers can perform multiple physical tasks simultaneously due to build up of muscle memory.

Through practice, they develop such proficiency that it appears as though they are performing two tasks at once. Juggling and other physical tasks rely on muscle memory. They do not require full attention.

Once a certain physical task, such as juggling, is practiced extensively, you can perform two tasks simultaneously because these tasks do not require ‘conscious attention.’ They can be performed automatically.

That is why most of the activities that require the use for repetitive actions, after much practice, “can” be performed simultaneously.

Another example of multitasking is driving.

When you first started learning to drive, I’m sure you were more focused on driving than on listening to the radio or eating.

However, as you gained experience driving the same route, muscle memory and habits took over, allowing you to safely engage in other activities such as listening to the radio, and eating at the same time.

But if you are driving to a new area, you will notice that you are more alert to your surroundings and turn off all the distractions so that you can focus on navigating the new route to reach your destination.

Since we are trying to do so many “tasks” at the same time, we have been loosely referring our multiple task activities as multitasking, instead of the correct term, multiplexing,

Since multiplexing is associated with telecommunications, we do not tend to use that word to describe the human cognitive processes.

I wonder why. We have been using so many other technical words in our daily language, such as computer mouse, internet, wifi, apps, and more. Why not use this technically correct word.

Maybe it does not sound cool. In addition, I am guessing that the word, multiplex is also associated with movie theaters with multiple screens.

Even though it is a misnomer, multitasking has become the commonly used term to describe the human ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, or more correctly, switch between tasks rapidly.

To all the multitaskers out there, go ahead and enjoy performing your multiplexing tasks.