[skeeter2020]

> If I have to listen to someone with zero of what people would call "external distractions" I'm barely going to remember any of it. But if I can poke on my phone while I'm listening, maybe look up some information relevant to the topic, then I'm much more engaged and retain far more of what's being said.

This really makes no sense to me. It's well known that human cannot multitask beyond system 1 / system 2 in parallel, so you must be much better at micro time-sharing than pretty much everybody.

[exe34]

> It's well known that human

That's your problem there. Most of these soundbites come from studies that would have listed an enormous amount of limitations and had further limitations that weren't explicitly listed. It is common for people with certain conditions to be excluded from studies.

I don't personally identify with the GP, but I certainly remember more if I have a mental picture to hang the facts on - sometimes this might involve looking up a circuit diagram, a map, or an equation. It doesn't mean I'm not paying attention, but it means I'm scrambling to find a peg to hang that information on before it slips out of my mind. I might also be jotting down some notes for asking later - presumably you wouldn't express the same incredulity towards somebody using pen and paper instead?

[rhyperior]

No, it’s the equivalent of doodling while having a meeting. It engages a different part of the brain.

[progmetaldev]

I do this, and it definitely helps me with recall, much to the detriment of upper management that think I'm just not paying attention and wasting time.

[LocalH]

Modern computers do far less actual multitasking than most users realize. Yet we still call it "multitasking". Sufficiently fine-grained task switching is indistinguishable from actual multitasking. Also, is it really even task switching if I'm concurrently reviewing information directly related to the discussion topic?

If you were in a position of managerial power over me, and you saw me doing this very thing to maximize my engagement with the topic and task at hand, what would your response be? Would you "make me put my phone away"? Would you cause a distraction by interrupting the discussion to focus on my focus management tools?

[etskinner]

Consider a similar tasks that are practiced by thousands of professionals daily: Live translation, flying a plane while talking to ATC, playing music while talking. Some people find these things nearly impossible, but with enough practice it's definitely possible.