Some of us find those bouncing or flashing icons on computer screen to be disruptive and distracting. But apparently, many workers believe instant messaging causes less interruption than other forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail and talking face to face.Instant messaging means an increase in the number of conversations, but those conversations tend to be shorter, said R. Kelly Garrett, an assistant professor of communication at Ohio State and a co-author of a study conducted by Ohio State University and the University of California. The study was published by The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (jcmc.indiana.edu).
http://nytimes.com/2008/06/07/technology/07online.html
Keep It Short, Make It Instant: Instant Messaging
Some of us find those bouncing or flashing icons on computer screen to be disruptive and distracting. But apparently, many workers believe instant messaging causes less interruption than other forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail and talking face to face. Instant messaging means an increase in the number of conversations, but those conversations tend to be shorter.