Does the way we perceive time affect technology design?
Chronemics is the study of how time is used in communication.
Anthropologists focusing on chronemics look at cultural norms regarding time and the way cultures vary and converge around them.
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Chronemics branches out into other disciplines, too, such as the study of organizational behavior.
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Does Chronemics Matter in Tech?
Technology is often associated with efficiency, allowing users to maximize the work done in a given period.
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Time is an important variable and currency for agile startups and large technology firms.
Chronemics in technology communication provides key insights for management.
Chronemics and Time Management
Chronemics also factors heavily in the world of time management.
However, other cultures such as Latin American and Asian are considered polychronic.
Multitasking vs. Polychronic cultures, however, value tools that allow for a wider, multitasking view of work.
The design of technology solutions is becoming more complex and nuanced.
Current software and hardware meet the basic needs of users.
Top tech designers are already looking to psychology and cultural study to make technology smarter and more useful.
One such area is the anthropological study of chronemics.