Are interruptions killing productivity in the mordern desktop computing environment? At least in my experience this seems to be the case.

1) Application updates. This is one reason that I prefer to use Linux or Mac OS X over Windows. With both of the first two cases, updates are handled in a consistent, unistrusive manner, whereas there are SO MANY popups when the OS and applications start up on Windows. To give credit to Microsoft, the Automatic Update notifications are handled rather discretely and I don't think that Microsoft is to blame for this. I think the problem is that application vendors assume that their own custom update mechanism is the only one running (not forgetting their own pop-up system) and don't consider that there may be 50 other applications fighting for desktop real-estate and your attention. OK, I eggagerate, but the point is there. For example, I boot up my machine, log in, then wait a few minutes for the desktop to load. Then I get a message such as, "would you like to update your anti-virus", etc. Fine I do that. I then start work and want to open a PDF file at some point, "Would you like to update your PDF viewer". For ***** sake, I just want to get on with my work. I am not saying that the Mac is immune to this phenomenon, but rather that this sort of thing does not happen nearly as much.

2) IM and other communication pesterings. IM applications were one of the first things to go when I started my degree. I think the problem may be down to my single tracked mind, but I find repeatedly replying with "Sorry, I'm buzy" really causes me to loose my train of thought on the task I was supposed to be doing in the first place (and that's on top of the application update pop-ups). I found that I just set my IM client to not start up at boot time, then never bothered to load it up.

Don't get me started on phone calls from tele-advertisers, who apparently don't understand what the 'telephone preference list/service is'.

A great article looking at a similar train of thought is by Rafe Needleman at CNET.