Supporting attention in learning environments: Attention support services, and information management

Learners and knowledge workers are increasingly facing environments where frequent interruptions, multi-tasking, information overload, and insufficient community awareness are the norm rather than the exception. It has been demonstrated that this situation hinders learning in several manners. This paper, after introducing two approaches aimed at supporting attentional processes, analyses the services needed to support learners in environments presenting the above characteristics. It also discusses the conceptual and technical problems related to the collection, modelling, protection, and distribution of attention-related information.