The gamer’s dilemma – triple screening

Are you reading this on your laptop or tablet? Is the television on as well? Are you also texting or tweeting away on your phone?

If so, you are indulging in what is known as ‘triple screening’: the practice of using three devices at the same time. Or if you are using just two, ‘double screening’.

According to a number of independent studies, more of us than ever before are double or even triple screening. A report commissioned by BskyB in September 2012 shows that 75% of British people watch television with a second device to hand.

This could tell us that our attention spans are shot to pieces, ruined by the abundance of things we have to look at.

However, it could also tell us that those of us who are adept users of tablets, laptops and other such devices are getting better at multi-tasking. We’re able to divide our attention between multiple things whilst maintaining the ability to properly operate each one.

As a result, being good at computer games is no longer seen as something to be ashamed of. Instead, it shows that you are able to concentrate very hard on just one thing as well as multi-tasking, depending on the situation.

It shows high levels of technical skill and an attention to detail that many businesses look for in their employees. Armies around the world are no longer recruiting from amongst gym-buffed athletes, but from the skilled gaming community.

GAME Retail Ltd also launched their own investigation into the triple-screening phenomenon, with some startling results. Of the 2,000 Brits they interviewed, 79% admitted to regularly sitting down to watch TV with other gadgets by their side.

Nearly half (46%) claimed to be on two different gadgets at once while watching TV and more than a third (36%) explained they spread their attention over gadgets in this was as they got bored if just watching TV. A similar percentage (30%) claimed they were so busy they had no choice but to multi-task with their gadgets.

Speaking about their findings, Ian Chambers – Chief Digital Officer at GAME Retail Ltd, said:

“At its heart, multi-screening is about making every experience richer – and that’s happening with gaming right now as we move into the next generation of consoles. Boundaries are being pushed as second screen apps are being used to add extra depth to the gaming experience and the Call of Duty Elite app is a great example – it brings a whole new element to Call of Duty: Ghosts for the gamer”. He goes on to add “The digital landscape is going to keep evolving and GAME is focused on being at the forefront of that change.”