I've come to similar realizations during my programming career, and realized the value of simple mindfulness in all tasks, especially while communicating to those around you. I've found simple mindfulness to be like a superpower in our age of constant notifications and hundreds of tabs. I even try to force myself to be mindful while checking my email by dealing with a single email at a time (thanks to Mailbox app), and consciously delegating emails and tasks to a particular time if I'm unable to deal with it immediately. In my experience, multitasking is a sleep depriving, mentally taxing, stress inducing, debilitating activity which only reduces quality of life from every conceivable angle, and hurts productivity in general.
It all boils down to one thing: have a single conscious intention when doing something. This takes practice, but eventually you can do it for anything and everything. I've found this can even make routines like brushing your teeth very enjoyable and meaningful (see here: http://www.fastcompany.com/3036363/how-to-be-a-success-at-ev...)
Also, there is a clear rebounding shift towards desktop computers being serious work tools, as opposed to consumption devices, which is what mobiles and tablets are for. This is undoubtedly a trend that is already happening, and I think that OS and software designers need to respect that. It is an unfair, deadly sabotage to mobilify desktops while upsetting the highly focused workflows of programmers, graphic designers, architects, writers, business managers, video editors, students and academic researchers just to pander to a generation of ADHD social network addicts (I'm looking at you Windows 8).
As for people arguing that you simply need self-control and discipline, they are kidding themselves. Focus and concentration are extremely delicate things to create and preserve, and it is a designers responsibility to make products easier for their intended purpose, not simply demand "self control" from their users.
I don't think the problem is OS design. Across his armful of assorted arguments, the poster made an argument that tiling managers suck, as well as some other things. That aside, I don't think it's the OS that is the problem, but rather that the computer is a gateway to many possibilities.
Your OS, and the apps on your computer, can be designed with focus and cognitive ease in mind, but it does not change the fact that a few actions away is a Stargate to another world. So, aside from a few grab-bag complaints (though legitimate) about operating systems, programmers and designers have little more to do. Apps are only going to get better designed, and minimalism and cleanliness have come to characterize modern app design.
I don't think the user would take kindly to obstructions to their browsing / app experience...
"Why does it take an extra unnecessary step to launch an app!? You're telling me this is for my own psychological good?!"
I suppose this goes to classical arguments about the role of government in banning drugs or mandating seat belts. The state doesn't think you are responsible enough, so they create an external structure (fines / criminal penalty) to make you do good for yourself.
Others would say that a sad restriction has been placed upon them because the rest of the population cannot regulate themselves to the satisfaction of the state. It can also be argued that now people rely on external pressure or structure to behave well rather than setting up their own internal structure.
I'm sure we've all worked somewhere that banned gmail or youtube, etc. It's interesting that, in the context of this piece, those bans are addressing symptoms and not root causes. The bans are trying to enforce what you're describing: single conscious intention; but of course addressing the symptoms and not the causes will only cause the mole to pop up elsewhere.
We should begin to consider mindfulness as a skill, just like coding itself. A muscle that needs to be worked and flexed and honed with deliberate practice.
It all boils down to one thing: have a single conscious intention when doing something. This takes practice, but eventually you can do it for anything and everything. I've found this can even make routines like brushing your teeth very enjoyable and meaningful (see here: http://www.fastcompany.com/3036363/how-to-be-a-success-at-ev...)
Also, there is a clear rebounding shift towards desktop computers being serious work tools, as opposed to consumption devices, which is what mobiles and tablets are for. This is undoubtedly a trend that is already happening, and I think that OS and software designers need to respect that. It is an unfair, deadly sabotage to mobilify desktops while upsetting the highly focused workflows of programmers, graphic designers, architects, writers, business managers, video editors, students and academic researchers just to pander to a generation of ADHD social network addicts (I'm looking at you Windows 8).
As for people arguing that you simply need self-control and discipline, they are kidding themselves. Focus and concentration are extremely delicate things to create and preserve, and it is a designers responsibility to make products easier for their intended purpose, not simply demand "self control" from their users.