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Due to the growth of emails, instant messaging, and cell phones, multiple surveys have described that work productivity has been negatively affected. It may appear ironic but some of the corporations responsible for the above technologies are now trying to find the solution.

The big technology companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Google, and IBM have created a non-profit group, the Overload Research Group, to examine the problem and come up with cultural and technological solutions to help workers.

Based on many employers, comprehensive solutions are needed for the reduction digital interruptions. For instance, RescueTime, a company which researches computer habits, discovered that a typical IT worker who sits at the computer all day, checks his email 50 times, uses instant messaging 77 times, and visits 40 websites. The study of 40,000 people used a tracking software installed on their computers.

The research company Basex estimated the business cost to be more than $650 billion annually in productivity lost due to unneeded interruptions. Much of the cost originates from the time it requires people to focus again.

There are basic software tools currently being developed to reduce distractions. Google recently developed “E-Mail Addict” which allows a workers to cut themselves off of their email for 15 minutes. However, users can cheat simply by hitting the escape button.

Intel initiated 2 studies last year with 300 engineers and other employees from a microchip design group to examine this problem. The first study looked at employees who were encouraged not to use digital as well as in-person contact for 4 hours on Tuesday mornings. Laminated cards that said ‘quiet time’ were posted in the workplace to remind the workers of this. After a few weeks, employees found the conditions too strict, but it did have an impact. Almost 75% of participants supported extending this approach for the all employees.

In the second study, named “zero e-mail Fridays,” employees were encouraged to use face-to-face but not digital communication for that day. 30% of employees favored this approach, and 60% recommended that it would be used throughout the company.