What is attention

Attention is the central concept of coherence. Attention is considered the ability to select objects and phenomena of reality that are most relevant in a given situation.

In this sense, attention can be compared to a multitude of cameras with sensorimotor sensors that are aimed at some parts of the world and transmit images, sounds, as well as smells, tastes, touches, sensations. There are many cameras, they are directed at different objects - and sometimes even at different characteristics of this object. For example, a chef entering the kitchen will distinguish objects such as a "chef's knife," "cutting board," "products," a cleaner will pay attention to the cleanliness of surfaces, and a designer will pay attention to the layout of the kitchen and the placement of functional zones. It may also happen that two chefs pay attention to the "chef's knife," but one chef is interested in sharpness, while the other is interested in ease of use.

Attention does not exist on its own: the cameras belong to an agent, that is, to an individual, a team, a collective, a community. It works on the agent's perception apparatus, which is essentially subjective. That is why attention directed at the same object in the same context can produce such different results. Two chefs literally see different things in the same knife; a chef, a cleaner, and a designer will illuminate different things with cameras - while most of the other objects will remain in the dark. They may be present, but not noticed by other agents, literally passing by their attention. This should be kept in mind when we communicate with other people and get annoyed that they do not see the same things as we do.

Attention serves as a certain "filter" for selecting information at the "input": what and how attention is attracted to can often determine the content of the activity. For example, your attention is drawn to a stack of papers on the table - and now you are studying the material from that stack instead of solving the task. Or you have the unread message indicator on in messengers (a red number with the count of unread messages, called a sticker or badge). And here your hand reaches out every second to check, "what's new there" - although there may be no need for it. If you catch yourself doing these actions, it means that your attention cameras have been captured by objects that are not very necessary for you. To prevent this from happening, you can hide notification stickers/badges on your phone.