Multitasking for Productivity

Anne Zelenka makes a very good point with here recent posting on Multitasking for Productivity.  Most of today's productivity fetishists harp on about isolating one's self from distractions (i.e. input) in order to "get things done" - I think the issue has been overblown.

As Anne correctly points out, there are a limited number of specific activities that do in fact require sustained periods of intellectual work, such as complex programming or writing a book.  However, modern life is more about connecting people and data together, as opposed to locking one's self away to complete your masterpiece.

Even programming is changing, with more widespread acceptance of techniques like Pair Programming, which leverages social effects to improve the breed.

This piece just struck a chord with me - am a bit sick of all the Lifehacker and GTD productivity pr0n.