Continuous partial attention(CPA) refers to a state in which most of one's attention is on a primary task, but where one is also monitoring several background tasks just in case something more important or interesting comes up.

Continuous partial attention(CPA)指的是这样一种状态：一个人大部分的注意力都集中在一个主要任务上，但同时还在关注着好几个其他的任务，以防哪个领域突然冒出来一件重要或者有意思的事情，我们可以称之为“持续部分关注”，也有人称作“持续走神”。

Continuous partial attention is that state most of us enter when we're in front of a computer screen, or trying to check out at the grocery store with a cellphone pressed to an ear - or blogging the proceedings of a conference while it's underway. We're aware of several things at once, shifting our attention to whatever's most urgent - perhaps the chime of incoming e-mail, or the beep that indicates the cellphone is low on juice. We are now involved in a continuous flow of interactions in which you can only partially concentrate on each.

坐在电脑前，一边在杂货店结账一边打手机，或者开会时一边听着会一边在博客上直播，这些都属于“持续部分关注”的状态。我们同时在关注着好几件事情，不断将注意力转移到最需要关注的地方，可能是新邮件到达的提示音，也可能是手机电量不足的报警声。我们要持续参与一系列互动行为，因而分到每件事上的注意力就只有一部分。