Efficiency Overload

"So many different aspects of culture are feeding into this," says David Shenk, author of "The End of Patience."

"There is the immediacy of communication. There is the media that moves quicker and quicker. There is this instant gratification everything that's coming our way and kind of helping things supposedly get more efficient. But it's also speeding up our expectation."

One sign of this can be found at Disney's California Adventure Park, where a redesign is underway to help entertain frustrated families waiting in line for rides.

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And while wireless technology has broken the chains of the office, it has also blurred the line between work and play. Despite the best efforts of the resorts in Maui, hospitality managers acknowledge it takes the average vacationer three days to let go of work. And some never do at all.

"It's killing me that I haven't checked my e-mail," says Carriann Slattery, a newlywed relaxing poolside at the Westin resort. "I know that when I get back to work and have about 800 e-mails, and that makes me want to throw up a little bit."

Her new husband Neil smiles and nods. "We didn't bring our Blackberries, but there is still a fax waiting for me at the front desk. I don't think I'm going to make it two weeks without checking my e-mail."

Walk along the idyllic beach, and it's not hard to find people ignoring paradise in favor of text messages. Monte Jorgensen is among them, putting down his PDA to order another drink. "I think it's a good trade off. I would rather have it that way because I'm in control. I can still be connected or I can put it away and I'm disconnected. So it just gives me that piece of mind that I'm not missing anything but if I need to shut it off, I can wait and come back to it later."

Otis Elevator understands the modern need for control. Turnstiles at 7 World Trade Center scan each employee's I.D. and directs them to the fastest elevator for their particular floor. As a result, there are no floor buttons in the latest, greatest model. But there is a "door close" button, handy for those hoping to save just a few seconds more.