Processing speed is only really useful in rote memory situations in school and would have little bearing on real world situations.
Are you referring to the limited skill tested on IQ tests? Otherwise, I'm going to strongly disagree. We live in a resource-constrained world, particularly those of us in professional services. By necessity, faster processing speeds translate into higher output for human capital intensive work where time is the hard stop on productivity, all else equal.
Beyond productivity arguments, simply being able to perform a task well in a shorter period of time than a competitor means, in many contexts, winning a zero sum game. Examples that come to mind are:
- Fighter pilots engaging in dog fights.
- Traders and investment bankers responding to rapid fluctuations in value.
- Lawyers presenting arguments in trial or in negotiations.
- Consultants presenting strategic recommendations to clients responding to fluctuating inputs and push-back.
- Diagnosticians identifying and treating time-bound diseases.
- Journalists jockeying to release the first well written coverage of an event.
The list goes on.
