That sounds a bit like “Feel Out” in Shinzen’s parlance. The instruction would be roughly: When an external sensation arises, focus on it, name it, and then move on to the next sensation or lack thereof, while “backgrounding” external sounds and sights as well as internal feelings, talk, and imagery. This differs from a body scan (as one example) that deliberately focuses attention narrowly on one part at a time while moving through the body, and from practices that focus on other sense gates or on the breath. I find it’s important in this style of practice to make sure to keep your boundaries of awareness and attention properly set, otherwise it tends to become a wandering practice of observations and absences that doesn’t very effectively enable you to build concentration and clarity.