Scientist warns against technology addiction

How many hours do you spend online or plugged into a games console? Well, a scientist at Northampton University believes you could be suffering from technology addiction and has launched an online survey to explore this ticking timebomb.

The survey aims to discover how the use of multiple forms of technology affects our daily lives. Professor Nada Kakabadse, who has already written a book on so-called techno-addiction, told New Scientist that the explosion of information technologies over the last 20 years has happened without much scrutiny of the effects on people.

Participants are asked 74 questions, covering a wide variety of technology. For example, participants are questioned over their weekly use of the Internet, their thoughts on touch-typing being taught in schools and even whether they’ve ever had an online affair. Kakabadse said that “we don't want to be in a situation in a few years similar to that with fast food or tobacco today”. Instead, she welcomes thoughtful strategies based on technology use, such as a designated email-free day in the office.

Whilst posting a survey about technology addition online may be a slight oxymoron, or the only feasible way to reach a wide audience, Kakabadse has already listed several symptoms of techno-addition. These include: checking messages during social downtime, having more friends online than off and cutting short meals to manage your email.

However, reading online reports about the possible health implications of technology addition doesn’t count…