27 February 2008
Researchers are warning that we are becoming a nation of ‘techno addicts’. A growing number of people feel they have to be linked up all the time to their mobile phones, Blackberries and other digital devices.
A small scale study by a team at Northampton University found that up to a third were addicted with some waking up several times a night to check their emails and text messages.
Professor Nada Kakabadse said:
We are creatures of habit and we can get addicted to quite unusual things. Technology has become much more interesting over the past 10 years with the Internet and everything. It is much simpler and much more portable which makes it more accessible. You would be surprised how many people had their PDA or Blackberry next to their bed heads.
In the early stages of addiction workers were often very productive, replying to emails and messages. There was a warning however that, as with any addiction, problems with relationships, anxieties and sicknesses can increase as the addiction grows. Professor Nada Kakabadse added:
Some people are very anxious when they don't have their technological gadgets next to them.
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