How attached are you to your gadgets? Which gadget/s do you always – and I mean always – have with you?
While it used to be that certain gadgets were limited to those who absolutely needed them (read: beepers for doctors, if you even still remember those devices), today, we know that gadgets are as ubiquitous as clothing. That in itself is not necessarily a negative thing, but if we analyze the degree of attachment to gadgets, we may find out some surprising – or not-so-suprising – things.
Intel recently conducted a study of 2,500 American adults, with the goal of determining the effects of being detached from their gadgets for a period of time.
The result? “When U.S. adults on vacation travel without their mobile computing devices, they feel anxious, angry and annoyed.”
If you think about it, that is not unlike the behavior of a child who has had his security blanket taken away from him.
The study found out that almost half of the respondents felt anxiety when they travel without their mobile devices. Words like “dependent”, “well-being”, and “happiness” were thrown into the mix, giving you a clear idea of just how gadgets are affecting the psychology and behavior of people.
Additionally, when people travel with gadgets, they need to be ensured of accessible power supply and a sense of privacy. The study showed that people get angry when they have no way to plug their devices in (mobile battery charger FTW!) and that they get annoyed when people take a look at their screens (totally understandable).
Now here’s a really funny and interesting detail: people experience more stress if they lose a gadget while traveling as opposed to if they lose their wedding ring!
Now ask yourself again: how attached are you to your gadgets? Maybe it’s time to do a little work on the detaching part.
Image via keltickelton
Via Business News Daily