By — Colleen Shalby Colleen Shalby Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/scientists-diagnose-first-person-google-glass-addiction Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Scientists diagnose first person with Google Glass addiction Health Oct 15, 2014 11:10 AM EDT Scientists have diagnosed the first known case of an Internet addiction disorder brought on by the use of Google Glass. The 31-year-old U.S. Navy Serviceman was using the device 18 hours a day, and according to the Guardian, was having “dreams as if viewed through the device’s small grey window.” Upon checking himself in to the Navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Program for alcoholism treatment, doctors noticed that the patient kept involuntarily tapping his right temple with his hand, claiming to have “Google Glass withdrawal.” Whether the overuse of technology is an addiction in itself, or a symptom of something larger, has been a long-time debate in the psychology world. Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at the U.S. Navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Program(Sarp), co-author of the paper on the patient published in “Addictive Behaviors,” and a video game addict himself, believes that it’s only a matter of time for technology and Internet addictions to receive proper treatments. “People used to believe alcoholism wasn’t a problem – they blamed the person or the people around them,” Doan told the Guardian. “It’s just going to take a while for us to realise that this is real.” After 35 days of treatment, the patient was no longer touching his temple, and reported a decrease in irritability. We’re asking: How much time spent on the Internet do you believe is too much? By — Colleen Shalby Colleen Shalby @CShalby
Scientists have diagnosed the first known case of an Internet addiction disorder brought on by the use of Google Glass. The 31-year-old U.S. Navy Serviceman was using the device 18 hours a day, and according to the Guardian, was having “dreams as if viewed through the device’s small grey window.” Upon checking himself in to the Navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Program for alcoholism treatment, doctors noticed that the patient kept involuntarily tapping his right temple with his hand, claiming to have “Google Glass withdrawal.” Whether the overuse of technology is an addiction in itself, or a symptom of something larger, has been a long-time debate in the psychology world. Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at the U.S. Navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Program(Sarp), co-author of the paper on the patient published in “Addictive Behaviors,” and a video game addict himself, believes that it’s only a matter of time for technology and Internet addictions to receive proper treatments. “People used to believe alcoholism wasn’t a problem – they blamed the person or the people around them,” Doan told the Guardian. “It’s just going to take a while for us to realise that this is real.” After 35 days of treatment, the patient was no longer touching his temple, and reported a decrease in irritability. We’re asking: How much time spent on the Internet do you believe is too much?