Addictions Smartphone More Severe than Estimated

Addicted people will be smart phones similar devices was more severe than one might expect. The findings are reported in the journal Personal and Ubiquitous Computing.

Antti Oulasvirta, senior researcher at Helsinki Institute for Information Technology dependence termed as "the habit of checking". He said, "People repeatedly checking messages, menu screens, news, e-mail, and social media applications. It was triggered by a situation or behavior that then becomes a habit."

The addict usually check their devices for less than 30 seconds, usually consisting of activity unlock the screen and accessing an application. Activity is not done haphazardly, but rather based on certain grounds such as reading email on the go or read the news when bored.

The report also reveals that the habit of checking this will most likely continue to grow, along with the amount of information is predicated on the smartphone. For example, when the phone book application is connected with the latest information about the activities of people in the phone book, users will repeatedly examine the application.

"What we're concerned about is if people get used to overcome the tedium by checking the phone to find something fun, people will be systematically diverted from things that are more important around them," said Oulasvirta.

The results showed a relationship using a smart phone with a variety of things that are less risky, such as an accident while driving and the imbalance between life and work. "Unfortunately, habits are not easily changed," said Oulasvirta.