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Addicted to Evolution

By On · Add Comment · In addiction, brain, dopamine, evolution, Facebook, internet, reinforcement, reward system, technology, texting, The Digital Diet, Twitter

Are you addicted to technology? How about social media? It’s a real thing, you know–virtual monkey on the back. Here are the sure signs you are addicted (at least according to one author who has written a book called “The Digital Diet” about when too much is not enough):

  • The urge to pull out a cellphone even when someone you’re with is in the midst of a conversation with you.
  • Texting even while your child is telling you about his or her day at school, and realizing later that you can’t remember the details of what your son or daughter has said to you.
  • Having the vague feeling that something hasn’t really happened until you post it to Facebook or Twitter.
  • Feeling isolated and anxious if you are offline for an extended period of time.
  • Noticing that even when your family is all together in one room at home, each person is gazing at his or her own screen and tapping at a miniature keyboard.
The author Daniel Sieberg says that some people even create status updates or tweets in their heads when they are experiencing things (Who doesn’t?).  He says, “It’s as if they have lost the ability to live in the moment, and have become conditioned to feeling that they have to instantly share it electronically while it is still going on.”
Ha ha ha…I am only posting this to take enjoyment in what is a natural response to all new and world-changing phenomena. Whether talking about the light bulb, television, rock & roll or the internet, there will be some people that focus on the downside, freak out at where it’s leading us, and perhaps even try to prevent the change from happening.
No doubt that every phenomenon has a negative side. In our new technological world, where information is just a mouse-click away, of course, there will be some detriment. And whenever our brain processes something as pleasurable, like multiple responses and comments on social media sites, it will release dopamine, the neurotransmitter “associated with the reward system of the brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person proactively to perform certain activities.”
Dopamine is released in response to experiences such as food, sex, drugs, and neutral stimuli that become associated with them.  It is believed that this system is responsible for the physical aspects of addiction. So in that regard, there is no doubt some people will struggle with the symptoms of addiction in the early years of the social media explosion.
Saying that, Mr. Sieberg, there is nothing in need of changing.  As I’ve said before in this blog, the human species will continue to evolve with machine–that is, with our informational systems. This symbiotic growth will not be stopped, so striving for separateness from our cyber-existence is futile. And why would we want to? Sure, neglecting your family for Facebook is lame, but for some it’s welcome refrain from family strife and tensions. Some people that are isolated socially from the real world, find acceptance and a forum for their thoughts on social media. You see, it all depends on which perspective you are looking from. 
So don’t fear your relationship to social media–I guarantee no matter how absorbed you are now, it will even out over time. And if it doesn’t, so what? It just means you’re popular…in cyberspace.

Aerobitexting

By On · Add Comment · In aerobitexting, exercise, gym, smartphones, stretching, technology, texting, working out

I have seen the future of exercise, and I can’t say I like it.  Aerobitexting seems to be all the rage.  Tonight, I observed 50% of the people in the gym playing with their smartphones while doing something that resembled working out.  Gawd…am I the only one who finds this dorky?

I don’t know, maybe I’m just from the old school, but…doesn’t exercise warrant…focus???  OK, if watching a YouTube video demonstrating stretching, an exercise or something like that, then I get it.  Useful technology making life more productive…yeah, I’m all for it.

But texting…reading e-mails…facebooking?   D’-or-key…with a capital D!  And dangerous, too: exercise does require focus; in fact, if want to increase your risk of injury in the gym, just lose focus–it’s almost guaranteed.

Listen, this ain’t new.  People have been doing distracted workouts for years.  Boob-tubes attached to cardio equipment, computers on stationary bikes, and my all-time favorite: reading a novel while huffing on the treadmill.  Whatever.

WTF is so important that you can’t sweat your nards off without checking the latest tweets?  (Puff, puff) Oh boy, Justin Bieber’s trending right now!

Yep, I’m from the old school: When I go to the gym, I work out–that’s it.  Go figure.

*If you’re reading this while on the treadmill, pump your fist in the aiy-er.  Oops…sorry.

Tweeting is the New Reality

By On · Add Comment · In humans, PDA, technology

It’s all happening–we’re turning into cyborgenic mashed potatoes.  Spectating instead of acting in this very real, theatrical presentation called human life seems to be the norm for many in the new age.  Take what happened at USC last night: TV’s Science Guy, Bill Nye, collapsed onstage, mid-sentence, as he walked toward a podium during a talk he was giving.  Instead of anybody running to his aid, the crowd simply picked up their PDAs and started tweeting…yes tweeting.  Doh!

One student gave the play by play with: “Bill Nye tripped on his computer cord while speaking at USC, was out for abt 5 secs, got back up, spoke w/ slurred speech and fainted.”

According to preliminary reports, Nye is doing fine physically; the cause of his fainting unknown.  But what interests me is the reliance…nay, addiction perhaps…to our technology.

In another recent incident, foul-mouthed comedian, Messy Mya, who is known for his YouTube video rants, was shot dead last Sunday (November 14th) in the streets of New Orleans.  Again, instead of anybody helping him, cell phones are being pushed up into his face for photos and video of the pooling of blood next to his head.

Sick?  Or just the modern-age?  I’ll let you decide.

I’m a big proponent of adopting technology to improve and simplify our lives.  In fact, I am certain that as we evolve, we will do so along with our immediate and convenient access to information.  Saying that, however, makes me wonder how many will actually veer too deeply toward indifference.  Will we see some people actually lose touch with their humanity and become as “objective” as their hand-held computing devices?  Sure is looking that way.

Hey, I realize that everything–be it a new invention or life event–comes with both sides of a similar coin.  But I just hope you heed the warning that it will be easy to forget your human side, your heart if you will, that separates you from the machinery which now inundates your life, if you are not careful.  We are not machines; we are not our technology.  We are living, breathing, feeling organisms–those other things are just tools.  Use them, but stay in touch with who and what you are.  I’m certain that we’ll see much more of this behavior in the near future.  It’s up to each individual to determine how much he or she wants to control their use of technology, or risk being run by it.

Nano-Danger

By On · Add Comment · In asbestos, carbon nanotubes, granulomas, mesothelioma, nano-fibers, nanotecnology, technology

I keep an eye on health-trends. Some trends are good, some interesting, others simply silly. What I try to caution people against is jumping on any trend that is unproven. Nanotechnology is one of those trends. Current research shows that nano-fibers–needle-like fibres that are already in commercial use–led to lesions similar to those caused by asbestos.

Experiments conducted at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland showed that carbon nanotubes resulted in the same type of inflammation and scarring of the mesothelial lining (called granulomas) of the lungs, heart, and abdomen as asbestos does. Granulomas are lesions indicative of the cancer mesothelioma. A large body of research already exists about the potential of nano-fibers to attack the lungs, but this is the first study to show that carbon nanotubes can have the same damaging impact on the mesothelium.

Nanotubes hold great promise for applications in medicine, electronics and especially new materials. However, they may be inhaled in the work place and quite possibly even from products containing nanotubes. According to co-author of the study, Andrew Maynard, who predicted that within half a dozen years the market for carbon nanotubes would be worth billions of dollars, “We are at the very, very beginning of using these materials commercially. Great caution must be exercised before introducing such products into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.”

All I can say is that we must always be careful before jumping full-force into any new technology. Should nanotechnology be studied and applied where useful?–heck yes. Should we put these particles in everything from tennis rackets to cosmetics before knowing everything we can about them? Uh, not! (please be aware of cosmetics companies jumping on the nano-trend–see what thinking minds have to say). I’m the biggest advocate for new technology, but I also believe that we must practice caution with anything that can enter our precious bodies. Don’t you?

Brain Fitness is the Future

By On · Add Comment · In Alzheimer's, brain stimulation programs, brain-fitness, Cogmed Working Memory Training program, dementia, memory, mentally fit, technology
Want to know what the next “big thing” in health will be? Brain-fitness games, software and other technology. You guys know that because you remember some of my earlier blogs, right? Of course you do. But if you don’t, let me refresh your memory.

Studies have shown that people who stay mentally fit have a significantly lower probability of developing dementia disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. How can people stay mentally sharp? I like the old tried and true, like studying calculus, or learning a new language, or memory puzzles (my favorite).

But a number of companies are producing brain stimulation programs, like the Cogmed Working Memory Training program (pictured left), which uses a sequence of flashing lights that need to be replicated by the player, much in the fashion of the old Simon game of my youth.

According to experts, the brain stimulation industry has more than doubled between 2005 and 2007 to $225 million in sales. I imagine it will continue to grow, as baby boomers seek out ways to beat mental decline. Cool, I like it. Technology will always try to improve upon what’s already available, and there are currently many ways to keep the mind fit. But, hey, I’m all for any outlet which stimulates the mind. We think, therefore we are…right? The brain-fitness industry is definitely taking a step in the right direction.

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