Addiction is a scary thing. It can ruin people’s lives, and if it gets out of control, it can lead to unprecedented consequences. But have you ever heard of a pair of glasses becoming addictive?
Google Glass, Google’s newest piece of wearable technology in the form of glasses, has become a serious addiction for one navy serviceman. Since his name has not been revealed, we do know the significant impact that Google Glass has had on his life. After using Google Glass constantly, only removing it to sleep and shower, he felt irritable and nauseous without it. His draw to the device was so strong that he even had dreams as if experiencing them through Google Glass.
Credit: Google Glass Facebook.
Before experiencing his technological withdrawal, the 31-year-old man checked into the Substance Abuse and Recovery Program (SARP) of the Navy for alcoholism. To help patients improve in their addictions, the facility prohibits smoking, the use of drugs, drinking, and finally the use of technology. So, he relinquished his Google Glass. Though the man did not realize then how constant his use of Google’s device was, it was certainly apparent from his time at SARP.
This SARP patient was really battling two addictions, and as if withdrawal symptoms of a recovering alcoholic weren’t bad enough, the symptoms he felt from not using Google Glass were worse. The patient repeatedly tapped his right temple, an involuntary mimic of the motion used with Google Glass. Even before he started working on his alcoholism, he faced a whole host of other problems. He was experiencing mood swings, cravings, headaches, involuntary movements, and more; all from missing his glasses. He was even experiencing his dreams as if seeing them through the comfort of his Google Glass frames.
Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at SARP, says that the patient could not have knowingly prevented his addiction – at least to Google Glass. “The danger with wearable technology is that you’re allowed to be almost constantly in the closet, while appearing like you’re present in the moment,” says Doan. The good news is, nonetheless, that from his time at SARP, the man was able to fight off his addiction to Google Glass and start on the road to recovery for alcoholism.
Not only is addiction frightening, the things to which one can be addicted to are even more so – especially now, as technology and its capabilities are becoming more complex and seemingly endless. So, we have to step back, away from the apparent need for technology in everything, and remind ourselves that though all of these new innovations are helpful, they can also be harmful.