You’ve probably heard of Google Glass owners who seemingly can’t put the wearable down, but there’s now at least one reported instance of genuinely addictive behavior. Doctors at Naval Medical Center San Diego claim that a 31-year-old Navy serviceman is the first person to be diagnosed with a Glass-related internet addiction disorder. The patient wore the head-mounted computer for up to 18 hours a day, and was so attached to it that he would instinctively reach for his right temple (to activate Glass) whenever you asked him a question, whether or not the device was there. He’s getting better after having spent 35 days in on-site treatment, according to doctors; that reflexive movement doesn’t come up so often, and the man is both less irritable and more focused.
The case certainly raises concerns about the effects of always-on wearable devices on mental health, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get hooked. As the Medical Center notes, the patient originally checked himself in for alcohol abuse — while the Glass addiction ultimately proved more severe, the history suggests that the patient was prone to compulsive activities in general, not just when using wearables. This is also just one incident, so there’s no definite evidence that Glass is more alluring than other technologies and substances. You’re probably fine splurging on that Explorer Edition headset as a result, but you may want to hold off if you already have trouble saying “no.”
[Image credit: Angel Navarrete/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
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