US Navy treats Google Glass addict
Alcoholic in rehab suffered greater withdrawal symptoms from his 18-hour-a-day internet habit
Scientists have treated a man they believe to be the first patient with internet addiction disorder brought on by overuse of Google Glass.
The man had been using the technology for around 18 hours a day - removing it only to sleep and wash - and complained of feeling irritable and argumentative without the device. In the two months since he bought the glasses, he had also begun experiencing his dreams as if viewed through the device.
The existence of internet addiction disorder linked to conventional devices such as phones and PCs is hotly debated among psychiatrists. Many researchers maintain that its effects are merely symptoms of other problems.
But Dr Andrew Doan, head of addictions research at the US Navy's Substance Abuse and Recovery Programme (Sarp) and co-author of the paper on the patient, published in Addictive Behaviours, says people are clearly suffering from internet addiction. "People used to believe alcoholism wasn't a problem - they blamed the person or the people around them. It's just going to take a while for us to realise that this is real."
The patient - a US Navy serviceman - had checked into the Sarp in 2013 for alcoholism treatment. The facility requires patients to quit addictive behaviours for 35 days - no alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes - but it also takes away all electronic devices.
Doctors noticed the patient repeatedly tapped his right temple with his index finger. He said the movement was an involuntary mimic of the motion regularly used to switch on the heads-up display on his Google Glass.