Addiction to technology is on the rise, with race for electronic communication-gadgets taking an unprecedented pace. Recently, I saw a married couple. It appeared that the wife was married to her Cell phone(s). She constantly fiddled with her Nokia set – sending and receiving SMS messages. Husband also appeared oblivious to his surroundings. He seemed to be immersed in his laptop diary. The much veneered syndrome, now-a-days, is SMS Affair. Though this is yet to enter a text book of clinical psychiatry, one can see the cases in every day practice. The prevalence estimates is estimated to be quite high, so called Illness, running a chronic course, leading to accumulation of cases.
Tell tale, cardinal symptoms of this syndrome are ‘obsessive’ preoccupation with sending messages. A house wife reported that her husband is having such a syndrome. He is having an affair with an anonymous lover. She sends him messages, with luring theme, playing fancily with his imagination. He replies back with same zest. This happens many times a day, with a flurry, subsiding late in the night. On most occasions these are messages which are mere forwards rather then senders own feelings. According to her, this seems to have ruined her life. It was not that she was not responsible in some way. Her time and attention was devoted to the arch-devil, television.
She would follow soaps, one after another, discussing and dissecting the details subsequently. If this was not enough, she would participate in quiz competitions, sponsored by the T.V channel and a phone company. ‘What veronica would do next – call her lover and confess her love’, ‘take a poison and die’ or none of the above. Send SMS urgently and win a bumper prize, this seems to be telecasted after the drama. Though a sophisticated marketing and promotion technique, what do an average Joe care about it! After all it is just a drama. Not so for our average Lucy. She would argue that dramas depict real life situations. No wonder so many fantasize these figures, trying to find solutions to their problems. If they would only take responsibility of living their own life and building their healthy relations, then it would have been a different story.
High band optic communication fibers and efficient servers are supported by an army of technical experts. Emphasis seems to be on increasing the speed of communication, with out knowing what to say. With who is another question? On-line communication blinds the person to the individual on the other side. Generally people project their wishes and fantasies, not knowing the true character of the other person. Though most are aware of the fraudulent nature of the interaction – not being true to their words – themselves. There seems to be a dating industry, luring culturally diverse individuals, from Russia to Brazil – with all other included in between. Off course it takes some pathology on part of person to be incited by such a gimmicks.
Latest development in this industry is Shadi-on-line. Survey needs to be carried out on outcome of such discourses. Off course, people tend to put there best foot forward, with problems surfacing subsequently. This is true in all circumstances.
I have a friend who have to carry his iPod, pager, (another) Mobile phone, lap-top, every day besides his car-keys and wallet. You can very well imagine the spontaneity, which would emerge out of his daily action!
A healthy development that has found its utility in modern day practice of neuropsychiatry is Vagus nerve stimulation devices. Vagus nerve is a nerve which carries impulses to and from the brain; one of its braches, distributed in the chest, can be stimulation with a mild current, supplied from a battery, installed in the human body. This is akin to cardiac pace maker. Charging the battery stimulates the afferent (going to brain) nerve, thereby enhancing the stimulation to the mood regulating centers in the brain. This is proven to be effective in the treatment of depressive disorders.
Technology has its benefit, if and when, applied constructively. It can be compared to a surgeon’s scalpel, if it is in a proper hand, it saves life. If it is in the hands of common criminal then it can be dangerous. Therefore, individuals have to learn how to use technology. Its constructive use enhances individual performance and creativity. Take micro-soft as an example. It has revolutionized business communication. Similarly software’s like Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) has revolutionized the quantitative research. Technology is a means towards an end. If the end point is focused towards public good, besides enhancing the quality of life, then it serves the humanity. Otherwise it can be considered like a scalpel in the hand of fools.
Education also needs to focus on teaching humanities, social sciences, ethics before individuals go on to learn specific skills. Our Universities and institutes need to be cognizant of this dilemma, so that they can integrate skills with moral – character building – besides churning out technically sounds individuals.
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