Gadgets Blamed For Conflict In The Home December 12, 2007
Read more Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Mobile phones , Online , PC
People in the UK are unable to switch off their gadgets according to a new survey that highlights the way technology is taking over our lives and causing conflict with our loved ones. Of course, most of you Gizmodo readers know this already.
The survey of 1500 adults by support company, The Geek Squad, discovered that three quarters of us routinely eat the evening meal in front of the PC which often leads to rows. Well, makes a change from rowing over the telly, then.
There is also a growing ‘Always On’ work attitude with one-in-five people admitting to keeping their laptop beside them in the evenings, while almost two-in-five people said they check their work emails from home. Many said the email checking will continue throughout Christmas.
The shift from traditional pastimes like watching the goggle box and spending time with the family is leading to a rise in conflict. The survey found that 38% of women and 45% of husbands and boyfriends claim that the amount of time they spend online in the evenings has led to arguments and stress with family, friends and partners.
A spokesman for the Geek Squad said:"The implication of all this technology in our homes is having a wider impact. The traditional ‘Royle Family’ image of a nation slouching in front of the TV is changing fast - we spend less time in front of the TV and on traditional pastimes than on our computers."
So, now that you know what the problem is, will you change? Probably not. Too much to do online for a start.-Martin Lynch.
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
And there will be even more gadgets, more stuff online, more interactions, gazillion different ways to communicate with others, not to mention upcoming invasion of robots and intelligent entities all competing for our attention. The future is great, we just have to handle it.