Are Smartphones Making Us All Infomaniacs?

[Commentary] Because my occupation is tied to information, I am not too alarmed at my state of nomophobia, but I am certain that, for most people, this is probably not good news. But the trend in smartphone design only feeds this. With new apps, more processing power and its broad social media capabilities, as well as near-ubiquitous connectivity, vendors are making the smartphone the digital center of our lifestyles. So if people want or even need to feed this infomaniac gene, it is very easy to do.

Although we have had the technology to let us be connected around the clock for decades, the inclusion of a smartphone as an information enabler takes this to new levels. It makes it possible for anyone to gain access to just about anything they could want or need, and that feeds their nomophobic tendencies. I will let the social scientists deal with its impact on mankind, but I suspect its long-term effect on most of us will not be good. Perhaps it’s time for me to take my staff’s challenge and shut down completely for at least three days? Anyone want to bet if I can do it?

[Tim Bajarin is the president of Creative Strategies Inc.]