Does all this technology make us more productive?

The problem with all forms of digital technology, including Internet,  smartphones,  texting, email, and all forms of digital media communication, is that they eat and waste a lot of time. There are productivity loss estimates as high as 3 hours spent every work day on non-work related online activities. Add this to glitches and technical problems associated with using our technology and one can see how easy it is to waste time. As well, we all experience a sense of time distortion or dissociation when online–we loose track of time and space. We are incapable of not spending more time online than we think we are spending.

By |June 22nd, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|1 Comment

Smartphones are the world’s smallest slot machines…

Internet technology, including Smartphones, operate on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule-just like a slot machine used in gambling.  All aspects of information sought after and found on the Internet occur within this variable ratio reinforcement environment. The Internet  operates with a high degree of unpredictability and novelty and it is this unpredictability that facilitates the compelling nature of the Internet’s attractiveness.  The reinforcement/reward factor seem to be the most significant element in contributing to the addictive nature of the Internet and other digital media technologies. The Internet functions on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule (VRRS). Whether it’s gaming, sexual content, e-mail,  texting,  facebook, shopping or general information surfing, they all support unpredictable and variable reward structures.

By |June 20th, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|2 Comments

Smartphones aren’t smart enough!

When we are on our smartphones (iPhones, Androids, Blackberrys) we are unconscious stating to the world that WE ARE NOT really present where we are. We are indirectly stating that we are not fully present in the moment and that something or someone elsewhere is better elsewhere to pay attention to. We as a culture have not really decided how to deal with this reality but spending any time in public now one typically sees people staring into small screens and not noticing anyone or anything around them.

By |June 20th, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|Comments Off on Smartphones aren’t smart enough!

Real-time living or Virtual Addiction: life is not digital experience

Living our lives in virtual environments as in gaming, porn, surfing or virtual worlds like face book or twitter leaves many questions. How can we live a virtual-life when we aren’t fully living our real-time life?  Every time we answer our cell phone, web surf, or look at text or email on our smart phone we in essence shifting time and space and making the public and personal statement that we are wanting to be somewhere other than where we actually are. We in essence leave the here and now. It seems as though we are running away from being where we actually are at the moment. We are trying to numb ourselves, to deal with boredom, or our disconnection from ourselves and our lives. So we remain mindlessly connected and distracted, and at the same time disconnected from ourselves in an endless fashion. We go to bed using our technology (sleeping next to our smart phones) and begin our day with it as well.  We live our lives unconsciously, wired and wireless, and then we medicate ourselves with the same technology when we feel bad.

By |June 11th, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|Comments Off on Real-time living or Virtual Addiction: life is not digital experience

The Internet and digital media can digitally distract marriages and realtionships

We know that many marriages and relationships have been significantly impacted by the use and abuse of the Internet and other digital media devices; In France, it was recently reported that fifty percent of all divorces have some type of Internet or digital media issue associated with it and it was ruled that text messages can be used as evidence in divorce proceedings. Often these technologies become digital distractions from the real-time work of connection, intimacy, and communication. Having the portability and accessibility can be practical, entertaining, and fun– but highly distracting.

By |June 11th, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|Comments Off on The Internet and digital media can digitally distract marriages and realtionships

The Internet and the Dark Side of the Force

History is replete with examples of how our greatest technological breakthroughs become new problems. Perhaps there is no greater example where this is seen than with technology in the corporate and business environment. Previously accepted constructs of anytime availability and instant easy access have not proven as efficient as once hoped and multitasking has been shown to be largely untrue, as the number of input and activities we engage in at once, the longer it takes us to accomplish our goals. The potential for distraction and dissociation (time distortion) are almost universal when using the Internet and other digital devices and therein lies the potential for abuse and overuse. Helping businesses manage their technology will ultimately translate in to a more profitable and productive bottom line and with estimates of between 1-3 hours in a work day spend on non-work related activities online–this translates into significant costs.

By |March 30th, 2012|Dr. Dave's Blog|Comments Off on The Internet and the Dark Side of the Force