Americans need gadgets

A recent poll found that consider gadgets such as Apple's iPod, personal computers, cell phones, and high-speed internet essential. "The internet connection is my lifeline," said Jennifer Strother, a mother of two young children. "It's the connection to friends, e-mail, especially for stay-at-home moms. I'm hungry for adult conversation and any news that isn't 'Dora the Explorer' or 'Blue's Clues.'" One-third of households in the U.S. pay more than $200 per month for entertainment and communications, while 4-in-10 spend between $100 and $150 per month, according to a report from the Herald Online. The loyalty to high-speed internet is assumed to be a sign that people are getting hooked on newer technology; almost 4-in-10 people consider high-speed internet essential. David Greenfield, a Connecticut psychologist who specializes in high-tech issues elaborates: "Our culture is about distraction, numbing oneself. There is no self-reflection, no sitting still. It's absolutely exhausting."

by MacNN Staff