Navy officer treated for Google Glass addiction

16 Oct 2014

Google Glass

A Navy officer has been treated in San Diego, California, for internet addiction disorder that doctors say relates to use of his Google Glass device.

CNBC reports that the 31-year-old man checked into the Navy’s Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) over the summer for treatment of alcoholism and, as published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, displayed “significant frustration and irritability” from not being able to use his Google Glass.

The officer is said to have worn the headpiece up to 18 hours a day – removing it only to sleep and shower – and would involuntarily move his right hand to his temple to access it.

“When the therapist would ask him a question, he would have this repeated movement of placing his index finger to the right side of face, similar to trying to turn on the Glass,” said Dr Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

The patient – who also suffers from an anxiety disorder – would even experience his dreams as though looking through the device.

After undergoing a 35-day treatment, the man’s repeated movements to his temple reduced and he even enjoyed improvements to his short-term memory and clarity of thought processes.

Google Glass image via Shutterstock

Dean Van Nguyen was a contributor to Silicon Republic

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