Google Glass Claims Its First Victim: User Treated For Disturbing Side Effects

A man who became so addicted to his Google Glass specs that he wore them for 18 hours a day, is being treated for mental problems thought to be related to the overuse of the high-tech gadget.

The launch of Google Glass specs was celebrated by some as yet another step into a brave new world, while cynics regarded Google Glass as further proof of modern man’s disturbing addiction to the internet.

This sought-after sci-fi gadget divided public opinion. Those in favor of Google Glass hailed its ability to let you stay plugged in and active on the web when on the go, but as doubters asked, why does anybody need to update their Facebook status, post tweets, and upload photos when they’re riding a bike?

For one unnamed user, the overuse of Google Glass has led to him being treated for what scientists have labeled the first proven case of internet addiction.

The 31-year-old U.S. Navy serviceman was so addicted to his smart specs, he wore them for a staggering 18 hours a day and only took them off to sleep and shower.

The Guardian reported that the man felt irritable and argumentative when he wasn’t wearing his beloved device. Even more disturbing, the web-junkie also claimed that in the two months since purchasing Google Glass, he began suffering from dreams as if viewed through the device’s small grey window.

Although it remains a disputed phenomenon among psychiatrists, internet addiction is a growing concern. The U.S. Navy’s Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research, believes it’s high time society addressed the issue.

“People used to believe alcoholism wasn’t a problem – they blamed the person or the people around them. It’s just going to take a while for us to realise that this is real.”

Doctors observed that the patient, who was initially being treated for alcoholism, had a habit of repeatedly tapping his right temple with his index finger – an involuntary repetition of the motion to switch on Google Glass.

“There’s nothing inherently bad about Google Glass. It’s just that there is very little time between these rushes,” explained Dr. Noan.

“So for an individual who’s looking to escape, for an individual who has underlying mental dysregulation, for people with a predisposition for addiction, technology provides a very convenient way to access these rushes.

“And the danger with wearable technology such as Google Glass is that you’re allowed to be almost constantly in the closet, while appearing like you’re present in the moment.”