Our culture is heavily dependent on technology for every day tasks. We purchase electronics in the name of saving time. On an average day, eight minutes are spent on adjusting settings on the washing machine, far less time than it would take to wash a comparable amount of clothing by hand. However, somewhere along the line, most of us lost sight of the goal of saving time. As many as nine hours a day are spent fiddling with various electronic gadgetry. The majority of this time is spent accessing the Internet, either on a desktop computer, laptop computer, game console or a portable device.

When one in eight people considers themselves to be addicted to the Internet, it’s important to take the time to figure out what is causing so many problems. Desktop computers and game consoles are versatile, but their size generally prevents them from being taken out of the house. Laptop computers are portable but most people prefer to use them while seated at a table. Tablet computers, such as the ipad, and smartphones have become the preferred method of accessing the Internet while on the go.  Between WIFI being accessible at many stores and restaurants and mobile phone signals while traveling, it’s easy to remain connected to the Internet at all times.

Until a few years ago, the mobile phone industry was dominated by “dumb phones” and the Blackberry smartphone.  As the first popular smartphone, the Blackberry picked up a huge number of fans. The Blackberry, or Crackberry as it soon began being called, integrated a cell phone with the apps previously only available on a PDA. These apps appealed to business people and students, instantly leading to widespread “Blackberry addiction”.

When android OS and iPhone OS became available, some of the Blackberry fans transitioned over to these touch screen based phones. Owners of Apple brand products were likely to become an iPhone addict, even if only out of brand loyalty. The intuitive interface made the iPhone easy to use, even for those who were not computer literate. iPhone addiction was strong enough to justify the premium prices that Apple was asking. Android phones gained popularity among the open source community and the phones were generally less expensive than the comparable iPhones.

Apple revolutionized the computer industry in 2010 when they released the first Ipad. Each Ipad addict had to buy one right away, helping to sell a record breaking three million in under three months. This lightweight tablet computer boasted a powerful, long lived battery and large clear screen, making it ideal for portable Internet access. Whether being used for email, multimedia or graphic design, Ipad addiction became commonplace.

Whether you get online with a Blackberry, android OS phone, iPhone or a tablet computer like an Ipad, you are in good company. With millions of Americans using mobile devices on a daily basis, Internet addiction is only likely to become more common. Desktop and laptop computers will never be replaced entirely with mobile devices, but for the Internet addicted population, portable tablets and smartphones  are their technology of choice.