Gadgets are supposed to make you smart and efficient communicators, but researchers have a different story to tell. According to a study sponsored by HP (no wonder they fired Carly if HP was wasting money on these lame studies.) email distractions can cause a 10 point drop in your IQ, or double what smoking pot will do. Alice’s Demi Rant: I am not sure why they keep doing these stupid studies – talking on a cell phone while driving makes your responses equal that of an 80 year old, texting while walking makes you stagger like a drunk and so on. We get it! Why don’t we all just accept that using devices that make you do more than one thing at the same time will cause you to lose focus – I have called myself a “scattered freak” for years. That’s just the reality of the gadget era. Or maybe being hyper focused is just different, so chill out, man.

“Researchers at the University of London Institute of Psychiatry have found that the constant distractions of email and texting are more harmful to performance than cannabis. Those distracted by incoming email, phone calls and text messages saw a 10-point fall in their IQ, more than twice that found in studies of the impact of smoking cannabis, according to the researchers.

“Some 1,100 volunteers were used in the study, sponsored by HP. Half of those questioned said that they reply to emails instantly or as soon as possible, and one in five admitted to breaking off meals or social engagements to deal with email. This constant shifting of concentration makes the brain more tired and less focused, and causes the temporary IQ fall-off.” Source: Vnunet.com