Eight-year-old texter has repetitive strain injury

An eight-year-old girl in England has been diagnosed with repetitive strain injury after texting too much, reports the Daily Mail, in what must be the youngest case recorded. "Isabelle Taylor sends so many messaged to her friends every day she has damaged her wrist and hands as a result. The condition is more common than you would think, according to chiropractor, Dr David Cosgrove, who is treating Isabelle for her injuries. "I reckon I see two cases a month. A lot of youngsters who play their Playstations or use their phones a lot can suffer inflammation which can be quite painful in the upper arms and wrists. Many times the pains are put down to growing pains when actually there is something else causing it." Last night Isabelle vowed to continue texting her friends and says without it her social life would be hampered." [via SMS Text News] permalink (June 9th, 2006)

Text Messaging can be a pain in the neck

Ergonomics researchers are starting to wonder whether text messaging is putting the younger generation at risk for some overuse injuries -- once reserved for older adults who have spent years in front of a computer. Science Daily reports.

At this year's annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Judith Gold, an assistant professor of Epidemiology at the College of Health Professions and Social Work presented preliminary research which suggested that among college students, the more they texted, the more pain they had in their neck and shoulders. Text messaging is a fairly new technology, Gold says, so this is a new area of research among ergonomists. "But given the similarities in body position, findings from research on overuse injuries from computers could be applicable here," she said.

Links to related Text injuries. permalink (November 12th, 2009)

Texting May Be Taking a Toll

Spurred by the unlimited texting plans offered by carriers like AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless, American teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages per month in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Nielsen Company — almost 80 messages a day, more than double the average of a year earlier. The New York Times reports. And oh-hum, something we've heard before:

The phenomenon is beginning to worry physicians and psychologists, who say it is leading to anxiety, distraction in school, falling grades, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation.

permalink (May 26th, 2009)

Swollen Thumbs, Big Bills and “Sexting”: The Downside of Text Messaging

Text-messaging, it seems, has become the communication mode of choice among teenagers. That has opened the door to growing abuses. The WSJ reports.

This months’ Consumer Reports magazine says carriers are charging way too much for text-messaging service. Consumers Union, which publishes the monthly magazine, has asked federal officials to investigate text-messaging rates, the article says. There are other problems, too. Medical professionals have long warned about the dangers of swollen thumbs and repetitive strain injuries among teens who text too much. Too much texting is one of the main reasons schools are restricting cellphone use. Also, many teens are using text-messaging to send inappropriate images of themselves or others, such as nude photos or videos

Related: - 'Sexting' From Your Cell Phone Is Hot New Flirting Trend, Study Finds (Switched) permalink (December 12th, 2008)

New Zealand woman diagnosed with text thumb

A New Zealand student, who sends up to 100 text messages a day on her mobile phone, has been diagnosed with the country's first known case of text-messager's thumb. The Brisbane Times reports. "The 20-year-old has texting tenosynovitis, an inflammation of the tendons in the thumb caused by constant text messaging. There have been only two other reported cases of the ailment - a school-aged child in Singapore and a 13 year-old girl in Australia." Links to related Text injuries. permalink (December 23rd, 2007)

CommitteeCaller: phone an entire Congressional committee with one click

CommitteeCaller.com allows one person to target an entire congressional committee over the phone. The web application utilizes an open source system to connect you to every senator or house member on a particular committee. No more digging around the 'net entering zip-codes to retrieve phone numbers of representatives -- CommitteeCaller.com automates the tedium of repetitively dialing your favorite politicians. [via boingboing] permalink (December 18th, 2007)

Digg.com and the weaknesses of user generated content

A couple of negative articles about Digg.com point out two of the major weaknesses of user generated content: accuracy and quality of content. First, Cyberjournalist refers to a post by Seve Rubel pointing to a fake Reuters news story - about a recall of the Sony Playstation 3- that fooled hundreds of Digg users and many more readers. And Busines Week complains that the new posts on Digg look like junk or geek tabloid fare. Quoting Niall Kennedy , Business Week writes: "socially driven Web 2.0 sites are on the verge of becoming spam farms". I agree with both of them and have reached my own level of disappointment with digg too. I no longer spend any time reading through new posts. For anyone interested in a specific field, such as technology, searching for new and relevant articles in digg is just too unproductive (too many repetitive stories) and also a dangerous practice as articles can be several months - or even years old - and posted because someone who just discovered them, found them interesting. For anyone knowledgeable in a specific field who submits a story, the voting process does not reflect it's true value. Great stories don't make it to the front page if they're not posted by the major contributors - who may not be knowledgeable in that field and don't recognize it's value- they carry no weight. So specialists stop submitting their stories, because there is just no point. I really believe to be truly valuable, user generated content should be submitted by a mix of both popular contributors and recognized experts. Update 28.11.06: Case in point. A story I submitted to digg yesterday, on a new facial spray which aims to protect skin from cell phone and computer radiation got all of 4 diggs. For anyone interested in the cellphone industry, this was a fun story and was picked up from my blog by many cell phone related and gadget blogs, including Gizmodo. But such a story today will never make it past go on digg, if it's not submitted by a contributor with voting power. permalink (November 27th, 2006)

Texting warning to teenagers as A-level results day

Teenagers were warned today by Physiotherapists not to spend too much time texting news of their A-Level grades to friends and relatives this week because they could injure their wrists, reports AP. One hundred million texts are predicted to be sent on results day this Thursday. "Texting sessions should be limited to between five and 10 minutes, according to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists." Related articles on repetitive stress inuries causes by text messaging permalink (August 15th, 2006)

Mobile phone use linked to anxiety

Australians are increasingly becoming so addicted to mobile phones they are suffering anxiety and self-esteem problems akin to substance abuse, writes The Sydney Morning Herald. Excessive mobile users experience personal problems ranging from agitation if forced to turn them off, to low self-esteem if they didn't receive calls or texts. "Because they can provide immediate pleasure, if you're not careful mobile phones can become as much of an addiction as snacking on junk food or smoking," said Diana James, from the Queensland University of Technology. Preliminary research among 80 Queensland residents from different backgrounds and ages had found some were obsessed with their phones, becoming on edge if parted from them. "Some suffered withdrawal symptoms if they didn't receive calls or text messages, which could lead to anxiety and self-esteem problems," Ms James said. "In some cases, some said they suffered sleep deprivation and even repetitive strain injury as they lay awake at night texting on their mobile." While the researcher conducted focus groups comprising university students, some "panicked" when asked to turn their phone off during discussion. "They were afraid - they were quite agitated and were relieved when the session was over and they could turn their phone back on and check for messages," Ms James said. James hopes to attract 2,000 participants to her online survey at www.mobilesurvey.com.au by May 31 to further analyse the "emotional, psychological, financial and social impact" of skyrocketing mobile phone use across the nation. permalink (April 3rd, 2006)

SMS boom leads to digit damage

Mobile telephone text messaging has become so popular in Britain that millions of users now suffer injuries to their thumbs and fingers because of their love of keeping in touch, according to a survey for Virgin Mobile, reports Reuters. ... "Thirty-eight percent more people suffer from sore wrists and thumbs due to texting than five years ago and 3.8 million people now complain of text-related injuries every year. ... Over 12 percent of the population send 20 texts per day and 10 percent confess to sending up to 100 texts every day". Related: -- Eight-year-old texter has repetitive strain injury -- Text Messaging Injuries (TMI) on the rise -- Texting Tendinitis -- Thumbs down for SMS -- Fear for the health of America's thumbs -- All Thumbs, Without the Stigma -- Warning: Mobile phones are addictive -- Three out of ten Korean Youths are Addicted to Mobile Phones -- Hungarian Hospital Offers Help For Hungarian Internet Addicts -- Text Messaging Addiction -- Is your SMS Habit a Symptom? -- Germany faces epidemic of text message addicts -- RSI victim Warns about threat to children -- RSD from Texting -- Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day Useful: -- -- Tips for Disabled Cellphone Users permalink (February 21st, 2006)

Doctors not trained to spot RSI, warn experts

Doctors are failing to spot the symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury because they are not properly trained, health experts have warned, reports News Scotsman. "Increasing use of computers at home and school, and use of mobile phones for texting, has resulted in people complaining of the disorder at a younger age. More than 240,000 new cases of RSI are reported every year and excessive work pressures are being blamed for the rising number of cases of the condition." ... Now a conference is set to take place in Edinburgh to debate the issues and to help sufferers. "I think it's a computer generation thing because children use computers at home and in school and spend lots of time surfing the net and texting. By the time they are coming into the workplace, they have sub-clinical problems", said RSI expert Hilda Palmer. permalink (November 4th, 2005)

Text message users 'face RSI risks'

There's no getting around it, it's all over the news, again. Children who constantly text message their friends are at risk from developing repetitive strain injury (RSI), health experts have said. [via icEaling] "Regular texting using just the thumb to type can cause pain and swelling in the tendons and could eventually result in a long term injury, said the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP)." As phones get smaller and more and more children acquire the technology, they are at risk of developing a condition more often associated with desk-bound adults. The release of GCSE results this week could see the number of texts sent by children soar as they send their results to friends and family, said the CPS." Related articles: -- Text Messaging Injuries (TMI) on the rise -- Texting Tendinitis -- Thumbs down for SMS -- Fear for the health of America's thumbs -- All Thumbs, Without the Stigma -- Warning: Mobile phones are addictive -- Three out of ten Korean Youths are Addicted to Mobile Phones -- Hungarian Hospital Offers Help For Hungarian Internet Addicts -- Text Messaging Addiction -- Is your SMS Habit a Symptom? -- Germany faces epidemic of text message addicts -- RSI victim Warns about threat to children -- RSD from Texting -- Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day permalink (August 23rd, 2005)

Text Messaging Injuries (TMI) on the rise

Orthopaedicians and Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) experts the world over are reporting an increasing incidence of overuse syndrome, primarily Text Messaging Injuries (TMI), among the hitech generation, reports The Times of India. "In Bangalore everal youngsters have been noticed sporting casts on their thumbs, to restrict use while being treated for TMI. How serious? It seems quite grave. In fact, the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) has issued a consumer alert cautioning that overuse of handheld wireless devices can lead to overuse syndrome. The society has stated that handheld electronics are causing an increasing number of carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis cases. How do such injuries manifest? It usually starts with pain in the thumb, wrist or forearm. Says Jajoo, "People can experience swelling in the thumb, wrist or forearm. There could be difficulty with fine movements of the thumb, a lump kind of feeling in some muscles or discomfort, numbness or burning." Getting help: TMI can be treated. "We treat TMI by myotherapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial releases and soft tissue and articular mobilisation techniques, along with home stretching and technique analysis and re-training," says Dr Sharan. permalink (May 18th, 2005)

The Pen Cell

The Pen Cell created by Aaron Tang (an industrial design graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design), takes technology technology to an innovative level by creating a platform that eases communication with others. It utilizes basic text and voice technology, allowing you to write in information and see sound. This design enhances communication within any environment, loud or quiet, allowing for private and quiet conversations (Imagine being able to have a silent conversation in a restaurant without interrupting those around you). It is also an ideal solution for the hearing-impaired who depend on visual cues to communicate. More importantly, the Pen-Cell serves as a memory aid. With today's technology, people become reliant on their devices to store information. Once that device is gone, it is difficult to recall particular pieces of information. Through the act of repetitively writing and then seeing a name and number, a user acquires a recollection of the information. permalink (April 25th, 2005)

Texting Tendinitis

A teenager in Australia has been diagnosed with texting tendinitis, The Daily Telegraph reports. The article reads as though repetitive stress injury due to too much texting is something new to Australia, when in fact, Australia is one of the only countries to have launched a National Day of Safe Text back in 2003 (on July 23rd) - to create public awareness. To get back to this article - and what's interesting to know, is how many text messages it takes to bring this on, "the teenager's plan allowed $100 credit that had to be used in a month, equating to nearly 300 SMS messages, or 10 a day. "The phone and plan allowed up to 760 characters per message, instead of the usual 160," he said. "The patient had been using only her right thumb to press the keypad." Related articles: -- Thumbs down for SMS -- Fear for the health of America's thumbs -- All Thumbs, Without the Stigma -- Warning: Mobile phones are addictive -- Three out of ten Korean Youths are Addicted to Mobile Phones -- Hungarian Hospital Offers Help For Hungarian Internet Addicts -- Text Messaging Addiction -- Is your SMS Habit a Symptom? -- Germany faces epidemic of text message addicts -- RSI victim Warns about threat to children -- RSD from Texting -- Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day permalink (March 20th, 2005)

Blackberry e-mailing potentially more harmful than text messaging

US and UK doctors use of a Blackberry device could cause arthritis or harm tendons in the thumb. The trendy handheld is potentially more harmful to the tendons that cell phone texting, because people type out longer texts by emails, reports the BBC via Gizmodo. "[...] US experts have also raised concerns about repetitive Blackberry use. Professor Alan Hedge, director of the human factors and ergonomics research group at Cornell University in New York, said in the early 1990s people had complained of sore thumbs from playing computer games too much. "It is the same principle. The thumb is not very flexible and repetitive use of it can lead to damage to the tendon on the outside of the thumb. "The Blackberry is much more demanding than texting on phones because users tend to use them to type out emails. Maybe they should be limited to 50 words or so. People who use them a lot could suffer from osteoarthritis There have been no cases reporte to date however. Click here for a roundup of related stories on how text messaging causes repetitive strain injury. permalink (January 31st, 2005)

Thumbs down for SMS

Today is not a good day for text messaging! Following Pravda's alarming article, here we go again on how text messaging causes repetitive strain injury. This follows a much published story of 13 year old girl with a 100-SMS-a-day habit, who was diagnosed with tendinitis in Italy. According to the Herald Sun - which is claiming Australia's teenagers are leading the world in the use of mobile phones - the Australian Medical Association said that repetitive strain injury from too much texting would dry out the lubricating fluid between tendons and that "excessive mobile use among those with developing brains can also cause emotional problems. For others, more pragmatic, the main problem with teen's text-messaging is financial". Related articles: -- Fear for the health of America's thumbs -- All Thumbs, Without the Stigma -- Warning: Mobile phones are addictive -- Three out of ten Korean Youths are Addicted to Mobile Phones -- Hungarian Hospital Offers Help For Hungarian Internet Addicts -- Text Messaging Addiction -- Is your SMS Habit a Symptom? -- Germany faces epidemic of text message addicts -- RSI victim Warns about threat to children -- RSD from Texting -- Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day permalink (January 28th, 2005)

Fabric keyboard

Force-sensing fabric companyEleksen will show a fabric keyboard and joystick at the beginning of next year. The Bluetooth-enabled keyboard is aimed at mobile phones, PDAs and laptops, while the joystick is targeted at games players on the same devices. [ via near near future ] Related article: -- Soft Texting [...] With reports coming in from around the world on repetitive stress injury, caused by too much texting, maybe a softer keyboard will help. permalink (December 17th, 2004)

Korean Students hooked on cell phones

The Korea Herald reports that cell phones are an addiction that's causing stress among particularly the younger generation. "A survey by the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital of 340 high school students in Pulgok High School found about two-thirds possessed cell phones. -- About 29 percent had addictive symptoms bordering on paranoia. -- About 60 percent were constantly worried whenever their mobiles were turned off, feeling someone could have sent a text message without setting off the warning bell. -- Kim Bo-mi, 14, a junior high school student, hallucinated that her phone was vibrating or ringing even when she did not have it with her. Excessive messaging can cause pain in the shoulders and the thumb and fingers. Called Text Message Injury (TMI), it's a blood circulation problem caused by pressing buttons rapidly on a small space. The symptoms are similar to RSI, repetitive stress (or strain) injury, from which millions who use computers or do repetitive motions suffer. Related articles: -- Cell phones prompt earlier sexual debut - A professor at the University of Oslo thinks the widespread usage of cell phones among teenagers is prompting them to have sex at an earlier age. Two of three Norwegian teenagers who chat and send frequent text messages on their cell phones have engaged in sexual intercourse. -- 2003: Cell Phones' Bad Rap - Medical scientists and psychologists have blamed cell phones for everything - from making children fat, to triggering the onset of Alzheimer to being responsible for a new form of addiction disorder as well as leading to sexually transmitted diseases. permalink (August 31st, 2004)

Three out of ten Korean Youths are Addicted to Mobile Phones

3 out of 10 Korean high school students who carry mobile phones are reported to be addicted to mobile phones. They feel anxious without their cell phones, according to Telecoms Korea "According to the result of survey carried by the Hospital of Seoul National University, 21% of 270 high school students carrying cell phones responded that they feel anxious when their handsets are not in their hands and 8% of them said that they feel very frustrated without mobile phones.  -- 10% of the respondents said that they have ever felt pain in the shoulder or wrist when they send SMS or play game on the phone. -- The pain they feel when they send SMS is a kind of syndrome that the repetitive work to press small keyboards of cell phones causes poor blood circulation and pain in the shoulder. -- 31% of the surveyed said that they send more than 30 text messages a day. The hospital warned that excessive use of mobile phones, like Internet addiction, can cause depression, anxiousness and sleep disorder. See related articles and links on SMS addiction and on SMS and RSI. permalink (July 15th, 2004)

Thumbs down

Singaporeans may be the fastest at SMS-ing, but at what cost? An interesting article from The Straits Sunday Times. "The short message from doctors is this - frequent SMS-ing can be bad news for you. In particular, they are worried about repetitive strain injuries (RSI). The condition is commonly associated with people who engage in daily jobs requiring frequent keyboard or computer mouse usage. But this could also apply to SMS lovers, says Associate Professor Lim Beng Hai, a senior consultant hand surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. Every time your thumb and index finger pinch on each other, a force five to 10 times is transmitted onto the joint at the base of the thumb,' he says. SMS users usually use the thumb to type out messages, while supporting the phone with the index finger. 'Over time, this could cause arthritis at the joint, or inflammation at the tendons,' says Dr Lim. Prof Lim has seen about six to 10 patients with RSI complaints since the start of the year. He says the number is set to increase over time. Similarly, Dr Aymeric Lim at the National University Hospital says its department of hand and reconstructive microsurgery has seen a rise in such patients. But he adds that most do not get RSI purely from SMS-ing, noting that SMS is one of the factors that aggravate their injury. 'Unlike computer gaming or work, people are unlikely to SMS for, say, 10 hours at a go, so SMS itself is unlikely to be the only cause of RSI,' says Dr Lim, who is acting chief of the department. When RSI strikes SMS lovers, it will probably be in the form of a sharp pain at the base of the thumb, brought on by movement of the thumb. The condition is known as De Quervain's tenosynovitis, says Dr Lim." Related articles: -- RSI victim warsn about threat to children - Although it has yet to be proven, texting could lead to repetitive strain injury or aggravate existing injuries. To create awarness, Australians are being urged to practise safe text. -- RSD from Texting - Dr. Josephine Bondoc, a physician at the Philippine General Hospital, said almost 40 percent of patients who seek consultation at the rehabilitative ward suffer from the disorder and that most of them are young. permalink (July 11th, 2004)

RSI VICTIM WARNS ABOUT THREAT TO CHILDREN

It's a well know fact keyboard users are at risk to contract repetitive strain injury (RSI), a painful condition hat affects half a million office workers in the UK. But now there are fears that children who play computer games and send text messages will be affected as well, according to an article in itv.com. This issue comes up periodically in different countries around the world. Australia even launched a prevention campaign last year. To create awarness, Australians were urged to practise safe text and The Chiropractors Association of Australian partnership with Virgin Mobile announced a National Day of Safe Text, held on July 25. Virgin encouraged mobile phone users to wear a band-aid on their “text” thumb on the day that celebrated SMS and a series of text-ercises were promoted. cf Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day. permalink (March 1st, 2004)

2003: Cell Phones' Bad Rap

This is the third post for Textually 2003 - The Year in Review, a series of entries rounding up the most interesting mobile news (best and worst) reported this year. 2003 - Cell Phones' Bad Rap I will not list here the many ways camera phones have been misused and abused in 2003, a seemingly favorite subject of the main stream press, thankfully always defended ardently by camera phone experts (see blogroll). But anyone who has not yet heard enough about peeping toms and camera phone bans in city parks and locker rooms, or needing background information, can check out all relevant 2003 stories logged under privacy issues in Picturephoning.com. This entry points out that non-camera phones have had a tough year too, as medical scientists and psychologists have blamed cell phones for everything - from making children fat, to triggering the onset of Alzheimer to being responsible for a new form of addiction disorder as well as leading to sexually transmitted diseases. Texting makes children fat. A study from Australia, claims text messaging is one of the reasons children are overweight. Compulsive text messaging disorder is the latest addiction sending sufferers rushing to The Priory clinic in south-west London. SMS causes poor sleep according to a Belgian study which claims text messaging is affecting the quality of sleep of almost half of 16 year olds. Because they text all night. Mobile phones 'make you senile'. Mobile phones and new wireless technology could cause a "whole generation" of teenagers to go senile prematurely, according to research conducted by Sweden's Lund University. Texting can lead to sex disease, reported the BBC. Apparently, both the internet and text messaging have fuelled "dogging", a practice which involves unprotected sex with strangers in public parks. Cell Phones may bring on Alzheimer's, damaging key brain cells which could trigger the early onset of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. RSD from Texting. The Manila Times reports on doctor's fear of repetitive stress disorder (RSD) caused by too much texting. Radio signals for the next generation of mobile phone services can cause headaches and nausea, according to a study conducted by the Dutch government and technological research institute TNO. More on related articles on cell phone health issues as well as links to some official ressources. permalink (December 12th, 2003)

Picturephoning and Ringtonia

Apologies for being so repetitive but the name server redirection is still not working. Please click here for Picturephoning and Ringtonia. permalink (December 11th, 2003)

Texting makes children fat

Text messaging has been blamed for being addictive, causing repetitive stress injury and leading to sex diseases. Now a study from Australia, claims text messaging is one of the reasons children are overweight. The attraction of sitting in front of a television, playing video games or texting on mobile phones instead of playing outdoors, has made them too sedentary, reports abc.net.au.

According to Professor Timothy Olds, a sports scientist from the University of South Australia, "research shows, if anything, kids are eating less, it's just they're spending too much time indoors.

In the past decade the level of obesity has doubled (in Australia).

One in every four is overweight".

permalink (October 16th, 2003)

Aussies get safe text message on National Safe Text Day

Although it has yet to be proven, texting could lead to repetitive strain injury or aggravate existing injuries. To create awarness, Australians are being urged to practise safe text, according to NineMSN, and The Chiropractors Association of Australia (CAA) in partnership with Virgin Mobile have announced a National Day of Safe Text to be held on Friday July 25.

Billed as being devoted to giving thumbs and fingers some light hand relief, Virgin is encouraging mobile phone users to wear a band-aid on their “text” thumb on the day that celebrates SMS, according to b&T Marketing Media.

A series of text-ercises will also be promoted, such as neck, hand and shoulder stretches, and special "text-erciser" - a stress ball in the shape of a mobile phone - has been developed to exercise the hand.

Earlier this year, textually.org reported on an article in the Manila Times, about a doctor's fear of repetitive stress disorder (RSD) caused by too much texting. Dr. Josephine Bondoc, a physician at the Philippine General Hospital, said almost 40 percent of patients who seek consultation at the rehabilitative ward suffer from the disorder and that most of them are young.

And in an article today from South African News24.com, a physiotherapist reports on her first case of sore thumbs.

permalink (July 21st, 2003)

Soft Texting

It looks and feels like a fabric, but it's more than that. You can fold it, scrunch it or wrap it, according to your need. What could it be ? Does it have anything to do with wearable computing? Is this yet another foray by engineers to enter the fashion industry? Not quite, It's intelligent technology capable of electronic sensing. It's a soft fabric keybord.

It's launch is timely, when reports are starting to trickle in from around the world on repetitive stress injury, caused by too much texting. Maybe a softer keyboard will help. According to Dr. Josephine Bondoc, as reported in a March 1st post, who is a physician at the Philippine General Hospital, almost 40 percent of patients who seek consultation suffer from the disorder. And just recently, the The British Chiropractic Association (BCA), has issued a warning that too much texting could lead to injuries in later life, and has even published a series of recommended txt-stretches for before and after texting.

Developed by Eleksen, a UK-based company which specializes in soft interface technology, this new fabric keyboard is available as an accessory for users of the SPV Smartphone and subscribers to mobile operator Orange, in four European countries: France, Denmark, Switzerland and the UK.

While you are visiting Eleksen's website, stop by and check out their image archives and click on soft cell phone. Amazing.

permalink (March 13th, 2003)

RSD from Texting

The Manila Times reports on a local doctor's fear of repetitive stress disorder (RSD) caused by too much texting.  Dr. Josephine Bondoc, a physician at the Philippine General Hospital, said almost 40 percent of patients who seek consultation at the rehabilitative ward suffer from the disorder and that most of them are young.

It's not so surprising that this (disturbing) news come the Philippines, as the country is also known as the «texting capital of the world», with over 100 million SMS sent per day for 76 million inhabitants. This can be compared to the record breaking 56 million sent every day by the British in January 2003 (population: 60 million), according to the Mobile Data Association, as reported in The Guardian

permalink (March 1st, 2003)