Too much of a good thing can be bad. That’s true of Internet also. Being connected 24 x 7 to WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc can lead to a lifestyle that is not very productive and can also cause severe health issues. Long times spent on surfing on computer and mobile phone have been known to cause health issues such as vision problems, back pain, shoulder and neck pain, psychological problems, muscular pain due to long hours spent in one position, sleep disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Since Internet addiction is such a serious problem, a group of students at the University of Indonesia have developed a wearable that device that can help Internet users cut down the time they spend on surfing. The device is called “Nettox”, from “Internet detox” and it is is worn on the wrist. It contains a pulse oximeter sensor that measures haemoglobin oxygen levels and heart rate variability (HRV). Heart Rate Variability is the variation in time between each heartbeat. The autonomous nervous system controls the heartbeat rate. When a person is in a relaxed state, the variation between heart beats is high. But mobile phone usage for long duration lowers the HRV levels and this leads to more depression and anxiety. The Nettox device emits a sound when HRV and blood oxygen levels fall in unsafe range, which reminds the wearer to stop using their phone.

Internet addiction is a growing phenomena throughout the world and recently China has imposed curfew on online gaming for people below 18 years. Online gaming is now banned between 22:00 hours and 08:00 hours. Children are also restricted to 90 minutes of gaming on weekdays and three hours on weekends and holidays.

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