A few days after the release of Apple's iOS 7, users started complaining how it makes them sick. Tech experts called it “digital motion sickness” and it is bound not to only affect the Apple users but also those exposed to video games and 3D films. With the growing number of gadgets being made, it is not impossible that “digital motion sickness” can be the biggest occupational disease of the 21st century.
The Daily Mail interviewed some tech experts to find out more about this growing disease. They compared “digital motion sickness” to “motion sickness.”
According to the National Health Service, motion sickness is a combination of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting that occurs when traveling. Its name varies depending on the transportation used that is why it comes in different names such as “seasickness” if riding a ship or boat, “car sickness” if riding a car,” and “air sickness” if riding a plane. The symptoms usually persist but can be overcome when the body had adjusted to the travel. However, some can’t adopt and suffer the symptoms until they leave the environment.
Having that said, digital motion sickness is the kind of motion sickness that people experience when using their computers, smartphones, tablets, playing video games, and while watching 2D films. Sadly, this new disease is here to stay as manufacturers are getting better in creating devices and games that make the users feel like they are part of it.
There is a slight difference though, motion sickness happens when the ear senses a movement but the eyes is not seeing anything while digital motion sickness is when the brain is deceived that we are moving even if we are not.
Ever wonder why some people keep telling that it’s bad to stay long in front of the PC? Aside from it straining the eyes, it does cause digital motion sickness especially when playing 3D games.
After Apple iOS 7, another gadget expected to cause the disease is Google Glass. This new technology shows images and texts to the user making an illusion of movement. The brain gets tricked and may have a problem adapting immediately. Then there is Nintendo 3DS which may affect gamers.
Google tested Google Glass and up to 40 percent of the participants showed symptoms of digital motion sickness, according to the Daily Mail.
Soldiers were already familiar of the disease as they were introduced to it during their virtual reality training.
