Are You in Love With Your iPhone?

iPhone Love: There’s always talk about how we are all attached at the hip to our smartphones, that we are addicted to them. But new research suggests that it’s not about addiction; it’s about love. Branding consultant Martin Lindstrom conducted an experiment using neuroimaging technology and found that when people heard or saw an iPhone, their brain activity resembled the same brain activity that is associated with very close human bonds. As Lindstrom writes in this New York Times piece:

For many, the iPhone has become a best friend, partner, lifeline, companion and, yes, even a Valentine. The man or woman we love most may be seated across from us in a romantic Paris bistro, but his or her 8GB, 16GB or 32GB rival lies in wait inside our pockets and purses.

Le sigh. If this is true, it’s just another sad marker of how much technology has not only changed the way we live, but also how our minds work. However, there is still hope. As Tal Yarkoni, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado at Boulder, points out on his blog, Lindstrom’s research is not really conclusive and has a lot of flaws.  NYT

Kim Jong-Il’s Grandson on Facebook: Kim Han-Sol is just a regular teenage kid from the looks of his Facebook page — except that he is the grandson of Kim Jon-Il and the son of Kim Jon-Il’s exiled eldest son, Jong-Nam. Han-Sol, like his father, seems to appreciate Western culture. He has a blog and Twitter account, lists American movies as some of his favorites and apparently prefers democracy over communism. The Chosunilbo