By David Holmes On November 25, 2013Back in the day, if you wanted to conduct a huge sociological study, you’d probably need to call up a university and nail down some grant funding. But in 2013? It’s as easy as getting on the horn with the massive…
research
Twitter Principle Applies to Birds IRL, Study Shows

Oh, the amazing findings that researchers discover when given enough time and money to do whatever the heck they want conduct scientific studies!
So there are scientists from universities in Exeter, France, and Switzerland who conducted new research in order to study birds. Not the Twitter bird. Not whatever other bird you may be thinking of, but the kind that chirps and tweets and flies. Real birds.
Their study was about interaction between the baby birds and their parents and how this affected their ability to survive and thrive. Guess what? It looks like birds have a social networking system of their own. [Read more…] about Twitter Principle Applies to Birds IRL, Study Shows
Watch TV Much? You’re Shortening Your Life. Literally.
It’s probably what your grandmother has been telling you since you were a kid. Watching too much TV takes the years out of your life. She might have meant it in a figurative sense, however.
This time, there is science behind the statement, which just might make it literal. As in, your life expectancy becomes shorter the more you watch TV! [Read more…] about Watch TV Much? You’re Shortening Your Life. Literally.
What Kind of Social Gamer Are You?
The landscape of video games has drastically changed in the past few years, thanks largely to the prevalence of social networking. There are, of course, other factors, but one cannot deny that the rise of social networking has greatly impacted the way people play games.
While it used to be that video games catered to a very specific niche, now everyone – from age 2 to 92 – plays games in one form or another.
Social gaming – and social gamer – has become a commonly used terms these days, with good reason. [Read more…] about What Kind of Social Gamer Are You?
No, Facebook Does Not Cause Depression

I don’t know why I am such a sucker for these studies, when I know for a fact that I will be confronted with something that is either a no brainer or something totally vague and/or ludicrous. Still, I find myself reading studies, the results of studies, and potential studies…Whatever floats my boat, right?
For sure, you have seen at least one study claiming that Facebook – or maybe some other social network – is the cause of depression. Or dementia. Or some other negative mental or emotional state. Whether you were nodding your head as you read those articles or you were vigorously shaking it in denial, here is another study that might catch your attention as it did mine: Facebook does not cause depression, apparently. [Read more…] about No, Facebook Does Not Cause Depression
Technology Withdrawal = Adults Act Like Babies
How attached are you to your gadgets? Which gadget/s do you always – and I mean always – have with you?
While it used to be that certain gadgets were limited to those who absolutely needed them (read: beepers for doctors, if you even still remember those devices), today, we know that gadgets are as ubiquitous as clothing. That in itself is not necessarily a negative thing, but if we analyze the degree of attachment to gadgets, we may find out some surprising – or not-so-suprising – things.
Intel recently conducted a study of 2,500 American adults, with the goal of determining the effects of being detached from their gadgets for a period of time. [Read more…] about Technology Withdrawal = Adults Act Like Babies