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POPSHow our brains are hardwired to love Google, Twitter, and texting. And why that's dangerous. "The system is also activated by particular types of cues that a reward is coming. In order to have the maximum effect, the cues should be small, discrete, specific—like the bell Pavlov rang for his dogs. Panksepp says a way to drive animals into a frenzy is to give them only tiny bits of food: This simultaneously stimulating and unsatisfying tease sends the seeking system into hyperactivity. Berridge says the "ding" announcing a new e-mail or the vibration that signals the arrival of a text message serves as a reward cue for us. And when we respond, we get a little piece of news, making us want more. These information nuggets may be as uniquely potent for humans as a Froot Loop to a rat. When you give a rat a minuscule dose of sugar, it engenders "a panting appetite," Berridge says—a powerful and not necessarily pleasant state."
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POPSNew peer-to-peer mobile system holds potential for free calls TerraNet founder Anders Carlius said that the idea came when he was on safari in Tanzania in 2002, and found that he could not ring friends riding in another jeep only a few meters away. "I started thinking, 'Couldn't we get phone-to-phone without needing any other equipment, and actually have real voice communication, like a telephone call, between units?'" He admits there are problems with having enough available frequencies.
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