Fighting Game Addiction Subliminally

Wow, our tech-addicted brethren just can't seem to get out of the headlines lately. We've talked about the Internet addicts, Blackberry addicts, email addicts, and now the focus is back on game addicts after a 26-year old gamer died following a online gaming marathon. 

China and Europe already treat young game addicts with medication, counseling, acupuncture, and even shock therapy, while Korea may be looking at a safer approach. Xtive, a Korean start-up, claims to have developed inaudible sounds that help game addicts quit their gaming sessions on their own.

The sound sequence isn't recognizable to a gamers, but his subconscious is aware of it, according to the Korean Times. Xtive is working with game companies hoping they'll install the phonograms in gaming consoles. Once the gamer exceeds his allotted time (determined by the user) it delivers the subliminal sound about 10,000 to 20,000 times per second until the gamer quits. What worries me is this same technology could be used to advertise delicious snacks to gamers. I can just hear it now, "Eat Doritos."

Hmmm, I wonder if users will someday be able to program their own messages into consoles?

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