Sean Gallagher writes at eWeek online. In his column, Root Access, he asks, "How connected is too connected?"

Do I have OCD? (Obsessive Connectivity Disorder) Do you?? My results are noted below, in-line... Damn Blackberries...

*Gallagher: "I think that I've allowed myself to actually accumulate too much connectivity. As a remote employee of a highly-distributed organization, it's important for me to be as wired in as possible. But sometimes that may go a bit too far. As I sat in my car at a stop light responding to an instant message on my cell phone, I pondered exactly where I crossed the line into connectivity stupidity. *

"Here's a simple test to determine if you have what I've come to call "obsessive connectivity disorder." The symptoms are listed in order from least to most severe; if you get more than halfway down the list, then you probably have OCD."

E-mail connectivity :

You have more than one e-mail account that you check from work. YES
You have more than one e-mail client running on your PC. YES
You have more than one e-mail account that you check from a mobile device. YES
You move information from one device to another by e-mailing it to yourself. YES
You have read e-mail while at a sporting event. YES
You have read e-mail while coaching a sporting event. NO
You have read e-mail while participating in a sporting event. NO
You have read an email while driving. YES
You have responded to an e-mail while driving. YES
You have responded to an email while home, in bed. YES :-(

  • You have sent an e-mail from your phone to your Blackberry just to find it in your drawer. YES :-(

Instant messaging:

You have more than one instant-messaging client running on your desktop PC. YES
You have an instant messaging client running on your mobile phone. **YES **(in the past)
You frequently see the AOL Instant Messenger alert, "Your screen name is now signed into AOL(R) Instant Messenger (TM) in 3 locations." And all of those locations are you. NO (AIM Sux0rz)
You have more than two instant messaging clients running on your mobile device. And they're both active. NO
You have instant-messaged yourself a reminder at your desktop from a mobile device. YES
You IM your children to tell them to take out the trash. While you're at home. Uh - NO

  • You have responded to an instant message while driving. On your cell phone. And it was more than just, "OK." YES