Indonesia invented devices to support internet addicts

From surfing social networks to watching videos and chatting with friends, many university students in Indonesia spend most of their time on mobile phones.

Tyas Sisianindita, a student in Indonesia, said she spent about eight hours a day using her mobile phone. Sisianindita admitted that she was addicted to the phone, checking her phone regularly since waking up, even when she was in class. At night, when students are unable to sleep, this student can use his phone until 5 am.

Nettox, a wearable device invented by Indonesian students to alert people to their sedentary time.(Photo: Reuters)

A group of students at the University of Indonesia, led by inventor Irfan Budi Satria, spent three months developing a wearable device and could help internet users like Sisianindita reduce phone time. The team's goal is to help people who are conscious of their health, who really want to change their behavior and free themselves from internet addiction.

The device, called Nettox , in Indonesian means ' internet detox' , is worn on the wrist and has a sensor that measures heart rate, blood oxygen and heart rate variability (HRV).

Studies have found that prolonged cell phone usage lowers HRV levels. The Nettox device emits a sound when the HRV is low and the blood oxygen level is within this range, which reminds the wearer to stop using his phone.

The inventor Satria said, according to the American Psychological Association, for those aged 18 to 25, the ideal HRV should be above 60. In a recent test, the number of HRV readings by students Sisianindita was 44.

Internet addiction is a growing social problem in Indonesia. In October, two teenagers were treated in a hospital because of online gaming addiction. Psychologist Kasandra Putranto recommends that children be taught to be more active and participate in extracurricular activities more often.

Satria adds that the team will personalize the Nettox device and improve its accuracy because the HRV index can vary depending on a person's body shape, gender and health status. The team will apply for a patent for its invention with the university next year.