Discomgoogolation - a nation of Broadband addicts

Discomgoogolation describes how someone feels when they cannot gain access to the internet.

Apparently nearly half of Britons - 44% - are discomgoogolation sufferers, according to a survey, with over a quarter - 27% - admitting to rising stress levels when they are unable to go online.

Around three quarters of poll respondents also asserted that they "could not live without" their broadband connections, while one in five said that they spent more time on the web than they did with their families on a weekly basis.

"The proliferation of broadband has meant for the first time in history we've entered a culture of 'instant answers,'" said psychologist Dr David Lewis, who identified discomgoogolation by measuring heart rates and brainwave activity.

"A galaxy of information is just a mouse click away and we have become addicted to the web," added Lewis. "When unable to get online, discomgoogolation takes over.