That smartphone in your hand changes how you walk

Hunching over a device can mess with your gait, slow you down, and poison your mood. And that’s before you trip and fall. — Niklas Wesner/The New York Times

Spend time on any crowded sidewalk and you’ll see heads bent over and eyes cast downward. One recent study of college students found that one-quarter of people crossing intersections were glued to a device.

“I don’t think people are aware of how much they’re distracted and how much their situational awareness changes when they’re walking and using a phone,” said Wayne Giang, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Florida who has examined the link between phone use and walking injuries.