Why are People so Addicted to their Blackberry & Gadgets?

Everywhere I go, people are fixated on their Blackberry, their iPads their iPhones.

I have seen a family going out for dinner. The mom, dad and two kids are all fixated on their blackberries. They barely talk to each other, each are busy typing on their gadgets.

I also saw many couples dining together, not paying attention to each other, busy answering emails and BBM chats on their Blackberry phones.

What is it with this fixation on gadgets? It seems as if people are on a trance or something, they keep fixating on their Blackberry phones, iPads & iPhones.

When I look at these people..some even almost trip when they walk, because they don't pay attention to the road, they were busy typing on the Blackberry.

Socially, people see Blackberry phones as a status symbol and if you don't own one, they see you as "less successful" and tend to hang out only with fellow Blackberry users who are actively participating on BBM as well.

It seems to be the norm, trend and some sort of social filter nowadays here. Especially among the middle upper class people.
What is it with these gadgets, especially Blackberry..that make people so fixated and consumed as if they are in a trance whenever they touch that phone?

Whoever invented these gadgets and mystify the public with the "must have" atmosphere is a genius. Gadgets become a status symbol. They even alienate people from their own family members and loved ones. How do you balance yourself from being owned by your gadget?