With the release of so many multifunction smartphones looming, i.e. the cheap version iPhone 5, the Nexus 7 and even the Samsung Galaxy gear, a phone watch, the latest researchers point to an addiction that also affects the way we interact.

"Phubbing" is a term used to describe ignoring a person while you are having a face-to-face conversation. This is something that irritates a lot of people. We have come a long way in technology, but we have moved further away in our conversations on a public level, which is a significant drawback.

Checking email or texting can be rude when you're talking to someone, particularly in a business setting. But this is exactly what most of us do, putting our learned conversation etiquette on the back burner.

It's a good thing that some people have taken this behavior dubbed "phubbing" quite seriously and they have decided they are not going to loss of serenity lying down.

A survey from the U.K. found that approximately 33% admitted to being phubbers.

To put an end to the disturbing trend, Australians have started a 'Stop Phubbing movement', gradually gaining strong support from the online community. Trailing Stop Phubbing, five other movements have already taken root. Australia's campaign is a model for addressing the appalling lack of etiquette that has taken over smartphone owners and the increased dependency on mobile devices.

Alex Haigh, 23, and a resident of Melbourne, is the founder of the stop phubbing movement. The idea came into fruition while Haigh and his friends were chatting on the subject of how rude it was to being ignored while someone was fiddling around with a smartphone.

Haigh launched a website that includes photos, pictures and posters that companies and organizations can use to stop the practice in their workplace.