lost in my own world

when is the did the use of ipod's mp3's or even the walk man became popularized and largely patronized in the country?
i also do not know exactly when but when it occured , the number of autism cases increased. given in a simpler statement , madami nang nagiging autistic ngaun.heheheh. i mean being autistic as defined not just by the medical books ang internet sources but as also defined by lay people as a person lost in his or her own world 'may sariling mundo.' why have i come up with this kind of statement? through my own observation of human beings around me who are practically anf literally lost in their own world with their mp3 players and ipods as the portal to this said world of their own. it is a form of escape from what is arround you, from what you can see , from what you may hear and from everything around you. i'm not saying that you will not literally see things around you but you will see it in a very different way. when you are listening to nothing but your music every scene that you will see will be like a music video of a song even the beggers on the streets and the smile of the other passenger in the jeepney.
one problem with this' own world mania' is that a person lost in his own worl have a very little chance of hearing you and even noticing others. and it is really hard to live in a world who are peopled by persons who are living in their own world. it seems that you have to live with persons who do not even notices you and your existence not only is neglected but as if there was never you. i was'nt trying to be so dramatic about this own world thing although it seemed like it. but this is real. even i, i am starting to be lost in my own world.