IF the basic laws of evolution apply, soon humans will be totally re-designed with exceptionally long and dexterous fingers and thumbs and no mouth.

The influence of technology will finally result in this adapted form because we will communicate only by texting and have no need of speech.

You can see the signs already. People going along the street with their heads down stabbing at mobiles as they go, youngsters walking in groups with no conversation or noise save the graceless clicking of finger or thumb and diners sitting over rapidly cooling food having vital, silent conversations between their phone and another’s.

And, no, I’m not exaggerating. New research by Aviva of 2,800 adults shows that nearly half of all families with children now text each other while they are in the same house.

In the thoroughly modern home, no-one shouts into another room “Hey, Lisa, do ya fancy coming clubbing with me tonight?” or “Lucy, have you done your homework yet?” Now, text rules – even when you’re sitting next to the person you want.

Tapping out those messages (often of mind-numbing banality) is now so vital that four in 10 parents complain their children have ignored them at the table because they were so distracted by their phones.

Staying up too late on our phones is apparently common, leading to lost sleep, and one in five of those surveyed said there was someone at home who just couldn’t “switch off.”

Now I know that phones are quite addictive. It’s very tempting to keep checking your phone for emails or texts, especially if you’re expecting someone to contact you. But, as psychologist Dr Richard House warns, this kind of mobile phone usage could be “catastrophic” for family life.

Human relational values underpinning families will be damaged with real face-to-face conversations being displaced and sidelined by machines.

It is hoped that this is a timely warning to us all but the reality is that it probably won’t make any difference.

You can already see how we are losing personal communication skills. Youngsters, especially teens, are often unable to hold social spoken conversations with others even their friends. This leads to confusion about both intention and feelings because have you tried to convey genuine emotion in a text?

Rationing of all phone use by parents and insistence on actually talking to each other sounds like the way forward. Exclamation mark, smiley face.