Although they remain one of the most common reasons for breakups of relationships, affairs may just be going out of style.

Not so much because people no longer want to have them. But more because they are getting harder and harder to carry on in secret, at least for any length of time.

Imagine, a Nintendo Wii toy that saves player profiles and information about “games”. That is how a homecoming soldier learned of his wife’s affair with another player.

Between gadgets like Nintendo Wii, computers, smart phones, spy software, e-mails, text messages and social networking websites, who isn’t in over their head, playing with fire?

Most of us have little idea how to control or conceal the information left behind – if we even realize the information is being saved.

But it’s easy to stumble upon. And even when it isn’t, there are experts who can find it for a price.

This can end up spoiling a primary relationship, leading to divorce, potentially affecting rulings in a divorce and generally wreaking havoc with a person’s life.

On the other hand, a technological problem usually inspires a technological solution. Undoubtedly, such solutions will come to market (or “black market”), if they haven’t already.

So, for better or worse, it may be just a trifle premature to sound the death knell of the affair.

Read more in this Irish Evening Herald article: Technological end to the affair.