Beware of the disadvantages of over-using technology
Dec 26, 2010
WITH the fast evolving technologies, life has been made a lot easier for many people. People have advanced from posting letters to e-mails, which are much faster.
By Jeniffer Musisi
WITH the fast evolving technologies, life has been made a lot easier for many people. People have advanced from posting letters to e-mails, which are much faster.
Now, people can instantly talk to one another even if they are on different continents.
More so, with the latest trends of personal computers, people can see the people they are communicating to with the use of a webcam. Apart from making communication easier, the Internet has become one of the most widely used sources of information. Cable TV and satellite dishes have also made it possible for one to choose from a variety of more than 100 channels.
However, it is sad to note that people have fully embraced the use of modern technology and ignored studies that show that numerous disadvantages that come along with it.
On average, a university student spends half his or her time watching TV or surfing on a computer. Prolonged exposure to bright light from the monitor can bring about eyestrain and computer vision syndrome that includes light-headedness, blurred vision and headaches.
Computer eyestrain and vision syndrome are caused by our eyes and brain reacting differently to characters on a computer screen than they do to printed characters. Our eyes have little problem focusing on printed material that has dense black characters with well-defined edges. But, characters on a computer screen do not have the same degree of contrast and definition.
According to the American Optometric Association, about 70% of Americans that use computers daily have health problems such as dry eye, eyestrain and constant backache. These are related to sitting at their computers for too long. The computer and Internet have also lead to emotional problems, such as failed relationship. People get addicted to face-book and you tube and this keeps the addict from spending time with actual people.
Studies also show that making certain body parts inactive for a long time can bring about blood clots and, in more severe cases, seizures.
Further more, there are many disadvantages associated with the use of a cell-phone. Apart from being a major cause of accidents on the roads due to the distraction they impose on a driver from text messages and calls, studies from Manchester Metropolitan University in England show that cell phones have more bacteria than a toilet seat. Bacteria that can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis.
Cell-phones are also associated with health issues brought about by radio-frequency waves that they emit through their antenna. Cancer is the most common, but there is also depression, headache, confusion and lack of sleep.
However, the good news is that there are some solutions to these problems. One can avoid getting distracted while driving and acne breakouts from use of cell-phone by using a-hand-free-phone set or the loud speaker on a cell-phone if not in public area.
One can reduce the risk of getting health problems brought about by the emission of radiation by limiting the duration of phone calls. Using a-hand-free-set also ensures that the phone antenna is as far away as possible from the body.
For ‘online addiction’, one should try to engage in other activities, like community activities or starting a project that could pre-occupy him or her.
For eyestrain, one could use anti-glare filters or computer eye-glasses with anti-reflective coating to reduce brightness of the monitor.
The writer is a Ugandan student of Manchester College, Indiana - USA
WITH the fast evolving technologies, life has been made a lot easier for many people. People have advanced from posting letters to e-mails, which are much faster.
Now, people can instantly talk to one another even if they are on different continents.
More so, with the latest trends of personal computers, people can see the people they are communicating to with the use of a webcam. Apart from making communication easier, the Internet has become one of the most widely used sources of information. Cable TV and satellite dishes have also made it possible for one to choose from a variety of more than 100 channels.
However, it is sad to note that people have fully embraced the use of modern technology and ignored studies that show that numerous disadvantages that come along with it.
On average, a university student spends half his or her time watching TV or surfing on a computer. Prolonged exposure to bright light from the monitor can bring about eyestrain and computer vision syndrome that includes light-headedness, blurred vision and headaches.
Computer eyestrain and vision syndrome are caused by our eyes and brain reacting differently to characters on a computer screen than they do to printed characters. Our eyes have little problem focusing on printed material that has dense black characters with well-defined edges. But, characters on a computer screen do not have the same degree of contrast and definition.
According to the American Optometric Association, about 70% of Americans that use computers daily have health problems such as dry eye, eyestrain and constant backache. These are related to sitting at their computers for too long. The computer and Internet have also lead to emotional problems, such as failed relationship. People get addicted to face-book and you tube and this keeps the addict from spending time with actual people.
Studies also show that making certain body parts inactive for a long time can bring about blood clots and, in more severe cases, seizures.
Further more, there are many disadvantages associated with the use of a cell-phone. Apart from being a major cause of accidents on the roads due to the distraction they impose on a driver from text messages and calls, studies from Manchester Metropolitan University in England show that cell phones have more bacteria than a toilet seat. Bacteria that can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis.
Cell-phones are also associated with health issues brought about by radio-frequency waves that they emit through their antenna. Cancer is the most common, but there is also depression, headache, confusion and lack of sleep.
However, the good news is that there are some solutions to these problems. One can avoid getting distracted while driving and acne breakouts from use of cell-phone by using a-hand-free-phone set or the loud speaker on a cell-phone if not in public area.
One can reduce the risk of getting health problems brought about by the emission of radiation by limiting the duration of phone calls. Using a-hand-free-set also ensures that the phone antenna is as far away as possible from the body.
For ‘online addiction’, one should try to engage in other activities, like community activities or starting a project that could pre-occupy him or her.
For eyestrain, one could use anti-glare filters or computer eye-glasses with anti-reflective coating to reduce brightness of the monitor.
The writer is a Ugandan student of Manchester College, Indiana - USA