How technology affects health (Part 1)

Today we will address a delicate issue: health . Specifically, we will see how technology affects this, either for good or for bad.

Disadvantages of technology in terms of our health

Let 's start with the latter. How does it affect negatively technology to our health?

Dolores (muscle, bone, ...)

Did you know that our precious technology could adversely affect our physical health?What do I mean? I mean those  awkward postures  we all take when using our technology, either to stoop to get closer to the screen or head down to see mobile.

And what does this solution? The solution to this is a discipline called  ergonomics .Something ergonomic is something that fits our physiology, anatomy and psychology. In other words, it is something that does not change our natural way of doing things.

For example, some ergonomic may be an  appropriate chair , which keep us in our natural position, which is to be at an angle close to a right angle. Another example might be a support for the feet, a  mouse  computer that fits the hand, or a  screen at eye level.

As for  Apple  we can see that it fulfills in part. For example, the Apple Magic Mouse is not very ergonomic to completely fit the hand and be very low. By contrast, the iMac screen has an optimum height for most chairs and tables. What about a iPhone larger screen is an improvement in ergonomics? Yes, and so it is the power to choose a higher or lower resolution on the Mac, or to choose larger icons in the new iPhone.

And we could spend talking about it thousands and thousands of words ... But I want todiscuss more topics in this article, so let's get to it. But not without first ask you : You  have some ergonomic configuration in your work area? Do you You suffer some ailment caused by poor posture or use of technology?

Electromagnetic radiation (indirect effects)

Have you ever gone to a  gas station  and saw that you had to put  off mobile ? And turn off the car? What can be caused this? For many people who do not stop using a lighter is logical. But few people understand why you have to turn off electrical devices ...

If you remember those high school physics classes or college on electromagnetism, surely you remember that the mere fact that a  current passes through a conductor not perfect does generate an  electromagnetic field . That electromagnetic energy field has a waveform. This energy, under certain circumstances, can become a spark . And if you're at a gas station with a leak ... boom!

Electromagnetic radiation (direct effects)

Radiation causing electronic devices can not only cause fires and explosions, also can affect us directly. As for the biological effects, highlight the termogenerado effect andDNA fragmentation , which I assure you are not good ...

Do you want an example? Our precious  WiFi  works at different frequencies depending on the model. For example the oldest working at 2.4 GHz . Instead, a minority of WiFi routers operate at 5GHz in addition to 2.4GHz.

And what about that? For here the interesting and frightening: the frequency ofmicrowave ovens is 2.4 GHz . What does that mean? That means that microwaves and waves of WiFi networks are the same. The only thing that differentiates a router is a microwave power (which is higher in the latter).

Mental health

New technologies have changed the way we see the world .

Before Steve Jobs popularized the computer and mobile, people related  in person .Word of mouth or the fixed telephone was the only method to realize time and place, so tospeak in person. And how the information was obtained? Instead of searching in Google or Wikipedia, this is looking in books, dictionaries and encyclopedias .

The communication methods changed , and unfortunately people now speak more WhatsApp that from person to person, share their experiences via Twitter rather than speak them in a group, and play solitaire computer games in a room rather than play a game football, letters or marbles. This entails lack of direct communication, but also leads to a lack of such an important  sport .

This has drastically changed our daily lives, bringing in some cases headaches, stress and insomnia, in addition to  reducing our ability to relate to our fellow human beings and the environment .

Do you guys do you think?  Are ye more of relating in person or online?

Contamination

Although this does not affect us directly on our health, the  environment and climate change  is a very important issue. And the truth, I must confess that it is an issue that worries me personally ...

The technology generates a lot of waste  and cosume an enormous amount of energy, both in their production and use. If we talk about the Internet world this is much worse.Internet that we know is a set of computers, called  servers , to be fed somehow. And it 'snot just, also refrigerate! This means consuming a huge amount of energy, whose source is mostly oil and its derivatives. Although now they are beginning to implement measures, such as that of Google using the heat given off by computers in winter for heating.

And  Apple  how behaves this? Apple in this regard has a pretty good policy, in fact Greenpeace had to recant on criticism he did in the past. Apple currently has the  largest private solar park United States  to feed one of its DataCenter (place where the servers are located). The rest of the DataCenter Apple also feed renewable energy, in fact, Apple's own DataCenter feed to  100% renewable energy .

In addition, Apple also tries to reduce the size of the boxes of their products (to pollute less during transport), reduce the consumption of their devices,  recycle products that no longer serve, and try  not to use any harmful chemicals  (such as lead or mercury).

If you want to learn more about this here I leave a link .

Conclusion

These are all prejudices and consequences that brings health technology. Next week, in the second part, we will see the advantages.