Come on, switch off your laptop.? ?Stop walking about with that phone stuck in your ear.? Aren?t these regular chastisements that we all get to hear? Student, business professional, stay-at-home moms, everyone is surrounded by gadgets. So whether you are on your treadmill, washing your clothes in the machine, cooking in the microwave for a week and then storing it in the refrigerator, it?s gadgets galore for everyone. But if ?comfort? is the catchword in all of this, does it mean we are becoming slaves of automation?
Medical science and research show that there have been serious effects of technical gadgets on people. Dr Amit Bhargava, consultant oncologist, Max Healthcare is of the opinion that excessive use of gadgets result in a lot of health problems.
?Acoustic Neuroma is one of the malignant effects of using mobiles limitlessly. In this, a tumour develops in the hearing nerve that affects the brain and might result in a growth there too,? he says.
Cell phones and laptops are an evil if not used properly. While Bhargava agrees that keeping pace with technical advancement is important, he regrets that improper use of these machines interferes with nature adversely.
We use technical gadgets in order to avoid fatigue, to save time and to lower work pressures. Ironically, ?working on the computer takes away a lot of energy, resulting in headache, redness of the eyes and also dry eyes,? say Dr Sanjeev Gupta, senior eye specialist, Umkal Hospital, Gurgaon. Staring continuously at the screen of the computer reduces the number of blinks that the eye requires. This causes loss of fluids, which help keep the eyes lubricated.
Dr Rachna Singh, consultant, holistic medicine and lifestyle expert, Artemis Hospital says: ?Addiction to technical gadgets results in imbalance in our lifestyle and results in dysfunctionality at work, within ones own self and also at home. Too much time spent on gizmos results in less sleep and sometimes critical health problems.? Behavioural abnormalities like irritation, angry outbursts, and also throwing tantrums are some of the emotional imbalances. At the workplace too, people tend to feel de-motivated and often are unable to coordinate things at the critical hour.
So are technical gadgets a boon or a bane?
Gadget manufacturers are trying to do their bit to help users. ?We have introduced a freshness lamp in our Freshtech refrigerators to ensure health-friendly products,? says Ravinder Zutshi, deputy-managing director, Samsung India. ?Studies have shown that fruits and vegetables stored in Samsung Freshtech refrigerators have recorded a significant increase in Vitamin C, polyphenol and chlorophyll, which are known to have the following effects: anti ageing, prevention of scurvy and anaemia,? adds Zutshi.
Yet another of the innovations includes the ?Silver Nano Technology? in washing machines. It has been developed by electronic researchers on the concept of ?Silver Wash?, which means the washer?s sterilisation system generates silver particles that kill bacteria and mold in the laundry load, without bringing the water to a boil. Silver Nano technology combines the disinfectant and antibiotic properties of electrolytic silver nano-particles (Ag+) in washing machines to remove 99.9% of bacteria. This process also treats the inside of the washing machine tub to kill bacteria and mold, suppressing the odour and contamination that accompanies their formation perfect the technology.
Not only serious health issues but Subrotah Biswas, country manager, India & SAARC, Logitech also says, ?Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS), also known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs), is caused by too many uninterrupted repetitions of an activity or motion, such as twisting the arm or wrist, overexertion, incorrect posture, or muscle fatigue.? And this applies to gadgets as well.
One cannot do without gadgets. A mouse is something that we keep clicking on almost every 50 seconds and scroll the wheel for at least 26 feet a day. Thus ?Logitech has introduced Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Laser mouse that combines free space motion-control, gesture command and wireless ? so people can point, select and play media files with just a flick of the wrist,? says Biswas.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is another health disorder that is caused due to the compression of the median nerve. It leads to tingling and numbness of fingers, swelling and pain. Prolonged hours of typing can cause CTS.
Logitech Cordless Desktop was designed keeping in mind the need of executives. ?The wave design, contoured shape and palm rest provides maximum comfort and ease to the person typing on the keyboard. The Wave Keyboard was designed to promote more neutral postures in the wrist and fingers using a built-in, padded wrist rest and a curved alphanumeric key layout which had upward sloping sections on the outer edges and in the centre of the keyboard to position the keys closer to the fingers.? Say Biswas.
New gadgets will keep flooding the market and there will be enough takers for them. But just choosing the right gadget is not the point, ?balance? is what really matters. Balance in terms of how much it is used.
