The twentieth century has brought many new innovations to the technological world and has changed the way we live for ever. Technological advances change the way we communicate, learn, and think. With this transition into the tech savvy lifestyle that everyone is attracted to, there are also many drawbacks. The digital world is addictive and the invention of the smartphone has led to many side effects such as sleep deprivation. Many studies have been done to prove so and this is why it needs to be dealt with. The constant connection with the world through a digital device has allowed for humans to feel obligated to this so called lifeline. Because it has this effect, it consequently forces people to use it throughout all times of the day. With its attractive bright light, never ending possible gadgets, and instant communication with the world, it sucks people in no matter if it’s even in the middle of the night. This is what is killing society as we know it today. Smartphone use at night is negatively affecting humans of adequate communication, learning, and thinking and in turn is depriving them of most needed sleep. In this proceeding argument, I will define the important relative key terms, discuss the many problems that are associated with this issue, and conclude with some solutions towards dealing with the issue.
The smartphone is powerful in its many attractive looks and abilities, but it is the light that comes from this device that sucks everyone in. We are all humans and we have instinctive patterns in our brain because of our biological background. For example, we humans wake up during the day because the light from the sun is what signals the brain to wake up the body and have a sense of feeling alert. A...
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...g that it is delicate and needs to follow suit to stay healthy, it is important to not disrupt it by transitioning straight from active daylight to a complete mellow state in darkness. To help answer this problem, Michael Herf, the creator of the Picasa online photo-sharing software, has come up with an inventive solution. He has developed a computer software known as f.lux “that automatically alters the intensity and spectrum of light emitted by the display according to the time of day” (Gale). This technology would benefit the everyday worker addicted to smartphones and prevent the eventual decay in quality sleep and productivity during the day. The benefits of sleep are way too overrated and as stated by Kshamica Nimalasuriya, a Preventive Medicine Physician, “restful sleep is known to reduce stress, strengthen your immune system and sharpen your memory.”
When I have a question about homework or lessons I can easily use my computer or phone to get the answers I need. That way I do not need to wait till the next day to get an answer, making the entire process much faster. Also, the amount of information on the internet is endless. There are many sources of reliable information that can be found which only furthers my growth as an independent person, through self-education. Though it can be a great tool, technology in my life isn’t always good. My sleep has been affected by technology because of staying up late on my laptop or phone. I find myself not able to fall asleep without using either of these things most nights, which I am sure is very bad for my health. Also, technology may be hindering my social group, in some situations I would rather just text someone instead of talking face to face. Before, these modern technologies were invented people would have to actually come face to face to engage in
Smartphones have become an extension of one’s self, capturing memories, storing information, communicating an individual’s thoughts and feelings, setting reminders etc. It has become a necessity that many people feel they cannot live without. However, their usefulness comes with a price. A price Carr states and backs up with multiple studies researching the effect smartphones have on the brain and human interactions.
“The psychological effects influence everything from development, design, and marketing to management.” (Rutledge 1) I have already stated that technology has started to impair the writing skills of today’s generation, but if we dig a little deeper into the emotional effects of things, we find something that contributes more to the dysfunctional attributes of today’s society. “Modern technology is affecting our sleep. The artificial light from TV and computer screens affects melatonin production and throws off circadian rhythms, preventing deep, restorative sleep.” (Volpi 1) Now, I know I am not the only one who has had a bad nights rest with hardly any sleep, woke up the next day, and either felt like doing nothing, or was one of the most tempered people around. The lack of sleep that technology causes leads to the emotional balance of people thrown off which has a spiraling effect on the people around them as
“The current explosion of digital technology not only is changing the way we live and communicate, but is rapidly and profoundly altering our brains (Carr). When someone stays up all night staring at their cell phone, it is changing their sleep schedule. Blue enriched light that is emitted from mobile devices can suppress the body’s release of melatonin at night (Hiscott). Melatonin is the key hormone that controls someone 's internal clock, and when not enough is released, a body is oblivious to when it is supposed to be asleep. Sleep is crucial for successful development in a young child’s
"How dangerous could a cell phone actually be?" That is one of the many questions a person will ask themselves throughout their lifetime. Cell phones cause many distractions to humans throughout the day. Many cell phone owners find themselves checking their phones for messages and notifications even when the phone did not vibrate or ring. The overuse of cell phones will have negative effects on the mental and physical health of its users, will cause driving distractions, and will have a negative impact on the communication skills of humans.
Many people in today’s society rely on technology to help us with our daily lives and help us stay connected to family, friends, and other people. The advancements in today’s cell phone technology is very complex and made to be efficient for their owners, allowing them to surf the net and IM message people instantly. Cellphones in particular have developed very fast in the past 15 years. From my childhood, cell phones have evolved from the old school Nokia bricks that allowed texts, calls, and simple graphic games, to todays I-Phones that have higher computable capabilities than some computers. In the United States alone, there is an estimated population of around 297 million people, and 197 million people are subscribed to cell phone companies (Starr). With so many people in today’s society with so much power and opportunity in the palm of their hands, we shouldn’t forget that “With great power comes great responsibility” –Voltaire.
The change in the social life of children and young generation causes research upon technology’s usage of young people. A recent survey shows that adolescents aged between 10-18 waste an average of six to seven hours with electronic devices like computers and smart phones, which cause negative outcomes such as depression, social isolation, anxiety, insomnia, and obesity (“Technology gadgets steal kids' sleep, shows survey”). The good feeling brought on by the chemicals like adrenaline, dopamine as in the gambling addiction and the joy of social networking sites, smartphones, online video games and also not-feeling alone and freedom in virtual world are the factors of technology dependence. This 24/7 online, connected community is actually a place to escape from stress and bad emotions. The countless facilities and alternatives of the virtual world attract the attention of many teens.
The past two decades have overwhelmed the human experience with technology, along with all its distractions. The direct relationship between the mind and the body’s ability to adjust from these distractions can be extremely difficult .Further research has shown that it has become an addiction for many. Technology has significantly improved our lives as a whole through experiences such as Global Positioning System (GPS), cell phones and social networking allowing us to communicate with different people around the world. These technologies make our daily lives easier and more efficient. However, this also discusses the effects of technology on various aspects of our everyday personal experiences both with each other and with the world around us. On the other hand technologies such as cell phones have become a problem in getting students to focus in class and distracting drivers and thus, resulting in vehicle accidents. Technology is beneficial, but can also become an inescapable distraction in our lives. It is important to view technology as having the ability to make our lives better or worse, yet also as having the ability to change our personal lives and behavioral patterns.
Social networks, like Facebook or You Tube can keep someone updated with world events and even local events. It has become part of everyday life in which people can’t live without. But what lies beneath is the evil of how addictive technology can be. The above chart demonstrates that almost 60% of students use electronics more than two hours a day. This shows us that technology can be addictive. Jonathan Mandell’s article Are gadgets, and the Internet, actually addictive, recalls a time in April 2007 when BlackBerry users could not send or receive emails for 11 hours because of a glitch in the system. Many people reported this as a natural disaster (Mandell, 2007). People are relying on technology so much, that it is becoming a major problem in our society when it becomes temporary unavailable. Being able to plan your whole day on your smart phone and lock your front door to your house at the same time contributes to society laziness and dependency on technology. On the chart picture below I surveyed fellow ECPI Students on the question does technology make us lazy and or smatter and this was the results. From this pie chart it’s clearly shown that more than half of the students at ECPI agree that technology is making people lazy. Also the ratio of yes to no is about 6:1, certainly showing that the wrong effects of technology are starting to show up in our society. Choices people make about using their
A beautiful commercial, “Disconnect to Connect”, which was made by Thailand DTAC Company, shows that there are many people always focusing on their cell phones. The commercial shows a man ignoring his girlfriend who is walking with him on the beach, another man neglecting his friends who are playing piano, and a father overlooking his children who are playing around. Then, they smile and find the happiness of life after they turn off their digital devices. These things happen constantly around us every day. Nowadays, the functions of digital devices are stronger, and our eyes and fingers contribute more time on it. There is no doubt that the digital devices make our life more convenient and easier because people can connect with each other immediately. Nonetheless, people should not spend too much time on digital devices for three main reasons: having less face-to-face communication, depriving people’s brains of needed downtime, and negatively influencing people’s health.
Social Media has brought on an epidemic of sleep deprivation to people of all ages. All through the night they wake with the “beeps” and “dings” of new messages. They have been craving the sound of a new message and when it comes, no matter what time of the day (or night), they are quick in responding to whatever and whoever the message may be about. This addiction has been kept in-check but with the cost of a good night’s sleep. Today’s generation has been leaving the thought of sleep behind only to lose valuable relaxation time. Many people “…text, tweet, check messages, and post things right before sleeping” (Addiction). This had been proven to “…reduce melatonin in the brain” (Addiction) thus taking away minute by minute of our precious sleep. We put our phones down when we think necessary and go to sleep only to be awaken again within the next half-an-hour. The fact that we keep our devices on through the night does not help our case.
According to The Huffington Post, people are on their devices for, on average, about eleven hours and fifty-two minutes a day. That is almost half a day and a lot longer than most people sleep or work. People have not yet realized how they or their families are being affected by this constant use of technology. As a result of technology increasing, children are experiencing health problems, school issues, and social problems. First and foremost, health problems due to the increase in technology usage is becoming a bigger issue than one might think.
Raise your hand if you’re one of 44% of Americans that sleep next to their phones at every night. It’s true, so many of us are dependent on our mobile devices, that psychologists are now calling it the “Invisible Addiction”! Since its invention critics have debated every inch of the cell phone. From its usefulness and size, to its effects on health after prolonged usage. The conversation has since shifted. The cell phone market today is flooded with a plethora devices to choose from, sporting top of the line materials and industry leading software, but this just scratches the surface. With over 968 million worldwide smartphone sales in 2013, consumers are feeding into the latest technology that the market has to offer. Though they may become
“An 8-by-10 foot cell no human contact, no chance to see the moon or the stars or the sun, or hear the birds for years and decades? That’s torture.” (Bernstein, 2013) This quote by Keith James, a prisoner advocate, discusses what solitary confinement is like. As extreme as this may be social isolation can be minimally comparable to solitary confinement. In both cases somebody is being isolated from the outside world, the major difference being solitary confinement is forced upon a person while social isolation is a person’s choice. Even though mobile users are claiming that they are using their devices for social purposes only, scholars believe that may be beginning to cause social isolation amongst people (Omotayo, Yiefeng, and Shyam, 2008).
Mobile phone is a device which allows its user to make and receive telephone calls to and from the public telephone network which includes other mobile phones and fixed line phones all around the world The use of cell phones has dramatically became a new age of convenience for billions of people around the world. Teenagers are the majority of mobile users in the world. Mobile phones have become one important part of a teenager's life. The usage of mobile phones has re-shaped, re-organized and altered several social facets of life (Ravidchandran, S. V., (2009)). When focusing on teenagers’ mobile phone usage, literature has provided evidence for both positive and negative effects of mobile phone on teenagers. In this high-tech world a mobile phone equips a teenager with all its needs.