Health Problems of

Communication Technology

By
Mohammed Basurrah
201564030
English 102-29/22
An Introduction to Report Writing
for
Mr. Tom Daly
14 May 2017

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 TABLE OF CONTENETS

INTRODUCTION ……………………………… 3
I. Historical background …………..………… 3
II. Problems …………..……………………..… 4
A. Sleeping problems …………..………... 4
B. Eyestrain …………..………………… . 5
C. Hearing Loss …………..……………… 5

III. Solutions …………..……………….……..… 6

IV. Conclusion …………..……………………… 7

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Introduction

Technology is a usage of knowledge dedicated to producing equipment,

handling out actions, and removal of materials from the earth. The word

‘’Technology” is well known and everybody has his particular way of

understanding the meaning of it. Also, it can be described as an application of

knowledge to solve a problem. We apply this knowledge in almost everything

in our lives. We apply it in working, communicating, transporting, learning,

engineering, creating artifacts, protecting data and many other things that help

us to advance in our lives. Technology is human knowledge, which includes

implements, materials and systems. The use of technology can be seen in items

or products. Although technology benefits people, if it is imperfectly applied, it

will cause many problems especially that related to our health. This report will

discuss these problems with some solutions.

I. Historical background

Going back to nineties, Internet was a new service that many houses had.

As new technologies take place, each technology would compound to form an

enhanced, faster, and stronger portion of technology. With rapidly

improvement, the Internet changed the people’s attitude in living, working,

and operating today. Since the days of dial up, getting into Internet has

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popped up nearly everywhere. It is rare these days that people can go into a

college, library, or anywhere and not being able to access Wi-Fi. If there is

not Wi-Fi in nearby, most people still have access to Internet through their

cellular data on their smartphones.

Conceivably, the most obvious difference in the Internet nowadays is the

ability to be sociable in such an impersonal session. Social networks have

altered the way people participate with one another. Now, the way that people

are connected has altered to a more superficial setting. Although this change,

the procedure of communication has allowed people stay closer to each other.

II. Problems

Phones, tablets, computers and other electronics play a role in our daily lives

that it is often hard to stop looking at them even at night and therefore they

negatively affect us. This section will describe these problems.

A. Sleeping problems

While putting your cell phone next to you may not look like a big deal,

sleeping with it affects you in more ways than you can absorb. Whether you are

surfing internet, watching movies or playing games, you are most likely keeping

yourself from a peaceful relaxing night. According to Murphy, the blue

wavelength light emitted by cell phones, computers or tablets limit the production

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of melatonin, the hormone that promotes your sleeping or waking cycle rhythm.

Decreasing melatonin makes it harder to get sleep.

B. Eyestrain

As reported by NWPC, when we stare at a screen for long time, we frequently

forget to blink our eyes. Indeed, a study has revealed that we blink ten times less

than usual, which indicates the tears that protect our eyes fade without being

replaced. In addition, for most people, reading the smaller fonts on tablets, using

computer for long periods of time, or trying to see in the dark can increase the

strain.

Eye strain may be caused by inappropriate lighting, excessive glaring at the

laptop screen, or wrong position of the computer screen. Also, it may have some

symptoms in the eyes like pain, burning, headache, blurred vision and eye

fatigue. Although eye strain can be one of the reasons for discomfort, it does not

normally result in any lasting problems and it mitigate once you rest your eyes.

C. Hearing Loss

Nowadays, most of communication technology can make sounds up to one

hundred twenty decibels, an amount so high that in about 75 minutes of exposure

through earphones hearing loss can occur. According to Kelechava, you should

only use them with dBs at levels up to 60% of the volume for a maximum of one

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hour, as anything more can be harm to your hearing. Also, you should note that

as the volume get louder the less time you should assign for listening. This

indicates that at maximum volume, you ought not to exceed 5 minutes a day.

Conversely, many people do not give attention to this kind of advice, and the

problem is particularly worse in younger people. Now, one of five teens suffers

from some type of hearing loss. This ratio is actually 30% greater than it was in

the eighties and nineties, also it has been attributed by experts to the overuse of

earphones.

III. Solutions

As have been mentioned above, technology has many problems related to our

health and so there are many solutions to these problems.

A. Use technology less

To have a good night’s sleep, some people admit to using their cell phones,

laptops or tablets a few nights a week in an hour before the sleeping time.

However, to make sure technology is not damaging your sleep, give yourself no

less than half hour of free transition technology time before the end of the hay.

B. Take breaks

To reduce eyestrain, it is important that you take regular screen breaks. Also,

try to blink regularly, because when you focus on your screen for a long period

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of time your reflexes will slow down and therefore you will blink less and your

tear production will be reduced causing the eyestrain.

C. Hearing Aid

Hearing loss is one of the most common health problem in the United States

that negatively affect your life and it can be caused by the exposure to loud

music. As stated in WebMD, when hearing loss is a result of a damage into the

inner ear, a hearing aid can be helpful by increasing sounds to make it easier to

hear. You usually wear these tiny implements in or behind the ear to amplify the

sounds.

IV. Conclusion

To conclude, there are serious problems that are affecting our health attributed

to technology such as sleeping problems, eyestrain, and hearing loss. On the other

hand, there are three different solutions that have been presented in the report. To

begin with, do not take a lot of time on these technology devices and try to take

regular breaks, so you can have a good night’s sleep. Moreover, take regular

screen breaks to prevent your eyes from strain, and finally, while using

headphones, try not to exceed the limit of 60% of the volume, which is the limit

of the safe level.

Number of words = 1057

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 WORKS CITED
"How Does Technology Use Affect Men's & Women's Health?" Northwest Primary Care.

N.p., n .d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017. <http://www.nwpc.com/how-does-technology-use-affect-

mens-womens-health>.

"Severe Hearing Loss." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

<http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/severe-hearing-loss#1>.

Kelechava, Brad. "Dependence on Technology: Future Vision and Hearing Loss." ANSI.

N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017. <https://ansidotorg.blogspot.com/2016/08/technology-vision-

hearing-loss.html>.

Murphy, Kathryn. "Is technology affecting our health?" Ovid: Unimplemented Action. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.

<http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp3.25.0a/ovidweb.cgi?&S=DAICFPNDEGDDLOFMNCGKFFF

BKGFNAA00&WebLinkReturn=Full%2BText%3DL%7CS.sh.50.52.55%7C0%7C0015225

8-201607000-00011&Full%2BText%2BLink=S.sh.50.52%7C10%7Csl_10%7C80%7C2>.