## How Computers Affect Our Lives

  
  
While computers may help our everyday lives, there are some health risks to not properly managing your time and health. We have to make sure we're evaluating our health just as much as we're evaluating our time spent in front of a screen. Computer usage has increased immensely throughout the past 15 years, from roughly 6.8% of the world's population in 2002 to 46.1% in 2016. It has changed the way we do our everyday lives; if we want to get in touch with an old friend from elementary school we can just look them up on Facebook, with one click you can have laundry detergent delivered to your door step within 24 hours. Computers have made it incredibly convenient to do simple things. However at what cost to us does this entail? The average American spend about 10 hours and 39 minutes each day on a computer, tablet, smartphone or other devices. That is roughly 45% of the day spent in from of a screen. With all of that screen time, you have to wonder how that can affect your everyday life.  
  
Having computers and the Internet in our day-to-day lives has impacted us immensely. It makes doing basic everyday tasks so much easier. Instead of buying an entire newspaper to read only the sports section you could just Google articles about sports and have millions of articles in approximately one second. They even help us do something that could be a little more challenging if we didn't have computers. For example, if you wanted to reconnect with your high school sweetheart from 30 years ago, as opposed to having to ask around your old town or attempting to look them up in the phone book you can google them or look them up on Facebook. Even the educational institutes are emphasizing the need for computers to help educate their pupils and also educating them on the use of computers. Computers in the workplace have even improved efficiency. What once used to be something repetitive and prone to human error can now be done by a computer much faster and with few to no mistakes compared to when a human did it. With computers and special programs running simple reports and doing some of the repetitive work it leave more time for employees to work on more challenging things to better the business. However, with all of the positive effects that can come from the use of computers, what kind of negative impact does it have on society and on our health?  
  
Being in front of a screen for approximately 45% of the day has many negative effects on our health. If someone is on the computer for too long without the correct furniture and posture it can cause numerous health issues. The top six heath issues that can arise from misuse of the computer, chair, desk and posture are: muscle soreness/fatigue, repetitive stress injury, vision problems, constant headaches and migraines, obesity and stress disorders. Another issue that can come up carpel tunnel that is when you feel pain in your arms and wrists from constant repetitive movement. One disorder that has arisen from computer usage is called computer vision syndrome, which is something that I found incredibly intriguing. Computer vision syndrome, or CVS, is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome and any other repetitive motion injures one might get at work. It happens when your eyes follow the same path continually, and it gets worse the longer you continue that movement. When at work your eyes have to constantly focus and refocus and they move back and forth across the page, your eyes react to changing images on the screen so the brain can process what you are seeing. All of these tasks require various amounts of muscles in your eye. If left untreated your vision could get progressively worse, which could hinder your performance doing basic tasks like driving, reading and also obstruct your work performance. It is very important for people to know to prevent and treat the symptoms of computer vision syndrome and the other health issues that may arise from being on a computer for too long.  
  
One of the easiest health issues to prevent is your posture that could cause muscle and joint injuries. If you're able to sit at an adjustable desk specially designed for computers, if you're unable to sit at an adjustable desk get a step stool to rest your feet on and make sure the computer monitor is at eye level or slightly lower. The keyboard should be at a height that let your elbows rest comfortable by your sides. Also take frequent breaks to walk around or stretch to keep your circulation going. It is important to balance out your computer use by exercising. Exercising can help with the constant headaches and migraines, obesity and stress related disorders. To help prevent computer vision syndrome make sure if you need glasses that you wear them, and if your able to invest in the special coating that help adjust the lighting on computers to make it easier to see. Also do the 20-20-20 rule where for every 20 minutes look at something roughly 20 feet away for 20 seconds, this helps your eye muscles relax. To prevent carpel tunnel it's important to type lightly and gently and when you're not typing to remove your hands from the keyboard and let your arms relax by your side. Additionally when using your mouse to use your entire arm and not just your wrist. If any other the health issues get serious you may want to consult a doctor to explore your other options.  
  
The health issue that I'm most concerned about is computer vision syndrome. Which I was researching I read about computer glasses. Computer glasses are not the glasses themselves; it is just a special coating or tint that they put on your lenses to help with the glare of the computer screen. Having that special coating on your glasses can greatly benefit you in the future. Not only does it reduce the glare from computers but the eyestrain, blurred vision and constant headaches can reduce as well. We have the tendency to peer over our glasses but it is necessary to look through your glasses, if you do that then it helps promote clearer vision which can also reduce the strain on your neck and back.  
  
While the use of computers in preschool children may increase their readiness for school and achievement academically there is more health risks that may arise on their growing bodies. Like adults, if children spend too much time in front of the computer they have a greater risk for developing computer vision syndrome and computer ergonomic problems. Additionally too much time spent in front of a screen increases their exposure to harmful blue lights. There is also a risk for behavioral and psychological issues. Children run the risk becoming dependent on the computer which can have them potentially hide real life issues that the child may be experiencing. They can often struggle with paying attention and controlling themselves in the classroom if they are used to learning at computer speed. To help avoid these problems, parents should be giving the child plenty of opportunity to spend time outside and to spend time with their peers and interacting with them.  
  
Another issue with computers and children is that the Internet is a plethora of information and inappropriate sites for them. No matter how many parental locks you may have on the computer there always going to be that one website that an extremely curious child may come across. It can potentially hurt them physiologically if they come across something like extreme violence or even pornography. Since their minds are still growing and forming, they are highly susceptible to be obsessed with something long term. With these bad effects they will more than likely attempt to watch these violent, pornographic videos, or something that is beyond their ages.  
  
There seems to be divided opinions on whether or not having students use computers in the classroom and at home benefits their education or hurts them in the long run. It is often a topic of discussion when it comes to primary school levels. Some argue that it's unnecessary for children to learn about how to use a computer in the beginning years of their schooling. Others argue that it is an important basic skill that children should know before moving on with their education. I believe that teaching children in primary school how to do basic things on the computer is incredibly helpful.  
  
It is a popular argument that children have to learn computers sooner rather than later because it can possibly hinder their progress in considering their future for potential profession. If they have to learn basic computer skills later in life, like in high school, it does not give them the time to really explore all of the possible careers in the fields of computers. So once it comes time to choose a major for college they can be unsure of some options and choose something that is possibly not something they really want to do in life.  
  
Another thing to help prevent health issues cause by computers is to know about computer ergonomics and apply them when using a computer. When you sit down make sure to adjust your chair to have your feet firmly planted on the ground and make sure to sit up straight. Also make sure to move, as in stretch. At least every 10 minutes take a short break, only 10-20 seconds to take your hands off the keyboard and stretch a little bit. Every 30-60 minutes take a 2-5 minute break to stretch some more, or even better walk around. Heavy computer users who successfully avoided computer related pain moved every 7 minutes.  
  
I believe it is important put your health first when working on a computer. We get sucked into a routine and worry about finishing a project in time and we forget to get up and move. I think in today's society we also get tunnel vision when working on a computer so we get forgetful and not worry about exercising. Being on the computer can sometimes be mentally exhausting so when we're off from work or done working on a computer for the day we get lazy and tired and don't work out. But it's incredibly important to make sure your taking care of yourself while working on a computer. Frequent exposure to computers causes the loss of health and interaction to other people. When it come to children and computers it's important for parents to monitor their child's screen time and to make sure they are just as active outside as they are on the computer, if not more.