People's heads are no longer "in the clouds," so to speak, but staring straight down at their computers, laptops, and yes, these convenient smartphones. This technology is undoubtedly affecting our habits and our health. Many people are losing the ability to hold a conversation, and to pay attention for extended periods of time. They are constantly dialed in to these small screens as a means of escaping boredom, human interaction, and more.
Did you know that staring down at your device is like having an eight-year old sitting on your head while you are standing? When you're typing a message, reading an e-mail, or browsing the Internet, you're enduring about 60 pounds of pressure. The average person spends two to four hours a day in this position.
Dr. Hansraj's notes in his paper, published in Surgical Technology International, that part of having good posture entails having your ears aligned with the shoulders and your shoulder blades back. Doing so lowers body stress and even decreases cortisol. However, poor posture stresses the spine and may even lead to surgery from all the wear and tear.
A quick solution would be to put our phones down once and for all, but since that's probably not a feasible option for many of us, you can try to hold your phone straight in front of you instead of bending your head down. Place your device at a 30 degree angle when typing or tapping to protect your wrists, at a right angle if you're reading, and keep your neck back rather than forward.
Worst invention... Ever! OK, well maybe not ever, but it's up there. They'll use the info in the article above to push Google glass and implants to save us all. Not better! Then we'll be upright zombies instead of always with the head down. Our modern technology is frighteningly debilitating in so many ways. Progress as promised, but sometimes you progress down a road and can't turn around. Body snatchers meets Terminator. We'll be so easy to control maybe the Matrix will turn out real after all and we can be useful, living batteries. Sadly, I'd be willing to bet there would be more than just a few takers on such a virtual reality. As things continue to swoosh downhill here on the BBM, people might even beg for it. The smart phone is leading the charge towards a dumber, more pliable, willing set of participants in obscurity. But hey, enjoy all the cat videos ; - ) BTW, have you noticed how there is a new smartphone that comes with VR? Yeah, it's coming down the pipeline. Thinking is too hard. Just plug in, lose your humanity, and relax...