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snap to get as hooked on surfing the net as we are stuck on breathing oxygen. We can find practically everything we need online and don't really need to leave the house as long as we
have a credit card or a Paypal account for retailers offering shipping services. How great it is to have the information highway at our fingertips when we need it the most. Why even bother firing up the flat screen TV when streaming video fulfills our need to kick back and be entertained with the
latest movies, concerts and sports. (Are you a dedicated "Youtuber?" For your information, even Pope Benedict XVI has a Youtube channel.)
There are many of us that depend on computers and the Internet for our careers and businesses. They are necessary tools for the work we do, but they can become the double-edged sword our mothers cautioned us against when we innocently began playing our first computer games. There are
real and present dangers to spending too much time with a computer. The physical and mental implications can be serious. It's just not good to sit in the same position for that many hours because of the physical strain, but even worse is the addictive nature of the technology.
Signs You Are a Computer/Internet Addict
- You stop talking to your friends in person and only
communicate through chat messaging. - You know your online friends better than your real life
friends. - Chat acronyms such as LOL, ROFL and G2CU become your new
first language. - You own multiple desktop and laptop computers, and use
all of them. - You get the Internet on your cell phone or hand-held
mobile device for times when you can't sit in front of your
real computer. - You only fly with airlines that offer WiFi while in flight.
- You telecommute on your computer for your job and entertain yourself online during off hours.
- You Instant Message your friends even while sitting in
the same room with them.
- You stop reading actual books and only read downloadable
versions. - You sleep with your laptop.
- The monthly payment on your new state-of-the-art laptop
is higher than your rent or mortgage payment. - You stop cooking real food and live on microwavable
frozen dinners that heat in three minutes or less. - You reserve your lap for your laptop only; your children,
pets and spouse can forget about it. - You compulsively check your emails, Facebook page,
Twitter and MySpace page. - You find ways to use Google as a noun, verb, adverb,
adjective and so on. - You know what "HTML" stands for.
- You fall for the Google April Fool's joke every year
despite promising yourself not to get caught this
time.
The Physical Dangers of Working on a Computer
While your mind is occupied with important issues such as the pros and cons of web 2.0, your body is taking a beating from prolonged hours in front of the computer. Although permanent eye damage may not be typical among frequent computer users, temporary eye strain takes a toll. After staring at a monitor for hours without blinking enough some users get migraine headaches. It's a good idea to look out a window once in a while to give your eyes a break from ogling the screen a few
inches from your face for lengthy periods.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is another hazard of constant computer use. You will notice achiness in your wrists and tingling in your fingers. Eventually you will not be able to hold onto a pen or a fork for more than a few seconds without your hands cramping up. There are ergonomic keyboards and wrist supports out there that relieve some of the stress on your nerves and tendons.
Back pain and neck pain can also cause a lot of trouble. It's all too easy to get into the habit of hunching over a computer and developing bad posture. You can try getting an ergonomic chair to help you sit up straight, but it is just as important to get up and move around or stretch periodically. Constant computer users must remember physical exercise is not covered by watching skate board video clips for sixty minutes a day.
Aside from getting into a line of work or lifestyle that excludes computers and the Internet the real computer geeks have come up with a few tricks to save us from our own demise. For example, there are free, downloadable (don't you just love the sound of this) programs that remind you to take a break.
Take a Break Solutions
Workrave (www.workrave.com/) is a program that helps in the prevention and recovery of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) by alerting you to take breaks and micro-pauses. A handy window with a timer pops up and tells you to get up, walk around, stretch and relax. It offers a skip or postpone button which you should really do your best to ignore. This program will also limit the number of hours you determine you can be on.
Scirocco Take a Break (www.scirocco.ca/takeabreak.html) is another free program that helps you monitor your daily computer usage. It sits in your system tray and reminds you when to take a break.
The geeks at Google Gmail Labs added a feature a while back for compulsive email checkers to help them avoid becoming slaves to their PCs. This type of behavior can be quite distracting and impinges on a person's productivity. The “Email Addict” function allows you to click on a link which pops up a message that reads "Take a walk, get some real work done, or have a snack. We'll be back in 14 minutes." It covers your screen and prevents you from using your email for a few minutes. You become invisible in the chat application.
The End of the Internet
The computer and the Internet are exceptionally useful tools and have their place in the lives of busy, productive people. It is one of the most practical ways to communicate a message
to a large audience. It is important to remember there is more to life than code, although some do say "code is poetry." Do a Google search for "end of the internet" and you will come up with a list of interesting results. One site (www.wwwdotcom.com) says this:
"Attention: You have reached the very last page of the Internet. We hope you have enjoyed your browsing. Now turn off your computer and go outside."