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Millions Of People Likely Suffering From Computer Vision Syndrome

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Research Memo #2

The Role of Technology Is in Your Heart and Soul

       While researching texts, I found the usage of technology is a popular topic because many professors, that are scientists, have written articles and books. Two articles were helpful, "A Global Model of Technological Utilization Based on Governmental, Business-Investment, Social, and Economic Factors," and, "The Role of Technology in Education." These articles discussed how technology affects education, businesses, and individuals. I could not find much information on exactly how businesses would be affected, but found some relevant information that specifies in what versatile ways technology makes a business grow. My goal is to share what I found in my research and explicitly answer my research questions.

      To understand the articles, I highlighted the key points and numbered the paragraphs. Then, I re-read the information and developed a clear understanding of the author's point. According to "The Role of Technology in Education" the role of technology in a school setting is to facilitate learning; it is supposed to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Looking back at my past experiences, I can see the relevance in the author's theory because by using Edmodo turning in assignments has been fascilitated. "A Global Model of Technological Utilization Based on Governmental, Business-Investment, Social, and Economic Factors," defines technology as physical systems that support access to information and means of communications.

      Technology has increased rapidly worldwide; for example, in 2009, the number of Internet users worldwide was estimated at 1.67 billion, or 25 percent of global population. Technology is used everywhere; it is used to make economies grow, to help children and adults learn, and for the "needs" of humans. These advancements help people everywhere live simpler and more efficient lives. My leading question is: What would happen if the US lost access to technology for one whole day; what would happen to schools, businesses, and individuals? This is a controversial question because many would believe nothing would go wrong and everything would stay the same. One article expressed, "...technology will continue to have an impact, in terms of how we train our teachers and how those teachers instruct their students. Specifically, technology can remove physical barriers to learning, such as geographic proximity and financial costs, through technology that facilitates distance learning. The increasing prevalence of databases can be used for job performance assistance as well as changing the way we teach students..." this is how schools would be affected. Teaching and the way kids learn would take a 360 degree turn because there would be no more computers, no more online navigations, or gizmos... . Every lab and experiment would have to be done in real life. Could you imagine not being able to make a quick PowerPoint and having to make a huge project board? Wouldn't that change your opinion of what could happen if we did not live with technology?

      Technology furthers the growth of businesses; if there was no technology our economy would hit a downfall. "Business and technology investment, and socioeconomic level are posited to influence technological utilization." Technology has both positive and negative effects on businesses; there is a negative impact because businesses could not function without it and there is a possibility of electronic thefts. "Cybercrime costs the economy about $1 trillion per year and crooks are increasingly setting their sights on small businesses. A look at the most destructive threat to your network and what you need to do about them."

     Individuals and technology are connected. The 21st century people cannot go without having a cell phone, a laptop (computer), iPod, or any other electronic. Everyone is always on social networks; for instance, Facebook, Twitter, or Formspring. All get a sense of adrenaline from using electronics, as if every time they have contact they become the king or queen of the world. We charge our batteries by using our devices, but this is not good. The first negative of using computers is cyberbullying. You may think this never happens because it has never happened to you, but you may not know it and you are the next victim. Second, you can shorten your attention span and develop deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Lady Greenfield, neuroscientist and a baroness of Britain, says, "My fear is that these technologies are infantilizing the brain into the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and who live for the moment." Third, by looking at a screen, too intently, constantly you can ruin your vision.

    Technology brings as much good as bad into our lives. In real, there is not a right and wrong when it comes to using technology because both come from its utilization. Although, America and beyond would fall if technology became extinct we could probably find a way to get back on our feet. The suffering would soon enough turn into prosperity even if it means starting from scratch. We really cannot know what would happen because we have not experienced it. Albert Einstein said, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science."

Preliminary links and descriptions

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/technology-schools-and-a-big-black-bug/?scp=8&sq=technology&st=cse

This is an article from the New York Times that is called, “Technology, Schools and a Big Black Bug.” This article, by Matt Richtel, is about a father keeping his son from technology because he believes that his son is more connected to the world that way. He lets his son use some technology because he is worried that his son will grow up with “craves” of wanting to use electronics. This article is helpful because it gives a parent’s opinion of how technology could affect a child and it also explains how technology can shorten a person’s attention span.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?scp=4&sq=technology&st=cse

This is also an article from the New York Times, “A Silicon Valley School that doesn’t compute.” This article is saying how the big time chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to Waldorf Elementary School and so do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard. They send their children to a school that is completely secluded from technology. The article by Matt Richtel explains that it’s not necessary to have technology for children to learn because Waldorf Elementary School is all about pencil and paper and they are high achievers.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/the-health-effects-of-social-networking/

This is an article from the New York Times, “The Health Effects of Social Networking.” In this article Lady Greenfield, a specialist in neuroscience and baroness, explains that children should not be on social networks because they are susceptible to having a short attention span causing them to get deficit hyperactivity disorder.

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/computer-vision-syndrome

This is an article from Web MD, “Computer Vision Syndrome.” This article explains that if you are looking at a computer screen intently and constantly in your day you could develop Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). This is a helpful article because you can learn that you may be at risk to getting CVS.

Research Memo #1

Tech, too, Can Make Some Wrecks

Hypothesis:
What would happen if the US lost access to technology for one whole day; what would happen to schools, businesses, and individuals?  My hypothesis is that no one is going to think schools, businesses or individuals will be affected because they do not understand how much businesses or schools use computers. As individuals, they may think they are fine, but businesses would not function efficiently. Businesses would crash and schools would have to go back and give all assignments with pencil and paper, "world's first computer."

Context:

I conducted research on the over usage of computers in the US to the many people on the Horry Georgetown Technical College Conway Campus. I chose this place because there is a variety of ages there. The above question can easily be an opinion question, but if in reality it actually happened there would only be one answer. If computers were not to be used in businesses all of their information would be lost and the economy would begin to deflate. I am in a troublesome situation because I go to school and if no computers were used I do not believe I could complete my assignments on time; everything would have to be handwritten.

Results:

Figure 1- Analysis of Survey

	Female	Male
Usage of Computers	4/13: Once or Twice a day 9/13: Use them 27/7	4/12: Once or Twice a day 8/12: 24/7
Age Groups	13-18: 8   45-53: 2 26-35: 3	13-18: 6   19-25: 3 36-44: 1   45-53: 2
What They Use Computers For(All that apply)	Schoolwork: 8 Work: 6 Fun: 9	Schoolwork: 6 Work: 4 Fun: 5
How greatly would not having your electronics affect you? (Scale of 1-10)	10: 5 people 7-9: 3 people 5-6: 3 people 4 and below: 2 people	10: 3 people 7-9: 3 people 5-6: 2 person 4 and below: 4 people
There are greater disadvantage than advantages when using computers.	Strongly Agree: 2 Agree:4 Disagree: 5 Strongly Disagree:2	Strongly Agree: 2 Agree: 4 Disagree: 5 Strongly Disagree:1
Over usage of computers is a problem in the US.	Yes: 5 No: 8	Yes:6 No: 6
Over usage of computers is a worldwide problem.	Yes: 6 No: 7	Yes: 4 No:  8
Do you believe using computers can give health concerns?	Yes:13 No: 0	Yes: 10 No: 2
Using computers constantly can cause vision problems.	Yes: 13 No: 0	Yes: 10 No: 2

Data Analysis:

Both Male and Females had different opinions among themselves. Gender played a big role on opinions because males and females tend to have different opinions on subjects. This is helpful information because it helps me know which gender would be more affected by the loss of electronics. The different age groups also affected the responses; people who were older tended to be less affected by the loss of electronics. I believe that out of the twenty-five surveys I passed out twenty of them were answered honestly. Most of the people who answered the survey did not believe that the over usage of computers is a worldwide problem or an issue in the US, but it was almost close to those who did believe it was a problem. From the surveys I learned that as you get older you use computers more often, but if you weren't to have your electronics it would not affect you as much. That shows that younger generations are becoming more dependent on technology and that is a problem. Everyone who took my survey believed that my strongest point was my main question: What would happen if the US lost access to technology for one whole day; what would happen to schools, businesses, and individuals? They also thought that including health concerns was very important for those who used electronics, especially computers 24/7.     

Conclusion:
My strongest point was very controversial and could affect many individuals, as well as the economy as a whole. As I said in my hypothesis, more people believed that not having technology for a day would not affect, but the statistics of yes and no were closer than I thought. This survey was very helpful because I now know where to begin to persuade people.
Follow up:

Now that the surveys are complete I am going to continue my research to put on my blog. I will show what health concerns can be caused by using computers excessively and how the economy would go into downfall without technology.