Design For bodies
Technologies Impact on Physical Health:
The strain that technology has on one's physical health is undeniable. As the industry grows at an incredibly fast pace, the negative effects are never ending. What is most notable, is that they all cycle back to one another. The three main and most notable tolls that technology takes on our mental health would be: sleep, physical inactivity, and eye strain. Furthermore, all of these effects carry their own additional issues. Multiple of the research articles used in this web portal say the same thing: it is shown that lack and sleep and physical inactivity can cause the likely hood of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and different types of cancer, to rise significantly. For example, according to, "How Sleep Impacts Your Mental and Physical Well-Being" by Dr. Michael Breus, "When you are tired your body produces more cortisol...This hormone is also closely linked to heart attacks and heart disease...the Centers for Disease Control reports that reducing your sleep by even a few hours can drastically decrease the effectiveness of the NK cells that help fight off tumors." (Breus, 1) Another article says, "We found those who had both the poorest sleep quality and who exercised the least were most at risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and cancer." (Bo-Huei Huang, 1) The substantial use of technology can also cause a great deal of strain and harm to our eyes. On devices like computers, smartphones, and TVs emit blue light, which can be harmful to our eyes when we are exposed to it for long periods of time. When we look at screens for extended periods of time, our eyes have to work harder to focus, which can lead to fatigue and discomfort. Additionally, the glare from screens can cause us to blink less frequently, leading to dry eyes. To help prevent eye strain, it is important to take regular breaks from looking at screens and to try to reduce glare by adjusting screen settings or using a screen filter. Similarly to how sleep and physical activity connect, eye-strain is strongly linked with a lack of sleep issue. The blue light from screens reduces the body's natural production of melatonin at night. While all of these effects may seem overwhelming in a digital age, there are ways to combat them.
How to Take Care of Your Physical Health:
- 20-20-20
- Don't Bring Technology In the Bedroom - instead, opt for a book or some sort of sound to fall asleep to. If you absolutely have to have your computer or phone with you at night, invest in blue light glasses. They can improve your sleep and protect your eyes. There is also the option of using "screen filters, apps that minimize blue light" (DigitalResponsibility.org)
- Physical activity apps:can provide customized exercise plans based on your specific needs and goals, as well as provide rewards and incentives to make improving your physical health an appealing and engaging process.
The 20-20-20 technique is an incredibly useful practice that allows your eyes to relax consistently and take methodical breaks while using screens for extensive amounts of time, especially while we're now in the digital world. Click the button below to see directions on how to complete the 20-20-20 technique. (Medical News Today, 2)
How Technology Affects Your Mental Health:
The overuse of technology has been linked to a number of negative effects on mental health. Prolonged use of electronic devices can lead to a variety of problems, including depression, increased stress and anxiety, and social isolation. The constant barrage of information and stimuli from technology can also overwhelm the mind and often lead to symptoms of attention deficit disorder. I myself struggle with intense ADD, especially when it comes to learning and staying focused. However, I never had any trouble in school when I was younger. While this may be for many reasons, research proves that technology and excessive screen use has lead many in my generation and generally to develop forms of ADHD symptoms. According to, an article on NPR, "By and large, students who frequently used six or more activities had a higher likelihood of developing ADHD symptoms." (2) It should also be noted that ADHD and ADD symptoms can circle back to forms of all of the mental side effects of technology, most specifically feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. Additionally, the pressure to constantly be connected and in-the-know can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The thing is, most of the information and items we're valuing ourselves on is fake, and they're unavoidable. Technology is designed to keep us drawn in. People in the tech world profit the most when we're at our most insecure. For example, according to the Pew Research Center, "Today, we now also have organizations that are actively vying for our attention, distracting us with smartphone notifications, highly personalized news, addictive games, Buzzfeed-style headlines and fake news...is that engagement with this kind of content means that we are spending less time building and maintaining relationships with actual people." (PEW, 1) This type of addiction and constant phone use leads to the loss of in-person connection. “In a nationally representative sample of adolescents, more social media use was associated with more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness." (National Library of Medicine, 1) These two articles mention of the taking away of time spent with in-person loved ones directly correlates to the rates of depression rising due to technology. At this point, you might want to throw away your phone, but there are ways to help.
Hey you! Maybe this could help:
"Starting with the desired effect of helping people deal with depression, he developed Panoply, a crowdsourced website for improving mental health. The site, which was the focus of his doctoral thesis at MIT Media Lab, trained users to reframe and reassess negative thoughts, embedding an established technique called cognitive behavioral therapy in an engaging, unthreatening interface. After a study confirmed the site's effectiveness, Morris formed a company and is now working on turning the idea into a polished consumer app." (Vanhemert, 1)
How to Protect Your Mental Health From Technology
- Mental health resources: Take a positive twist on technology and utilize the abundance of resources at our fingertips who are willing and able to help. Including: The National Crisis Hotline, BetterHelp, 24/7 Therapy, The Trevor Project, and more!
- Speak up! "The most important thing we can do to mitigate the negative social effects of the internet is to draw on social scientific and communication research to understand the multifaceted roles it plays in public and private lives...Holding algorithms, and the companies responsible for them, accountable for their role in shifting and shaping social and political power dynamics." (PEW, 4)
- Set up 'Focus' on your iPhone or Android. This step is imperative to combatting technology and mental health. Click the buttons below for instructional links on how to set up focus!
Design for society
Negative Impacts of Technology on Society and Culture
Technology, especially AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is growing to be quite harmful towards society, and will continue to grow if we do not make action towards change. Some of the main effects that technology has on society is contributing to systemic racism and its influence on politics and major social issues through propaganda and fake news. What do the root of of these effects have in common? Artificial Intelligence.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
AI is the technological simulation of human intelligence by machines that are programmed to think and act like humans, in a sense of creation and productivity. AI can be used and trained to perform a variety of tasks, such as recognizing speech and images, making decisions, and solving problems. This may sound revolutionary and thrilling, but the software also raises important ethical concerns about the role of machines, without humanity, in society. This especially relates to exploring the ideas of designing humane technology. Ex: "It’s worth considering that right now, at this very moment, algorithmic systems that we call “artificial intelligence” are wrecking people’s lives—they have outsized and detrimental effects that are restructuring society without super-intelligence." (Ongweso, 3)
You may be wondering, what does a computer/tech software have to do with systemic racism? The algorithms and data used to train artificial intelligence systems can perpetuate or even amplify existing biases and stereotypes, especially those that exist online. There are dangerous biases and hateful information all over the internet. Some examples of racism within AI include facial recognition systems that are less accurate for people with dark skin, language models that use offensive language, and predictive algorithms that disproportionately label people of color as criminals. Not convinced? Consider this statement from the article, "Racism in Technology: How Our Tools Acquire Bias" by 'Parker Software', "AI has already demonstrated racism in its facial recognition technology. For example, Joy Buolamwini recently discovered that a robot recognised her face better when she wore a white mask. Another example is the webcam that couldn’t track non-white faces. Not to mention the AI slip-up that tagged an African American couple ‘gorillas’ in their photos." (PS, 2) This even connects strongly to issues of propaganda and fake news, as with so much media spreading everyday, and no 'Net Neutrality', (the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.) The similarities are unfortunate but undeniable, it is extremely important that we reform AI within these areas.
"It’s been possible to alter video footage for decades, but doing it took time, highly skilled artists, and a lot of money. Deepfake technology could change the game. As it develops and proliferates, anyone could have the ability to make a convincing fake video, including some people who might seek to “weaponize” it for political or other malicious purposes." (CNN, 1)
How We Can Create a Positive Relationship Between Society and Technology
- Be Aware. The most critical thing we can do to prevent negative effects of AI is be smarter than the machine. Stay frequent within credible information and follow a 'cognitive bias map' like the one below.
- Use diverse training data: To assist eliminate bias in the final model, make sure that the training data used to construct AI algorithms represents a diverse variety of people and communities.
- Regularly evaluate and test for bias: It's critical to routinely check AI programs and models for bias and make adjustments to rid them of prejudice. Although we're putting our work in AI hands, it is important that we work with AI, instead of being replaced by it. This can be accomplished using a variety of techniques, including the use of bias detection algorithms, the execution of blind tests, or the assessment of the model by a diverse team of people to look for potential bias.
Design for Earth
Disruption of Our Earth: Technology's Contribution to Climate Harm Isn't Talked About Enough
The main impact of technology on our Earth would likely be E-Waste.
What is E-Waste?
E-waste, also known as electronic waste, refers to discarded electronic devices and components that are no longer usable. However, in a lot of cases, they even are unusable. Do to an overwhelming growth of greed and consumerism, new devices come out almost if not every year and more. Even when there is nothing wrong with our current devices, we're always trained to want something shinier and more new. E-Waste is very closely related to "The Story of Stuff" project. "The Story of Stuff" video states, "Guess what percentage of total materials flow through this system is still in product or use 6 months after the date of sale in North America?...1%. One! In other words, 99% of the stuff we harvest, mine, process, and transport - 99% of the stuff we run through this system is trashed within 6 months." (The Story of Stuff) This project is an incredibly useful examination of capitalism and economics and its negative impact on our planet's well being; it very closely relates to an explanation and solution of why we have so much E-Waste.
Not only is the simply existence of E-Waste extremely damaging, but its end location is terrible for our Earth. A ridiculously large portion of E-Waste ends up in From the video, "The Problem With E-Waste" by Global Citizen, "In 2014 nearly 60% of old electronics were dumped into landfills. The other 40% was recycled, and 25% of that was then shipped to a developing nations." Also, "Electronic waste, or E-Waste, is now the fastest growing source of toxic waste in the world." (GC, 1) Proper disposal of e-waste is important for both environmental and health reasons. Improper disposal of e-waste, such as dumping it in landfills or burning it, can release hazardous materials into the air and water, potentially contaminating soil and drinking water. In addition, the improper handling of e-waste can expose workers and individuals in the surrounding community to these hazardous materials, leading to health problems such as respiratory issues and neurological disorders. These health issues are proven in research done by, "Lancet Planet Health," in the National Library of Medicine stating, "Nine cross-sectional studies from China estimated the effect of e-waste-derived toxic chemicals on physical growth indicators. In general, increased toxicant levels were associated with poor foetal development in early life" and "In three studies, blood lead exposure was associated with decreased child growth and development." (LPH, 2) Think of this in relation to the issues we've already talked about involving technology and health and society.
This idea really shows the significance of E-Waste within all three of Designing Humane Techs core topics. It is a vicious cycle with no end. So if you find yourself saying, 'well I'm only one person there isn't much I can do.' That is where you're wrong. That is how these cycles continue. Take a step in the right direction, for the betterment of yourself and everything around you. No one is going to do it for you.
What Steps Can You Take Towards Helping Our Earth In the Widely Digital Age?
- Keep your electronics for as long as possible instead of buying new ones frequently.
- Repair electronics using YouTube video instructions.Use rechargeable devices.
- Recycle devices in US with centers that bear E-Stewards certification.
- Design for long term use or interchangeable parts
- Educate yourself and others. Consider 'The Story of Stuff', think about your actions and how they might to hurting the earth.
If you're looking for a place to start, check out my additional web portal designed to provide resources in the easiest way possible:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth
resources
Additional Credits:
A Web Portal by Caroline Engel
New Media 200 With Jon Ippolito and Sean Lopez
Design For Bodies Resources:
http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/health-issues-caused-by-electronics-use
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/04/17/the-future-of-well-being-in-a-tech-saturated-world/
https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/preemptive-safety/impacts-of-technology-on-health
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/06/30/physical-activity-may-counter-serious-health-harms-of-poor-sleep.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321536#how-to-use-it
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/17/629517464/more-screen-time-for-teens-may-fuel-adhd-symptoms
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8482183/
https://www.wired.com/2015/04/social-network-designed-combat-depression/
Design For Society Resources:
https://www.parkersoftware.com/blog/racism-in-technology-how-our-tools-acquire-bias/
https://www.parkersoftware.com/blog/racism-in-technology-how-our-tools-acquire-bias/
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/business/pentagons-race-against-deepfakes/
https://twitter.com/NannaInie/status/1536276032319279106
https://www.vice.com/en/article/93aqep/google-deepmind-researcher-co-authors-paper-saying-ai-will-eliminate-humanity
https://traviswhitecommunications.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Cognitive-Biases-Grouped.png
Design For Earth Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmJFVmtWf-I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM
https://fortune.com/longform/apple-iphone-recycle-parts-old-iphones-daisy/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8674120/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ6TEkpn5Cw
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth
Credits:
Created with images by Firn - "Single heart organ model on pink background" • DimaBerlin - "Sleepy young caucasian woman in glasses rubbing her eyes, feels tired after working on a laptop, lying on pillow, front view/ Overwork, tired, health concept/ Exhausted and fatigue eyes" • kieferpix - "People power and strength. Strong woman breaking free overcoming life's difficulties, mental strength concept." • Kaspars Grinvalds - "Burnout and failure at work" • netrun78 - "Lightbox with motivation words for self care, positive thinking, mental health, emotional wellness" • sompong_tom - "face urban society good and bad city background" • Iakov - "Three eggs with note "100", "%", "quality" and black hammer with brown handle are on the black background/table. World Quality Day." • Gabriel Cassan - "pile of mixed electronic waste" • everythingpossible - "Studio macro of a stethoscope and texture globe with digital tab"