How to Choose the Right Electronic Gadgets for You

Introduction     

 Electronic gadget refers to any device that is operated by electronic technology. Spear, knife, axe as gadgets for protection were used by humans even in the ancient periods of the world. However, gadgets were not based on electronic operation. Originally, man developed the usage of machines and used them to make himself capable but today it is different. Today the world is in the grip of technology. Each day there is the emergence of new gadgets especially the development of Smartphones which has a very bad impact on our mind and health. Children and youth are among the most affected. Excessive gaming, spending hours on different social site platforms, watching porn, etc., are some of the initial signs.

The positive impact of Electronic gadgets              

 Electronic gadgets have revolutionized many aspects of daily life, providing numerous positive impacts across various domains:

1. Communication

• Connectivity: Smartphones and tablets are devices that allow making calls with your friends and relatives without being limited geographically, texting as well as making video calls.
• Social Networking: Through electronic gadgets, clients and customers can be able to communicate, network, and sustain relations despite the geographical differences.

2. Education

• Access to Information: A gadget helps to search and have easy access to information and other educational materials on the internet, hence, better access to information.
• Educational Tools: Android tablets and eBook readers and PCs and laptops provide students with practical means of learning through educational pads, with internet courses and applications.

3. Health and Fitness

• Health Monitoring: Smart clothes, pendants, bracelets, watches, fitness and sleep trackers, that assist in tracking one’s physical activity, heartbeat, sleeping, and other signs, contribute to people’s healthy lifestyle.
• Telemedicine: Telemedicine is a practice of medicine where patients can consult with doctors using their mobile devices such as smartphones, and tablets enhancing their access to health care.

4. Convenience and Efficiency

• Task Management: Smartphones and smart home devices such as Smart home appliances, alarm clocks, calendars, etc., assist in planning for the day and controlling the devices in the away.
• Productivity: These pocket devices have built-in tools that aid in working on documents and managing projects, thus improving workflow.

5. Economic Impact

• E-commerce: Thereby, gadgets help in the purchase of products and services online hence advancing the expansion of e-commerce.
• Remote Work: Laptop, tablets, and Smartphones promote work from anywhere thus creating employment and other opportunities in various fields.   

Negative Impact of Electronic Gadgets

1.Impact on health

             The most worrisome negative effect of electronic gadgets is the harm that it does to the health of the user. The radiation that the electronic devices release can cause harm no matter the level of radiation it releases. The higher the level of radiation, the higher the negative impact on health and vice versa. This era of technology has brought a common ideology that electronic gadgets are a necessity for survival but it is not so.

• Eye Strain: Viewing screens for a long can cause digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome that results in discomfort, blurred vision, and headache.
• Poor Posture: Prolonged use of gadgets such as Smartphones and tablets leads to posture changes hence neck, shoulder, and back aches.
• Sleep Disruption: Blue light emitted from screens disrupts melatonin secretion which is instrumental in controlling sleep; therefore, screen usage before going to bed will lead to insomnia and poor sleep quality.

• Addiction: Overdependence on gadgets results in dependency and this entails a person not being able to regulate his/her usage to allow a chance to partake in other activities or attend to vital aspects in his/her life.
• Anxiety and Depression: The addictive use of the internet, social networking sites, and other similar sites has been associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and a general sense of isolation.
• Reduced Attention Span: Having constant connectivity and access to entertainment ultimately creates the problem of having a decreased ability to concentrate or wait longer on tasks.

  2. Social impact and Over dependency on the electronic gadgets

                  Building relationships is an important part of life. The technology has made it easier to connect people across the globe but it has reduced the real-time experience of meeting people face to face. Meeting people face to face has many positive results in knowing the person etc and things work out better in physical presence.

• Reduced Face-to-Face Interaction: The use of electronic means of communication impacts the lack of face-to-face and social skills, and hence, their relationships.
• Cyberbullying: One of the negative effects associated with the use of electronic gadgets is that it provides cover to practice cyberbullying, which is likely to cause the victims emotional and psychological breakdown.
• Privacy Concerns: Gadgets, entail the sharing of personal details in social networks creating controversies on privacy and data.

3. Impact on Children: 

Specifically, negative impacts of TV in children include; poor language development, reduced physical exercise, and poor achievement in other aspects of learning.

Educational Distraction: On the brighter side, gadgets in learning can be useful tools that act as learning aids but on the flip side, gadgets, and other related items can hamper learning in a big way.

4. Environmental impact.

                   The radiation and other energy frequencies released from electronic gadgets harm not only humans but all the living and nonliving (indirectly) in the environment.

• Resource Depletion

Mining and Raw Materials: Electronic gadgets involve the use of raw materials that have to be mined; metals such as gold, silver platinum, and rare earth metals. The extraction of these materials affects the local ecosystem through effects such as loss of habitat, soil erosion, and contamination of water resources.

Energy Consumption: ”The lifespan of the gadgets is short and involves the manufacturing process which consumes much energy hence affecting the non-renewable energy sources and carbon emissions.

Chemical Pollution: Electronic production means the application of many dangerous reagents, which pollute the air, water, and soil, thus becoming threat to human life and the environment.

• Electronic Waste (E-waste)

Volume of Waste: Technological development is relatively fast and people get new devices, likely due to the short useful life of many gadgets leading to the creation of a whole lot of electronic waste.

Toxic Substances: E-waste comprises mainly used electrical and electronic products which have become unfit for their original use or have reached the end of their useful life in the product chain, in due course, these thrown-away products contain dangerous substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.

Recycling Challenges: However, recycling of electronic gadgets reduces some effects on the environment though the process of recycling is normally challenging and ineffective.

• Energy Consumption

This in turn leads to the rise in demand for energy mostly produced from fossil sources.

Conclusion

            Whatever be it, electronic gadgets are harmful. So we better use it on a balanced method so as to reduce its harmful effect as much as possible.