Healthy and safety

Healthy and safety

Healthy and safety on the computer, I learned how I could use my computer and the new technologies in the computer age safely. These websites gave me information about healthy and safety in the technology age. It taught me how I can stay front to my computers/screen four hours, and how I can use the computer screen safely. I liked the first website because it talked about cell phones and backpacks, this is important for many people, as they are using cell phones and backpacks every day. These items are being used every day, (and many times a day) if they are going to school or on a trip. When using backpacks, the weight should not be too heavy for the person who will be wearing the backpack; it should also be distributed evenly in the pack. Children should be using both straps to attach the backpack to their backs; using just one strap will put a strain on either one shoulder or the other. In addition, when using cell phones care must be given to the electronic nature of the phones, will there be radiation or other such “thing” radiating from the phone that could cause cancer or some other disease in the future?
Another website talked about how we can position ourselves to support our back, neck, and eyes front in the computer. Another web site gave information on the proper positioning of fingers, hands and arms when using a computer keyboard. Injuries to hands and wrists are common with the use of computer keyboards and typewriters. The important issue in this area is “production”, and how people can be productive using the computer technology, and yet not be injured by not using the hardware safely. When people shop for computer components, i.e., keyboard, mouse, monitors, etc., it is important to know which items are produced to cause less strain on the eyes, and joints/muscles in the hands/wrist/arms when using keyboards. There have been many studies done on keyboards/monitors to help with this safety issue. It would be wise for persons seeking to purchase these items if they were to read and study the safety testing that has been done. Sitting position is also important. Some electrical components in computer parts can cause medical problems, i.e., cancers etc., just from the materials used in the components. We have noticed in recent times that many products coming from China are not safe, and are causing all kinds of medical problems, just because of the materials used to make the mouse, keyboard, etc.
Many safety features need to be thought about before purchasing a computer for either use in one’s home or school. Consideration must be given to lighting, seating, height of tables for computer placement in addition to the “computer” components being purchased for use. Everything must work together to provide a safe environment for the use of computers. According to New York United, state Teachers:
ü Organize your work area so things you need are close at hand
ü Adjust lighting levels or reposition the monitor so that glare is eliminated and lighting is appropriate for the task.
ü Adjust your workstation so you are in proper alignment with your computer. It is important that the equipment adjust to your comfort.
ü Contact your eye doctor or occupational health practitioner if vision problems persist.
ü Report symptoms of computer-related health problems immediately to your supervisor, union and physician. Do not wait to get treatment and/or help for changing your workstation.
ü TAKE BREAKS! Every 30 minutes or so, get up or do alternate work like filing or phones. Short stretch breaks will help revive you. Taking 30 seconds to stop and stretch or breathe deeply while closing your eyes can be very effective. You will probably notice your concentration and productivity improving too. Do not forget to periodically look away from the screen and blink.
ethical and social issues are there related to the disposal of used computers Because of the materials used in computers, they need to be disposed of properly, if there is radiation, or other harmful materials used in the production of computers, if they were just tossed into the landfill, there could be harmful effects to future generations. Also, rather than just tossing out computers, it is possible that someone else could use the computer if it were donated to a school or elsewhere. It’s the same situation that arises with used motor oil, it needs to be recycled properly, not just poured down the drain to contaminate the environment and water supply that we all need for drinking.

Hipermedia

Hipermedia

The internet has been important in our lives, and is becoming even more important in today’s world, but we must be careful of the information we find on the internet. Is it possible to believe everything that appears on the internet? On the other hand, could just anyone, write and post anything to the internet? There must be standards applied to the information we find there. Prior to the internet, books were printed by publishers, and many times the publishers would have “reputations” to uphold. The same holds true of journals and newspapers. The publishers of books, journals, and newspapers had reputations to uphold. It would not take long to find out that certain publishers accepted anything for publication, and once published it was common practice to find that the information was wrong. Once a publisher had the reputation of not researching the information, they published to make sure that it was factual; their materials were not read and accepted as truth. If the material were not read/purchased etc., the publishers would no longer have the funds to continue publishing material.

When reading material from the internet, we, as consumers must be careful, we cannot believe every word that is posted on internet sites. As researchers/readers, we must read with skepticism. Are the words we are reading “truthful and honest” or is someone just trying to get us to go along with what they are saying without any “research” on our part.

In order to find “high quality” information on the internet, we as the user must research “Who” is putting this information on the web for all to read. If it is not possible to find who is posting information to the web, that should be one important “flag” to us as the consumer, that if the writer is not willing to sign his name to his work, we should be skeptical of his work. Each of us has a reputation to uphold, are we truthful, honest, trustworthy etc. We need to be willing to sign our names to the words we put out in the world, be it in print, or on the web.

I would be skeptical of anything that was unsigned be it in the newspaper, or on the web. As it is appearing these days, anyone can post “anything” to the internet. We as consumers must learn to be educated consumers, in that we are able to discern fact from fiction in the material we find on the web. I have some questions about “high quality information:
1- Is it clear who has written the information: When you first look at a web site, you need to check who it has been written and designed. Anyone can make a web site and say that they are an expert on a subject.
2- I s the information biased in any way: There is often more than one-way of looking at a piece of information.
When evaluating the information found on the web, I, as the reader, need to know who the writer/researcher of the information is. Do they have a reputation in their field that I can trust, i.e. have they been researching this field for a length of time (more than a month, a year, 5 years, or 10 years). The information can be evaluated by the research the writer has had published, in respected journals outside of the internet. Does this information stand up to the standards we have set for our educational curriculum. Are these web sites “personal” sites or are they “formal, research institutions” relating to the field they are researching.

To create a high quality website we must find respected persons in the field who are willing to write material for the web site. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be able to create material for every field out there. We must find qualified persons in the field to create web sites in the field. If persons creating websites are not qualified in the “field” (i.e., an educator on education, a dentist on dentistry, a lawyer on legal issues, etc.) the information they are writing about may not be worth the “screen” it is written on.
In order to integrate the mass of information at our fingertips we must do research on the writer of the information to make the decision whether they are “qualified” to be believed. A writer could take the research that has been written by a learned scholar and then put the researcher’s information into terms that the internet user could understand. The information may need to be translated from the “Scholar” down to “layman’s” terms to be understood by the general population.
According to Samsup:
- The public are more likely to credit traditional media news information rather than online press releases posted by an organization in the case of negative news about an organization.
- The public believes traditional news sources and online press releases to the same degree in cases of positive news about an organization.
- In general, traditional news media sources have more credibility than organizational online news sources in terms of media credibility.
- Traditional news media have more impact on trustful relationships than organizational online news sources.
The reference: Samsup,(2005), The Effect of Online Media Credibility on Trust Relationships, university of Florida. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=6&sid=5b761ab7-0c54-433e-b995-54295925c9f9%40SRCSM1