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LONDON – Users of Smartphone and
tablet computers are starting to get high-tech blues, as increasing numbers
of the tech savvy are coming
down with ailments from
“text neck” to “text thumb injury”. Health experts in Britain have warned
that the strain injuries stemming
from long periods spent staring at small screens and tapping at tiny keys can
be debilitating. And the injuries are becoming more common as high-tech
gadgets grow ever more popular.
According to a recent YouGov poll, 44
percent of Britons use their mobile phone for activities other than making
calls, for between 30 minutes and two hours a day. The pollster quizzed 2,034 adults over
several days in September.
“Text neck” is in effect the latest manifestation of “repetitive
strain injury” (RSI), a condition which affects one worker in 50 in Britain. RSI
is the name given to a group of injuries affecting the muscles, tendons and
nerves primarily of the neck and upper limbs. It is particularly prevalent among workers who spend
long periods using computers and computer mouse. It is a treatable condition,
but experts warn it is essential not to ignore the early warning signs. In
France, RSI is the main cause of sick leave in the work place.
Margo in Britain says the biggest
at-risk group are children and teenagers, who are heavy users of the latest
computers and phones. “I know families where people communicate from one room
to another via text messages,” she said. “We have to put limits on this.”
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VOCABULARY
1. Savvy (n) - practical
knowledge and ability. EXAMPLE: business savvy
2. Ailments (n)
- an illness
3. Stemming (v)
- to develop
as a result of something else. EXAMPLE: His headaches stemmed from vision
problems.
4. Pollster (n)
- someone
who works for a company that prepares and asks questions to find out what
people think about a particular subject
5. Manifestation
(n) - a very
clear sign that a particular situation or feeling exists
6. Prevalent
(adj.) - common at a particular time, in a particular place, or among a
particular group of people. EXAMPLE: Drug abuse is especially prevalent
among younger teenagers.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. What is a Smartphone?
2. What are the
benefits of Smartphone?
3. Discuss about the
effects of using Smartphone on people’s health.
4. Have you ever
suffered from “text neck”?
5. Share something
about your country’s technology.
