lessened some studies show an increase in experiencing more daily stress, feeling more lonely and depressed (despite all the digital communication) and less time spent talking to family. The ability to network with others without the use of technology
could become a lost art both at home and in the workplace. Our youth may be effective in communicating electronically, but they may be becoming complete failures in communicating physically, or at the very least communicating without being connected to their current technology. Perhaps it is not as bad as I believed as I think our children may be becoming aware of this and possibly that awareness will bring some change. My son explained a new "game" to me the other night called phone stacking. It is a common scene at lunch or dinner meetings to see a phone in front of every person as they put them on the table as soon as they sit down, with everyone reaching for their phones frequently to check and send messages. Often the conversation is directed by these messages rather than the "talk of the table". Phone stacking involves all members of the table placing their
phones in a pile in the center of the table. The rules are simple, if you have the impulse to reach for your phone before the bill comes then you pay the table. The fact that this game even exists makes me believe that a balance
will be found as even without our direction our kids are questioning their ties to technology. I think our children must be able to continue to embrace technology while not allowing it to impede their physical social interactions. Maybe as parents we should continue to try to teach the life and social skills we believe are important and leave the youth to work out how to balance this with technology. Of course if they don't get it, we could always send them a message.
Cliff Salter www.pchardware.co.nz
MEMORY CHIPS
Adidas Social Media Shoe London 2012 was the most social games yet with athletes
and fans conversing through social media. To enhance the experience, Adidas created a one-off Social Media Shoe that has a screen on the outside displaying tweets sent through Twitter. Athletes can read the tweets while on the field, who knows, by 2016 every athlete could have a shoe like this. Source: Coolest-gadgets.com
Get charged Wireless Charging is set to enter into the big markets in 2013,
helping us unplug our lives of cluttered cords. The previously niche market is set to hit the big time this next year and you could soon be charging your smartphone through your nearby laptop with the help of electromagnetic fields. Source: Wired.com
Old school merges with new
Disconnect and take a break! Too much time spent with your gadgets could be damaging
you and society. If you feel you NEED to constantly check your gadgets no matter the time of day then you are too attached to it. Recent research has found that people, especially children are having socialisation issues as they are spending more time on gadgets than communicating face to face. The solution? Balance and moderation. Walk over and talk to the person rather than text or email them, and turn your phone off when you are going to sleep. Source: Manilastandardtoday.com
In an attempt to merge the good old days with current fads, the iLP has emerged. The iLP is a turntable that when connected to your Ipod, Iphone or Ipad will transfer your old records onto the device. Bring those blasts from the past into the future with you, at the click of a button. Source: Coolest-gadgets. com
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