Technology
How has this modern culture evolved?
Origins
Issues
A study showed that physical inactivity has increased around the world. In this study, a person's labour load was compared through the metabolic equivalents of task (MET). MET is "the ratio of a person's working metabolic rate to resting metabolic rate." The lower the values of MET ratio, the less physical work is involved. In America, trends showed 235 MET hours/week in 1965. This value lowered to 160 MET hours/week in 2009. Researchers predict that this value will lower even more to 142 MET hours/week by 2020 and 126 MET hours/week by 2030. This will be due to the decrease of domestic, travel and job-related physical activity.
To help prevent this from happening, technology has been trying to promote physical activity through interactive video games (such as the Wii, the Xbox Kinect and the PlayStation Move) and tools relating to exercising (such as pedometers, accelerometers and heart rate monitors). There are also organzitions (such as ParticipACTION) that encourage everyone to get at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. Instead of using technology to contribute to the obesity epidemic, we should try and use it to solve the issue.
Behaviour
Technology has also been linked to mental problems. With technology being used as a form of entertainment, people have been becoming addicted to it. Instead of going outside in the real world, people are becoming invested in social networks and would rather stay inside with their laptops, computers or cellphones. This can cause troubled behaviour and short attention spans.
Social media with technology is handy in connecting with people all around the world but we shouldn't neglect the people already around us.