Environmental Impact Assignment

By: Michael Crispino

Negative Effect 1

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

Measures

Simply put, limit computer use, both at work and at home for about two weeks until your symptoms decrease

This condition most often occurs when the viewing demand of the task exceeds the visual abilities of the computer user.

The symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision (distance and/or near), dry and irritated eyes, slow refocusing, and double vision.

To Do List:

Surprisingly, computer use can actually be harmful to human health.

• Background Information
• Negative Effects
• Measures
• Opinion
• Conclusion

Conclusion

If people do not limit the amount of time they spend on computers, in the next 10 years, we should expect that almost everyone that uses computers would be wearing glasses and have horrible vision.

The amount of people with arthritis will increase and scientists will prove that using computers can cause cancer.

We need to change the way we use computers before they change the way we are!

Negative Effect 2

Regional Musculoskeletal Disorder (R-MSD)

Background Information

Measures

To prevent pain in these areas, it is suggested to buy more "ergonomic" products, such as chairs, keyboards and mice in order to limit pain in these areas.

It is helpful to use a chair that is adjustable, and can easily pan up or down. Buy a chair that fits perfectly!

Symptoms of R-MSD include pain in the fingers, wrists and arms.

Negative Impact 5

How Harmful Can They Really Be?

Obesity

Let's Find Out!

Many people today overlook that computer use can actually be very harmful to your body.

Measures

Make sure to take frequent breaks while using the computer for long periods of time. When working, it is important to eat healthy when working.

Eat "healthy" snacks while working like carrots, celery sticks, slices of fruit etc, instead of unhealthy foods like potato chips, cookies, cake, chocolate bars etc.

According to CBC News - Health,

The odds of obesity among men and women who reported using their computers 21 or more hours a week were almost twice those for study subjects using their computers on an average of five or fewer hours a week.

The link between obesity and "screen time" persisted even when factors such as age, education, household income and urban-rural residence were considered.

Clearly, we can say that computer use easily contributes to obesity.

My Opinion

With the vast amount of technology available to the world today, it is important for us to know how computers can affect us.

People today are almost always on the computer. Since they are becoming ever so useful in today's society, it is important that we know about the dangers computers can possess.

Computers can harm our bodies. They can give us arthritis, joint and muscle pain. They can decrease our vision and also expose us to levels of radiation.

I feel that it is very important to know how to protect outselves from computers since we are on them every day and have become a part of every day life.

Negative Impact 4

Computers give off low frequency radiation a.k.a non-ionizing. The source of this radiation is the flyback transformer located at the back of the computer monitor.

Even though computer use has not been proved to cause cancer, as a precautionary measure it is good to make sure that your computer monitor is placed at least 3 to 4 feet away from your body.

Measures

Works Cited

www.cbc.ca/news/health.ca

www.journals.humankinetics.ca

www.apps.socco.edu\

www.google.ca/hasards_of_computers

www.ictknowledgebase.com

Negative Effect 3

The use of computers can negatively impact the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back.

It is helpful to arrange your computer equipment in a straight line so that you are not constantly twisting your neck and shoulders in awkward positions.

Neck, shoulder pain and stiffness can occur from improper placement of the computer monitor, mouse or document you are working on. If these items are not placed correctly, the muscles in your neck, back and shoulders are constantly working in the wrong position.

Measures

Impact's of Computer use on Humans

ICS 3UO