Is Owning a Computer Shortening Your Lifespan?

I was recently thinking about the entire ownership process of the computer; from the time of shopping around for a PC to the time of disposing of the PC, and arrived at the conclusion that owning a computer can actually be a stressful experience that ultimately may be affecting our health and may be shortening our lifespan.

Of course I am no doctor and have no data to backup my colorful comments in this article, but I can attest from personal experience of maintaining PC’s and assisting others, that the “computer equals stress” AND that “stress equals health problems”.  I do not want to sound too negative about computer ownership to the point that it discourages you from owning a PC; but, let’s have a little fun and take a look at this process (through a scenario) and list some potential stressors that could be associated with owning a PC, then I will let you be the judge.

I encourage comments and any other stressful experiences that you may have experienced and/or should be included in this list. This list of stressors are examples only and no names are reflected to the protect the innocent; BUT, this is what can happen.

Stressful Experience #1 – Shopping around for a PC

Stressfull Experience #2 – Purchasing the PC (especially if you purchased it online)

Stressful Experience #3 – Setting up the PC.

Stressful Experience #4 – Setting up the PC and realizing you need to buy other things (e.g. printer, surge protector, external drive to backup files, etc.).

Stressful Experience #5 – Contacting Tech Support and spending an hour to talk to a tech in another country.

Stressful Experience #6 – Sending the PC back to the manufacturer due to a defect; which starts the stress process all over again when you get the PC back.

Stressful Experience #7 – Finding an Internet Service Provider and getting your PC on the internet.

Stressful Experience #8 – Starting up the PC for the first time and that “deer in the headlight look” sets in and you are being prompted to install this and buy that, etc…

Stressful Experience #9 – Your taskbar that was at the bottom of screen has now somehow moved to the top of the screen.

Stressful Experience #10 – Contacting Tech Support because of Stress Experience #9 to only hear the other tech’s laughing in the background.

Stressful Experience #11 – Your computer is finally setup and your family is now using the computer.

Stressful Experience #12 – Everyone in the family is using online services such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, ITunes, Babe Pics of the Day, file sharing, instant messaging, different browsers, and on and on…

Stressful Experience #13 – Computer is running slower.  Spyware and virus warnings are popping up informing you your PC is infected.  You pay with your credit card to fix the problem and the problem worsens.

Stressful Experience #14 – You contact tech support because your PC is still running slow only to learn your PC is out of its’ warranty period and you now have to pay for tech support.

Stressful Experience #15 – Tech Support informs you that the PC is beyond cleaning; that you were a victim of an online scam; that your credit card has been compromised and the only way to fix the PC is to do a recovery.

Stressful Experience  #16 – You forgot to make the recovery disks.  You buy the recovery disks through tech support.

Stressful Experience #17 – As a result of Stressful Experiences #13, #14, #15 and #16 you are now back at Stressful Experience #3.

Stressful Experience #18 – As a result of stressful experiences #1 – #17, you learn the value of maintaining your PC and securing your PC; however, you just can’t let your subscription to “Babe Pics of  the Day” go…    “What Momma doesn’t know won’t hurt her!”

Stressful Experience #19 – You have survived numerous experiences over the lifetime of your PC and it is time to get rid of it and you decide to donate it to your Church to use with their projection system.  You are happy that you survived these experiences, handed off the PC to a good cause, and now you are ready to kick back, because you now know everything about a PC.

Stressful Experience #20 – You did not remove the personal data from the PC (that you donated to the Church).  Remember “Babe Pics of the Day”; well, let me tell you…

Stressful Experience #21 – Judgment Day

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Links to Over 300 Computer Tech Blogs in One Place

I thoroughly enjoy visiting, reading, collecting and supporting the tech blogs that are out there on the internet. Locating tech blogs can be a cumbersome task; especially since there are so many. There are an endless number of private tech blogs out there that we never see and end up missing out on some really excellent material. As a matter of fact, if you are someone that is in the ever changing world of IT and computers, I encourage you to go fishing for blogs to keep in line with the pace.

If you are someone that enjoys reading and learning about information technology I can save you a whole lot of work.  I have spent the past year collecting tech blogs.

Located on the right side of the blog you will see the
“What’s On My PC – Launch Pad” .

The Launch Pad is your launching point to over 300 tech blogs (319 to be exact and the list continues to grow). The Launch Pad is nothing pretty; but it loads fast; AND, is smart phone and browser friendly.

Recently I added to the Launch Pad another 61 more blogs (or tech sites).  The new additions are are reflected below.

Technogran’s Tittle Tattle
Instructify
PCauthorities.com
Pallab.net
Freeware Mission
4Sysops
Everything USB
dotTech [.org]
Download Tube
Ramesh’s Site
TMS Network Blog
Software & News
RotorBlog
Tom’s Hardware
Windows 7 Hacker
Tech Bucket
Tech-Ex
Tecneek
WEBKEEPS
Windows 7 News & Tips
Technology Is Fun
TekShek
Techportalz
techFAQ
LiveSide.net
DirFile
Tech Zoom In
Techarraz
Freeware Home
Get2use.com
Geek or Unique
wiseGEEK
Murtaza’s Technoblog
ChurchTechBlogs
File Guru
I Love Free Software
Tech Airlines
Digital Buzz Blog
FreewareWire
Quick Online Tips
Computer Articles
Steal Ideas
Tweaking Windows
Extreme Trix
Ask A Tech Teacher
The Kim Komando Show
IT Mamak
Freeware Pharmacy
Tech-Tips
One Tip A Day
HelpMeRick
Ask Bob Rankin
ByteTips.com
Online Tech Tips
Barry’s Best Computer Tips
Daily Bits
TechXplore
TinkerNut
New Your Computer Help Blog
LyteByte
TechSpot
TuneUp

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YouTube’s Greatest in less than 4 minutes…

This was too good to pass up! Good way to start out the week. Take a moment and watch this compilation of the 100 Greatest Hits of YouTube In 4 Minutes.

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Side-by-Side Search Engine Results With Panabee

I want to share with you today an unique search engine, called “Panabee”, that is a specifically designed search portal for bloggers, journalists, shoppers, marketers, and other users who often search and compare multiple web sites.  Panabee is currently in beta, is FREE to use, and requires no installation.

A unique aspect of  Panabee is that users can search favorite sites without repeating queries or opening new windows.  When querying Panabee to get a search result, Panabee provides the results in a “side-by-side” view that can be compared within the same window.

To give you an example.  I performed a search with Panabee for a Stylus 1010 camera.  By default, Panabee went to work and provided the search results from Google and from Bing – “side-by-side”  – within the same window (and browser tab).  If you have a large monitor; using Panabee will enhance your search experience dramatically.

Click on the screenshot below to get a “real-time”
example of how Panabee works.

The “cool factor” to Panabee is that you are not limited to just a few search engines AND at any time you can toggle between the side-by-side view to full window view at the click of a button.

To change to a different type of search engine and to view a category listing of available search engines, simply click on the “Sites” button at the top of the Panabee search panel (see below).

To toggle from side-by-side view to full window size, click on the “Display” button at the top of the Panabee search panel. (see below).

So far here are some of the reasons I like Panabee and why I think this little panda bear with wings will be a winner:

• Panabee is a faster way to search and compare sites
• See results from Google, Bing, Twitter, Amazon, Wikipedia, and others with one click
• View sites side-by-side
• You can add Panabee to your browser’s search engine listing and make it your default search engine

Developer’s Description:

With Panabee, users can search favorite sites without repeating queries or opening new windows. The side-by-side view offers faster searches because results from the underlying sites (e.g., eBay, Amazon, Google, Bing, Twitter) can be compared within the same window.

This link compares Amazon and eBay: http://bit.ly/3Dbkn9

This link compares Bing and Google Caffeine: http://bit.ly/55S73

Assume you’re shopping for a digital camera, and you want to compare Amazon and eBay. With Panabee, you can see their search results side-by-side. If the original results aren’t helpful, you can search Google and other sites with a single click.  The same idea applies to other areas where you tend to search multiple sites (e.g., coupons, recipes, videos, images).

Panabee offers more reliable searches because you’re viewing the underlying sites in real-time whereas traditional comparison sites often suffer from outdated results or slow indexing.

Panabee excels at general searches since you can see results from Bing, Yahoo!, Google, Ask, Wolfram, and other search engines side-by-side.

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Detox Centers for Computer and Internet Related Addictions

Overindulgence, in anything, (including computers and the internet) will result in devastation of some form.

Have you lost your connection with the real world as a result of excessive computer usage and what the internet has to offer (e.g. video games, chatting, texting, social networking, blogging, gambling, buying, pornography, compulsive surfing, etc…)?

Do you know someone personally, as a result of excessive use of the internet, whose:

marriage has been devastated?
career has been shattered?
family has been broken?
health has been affected?
financial ruin has occurred?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are witness to someone (or yourself) of a computer or internet related addictive behavior.  Here in the U.S. we are just starting to recognize these addictive behaviors and are taking steps to provide help and resolution.

One such place to seek help is called reStart: Internet Addiction Recovery Program. reStart is the first program of its’ kind in the U.S. designed to specifically help internet and video game addicts overcome their computer or online dependencies. reStart is a 45 day in-patient (therapeutic) program, 6-bed facility (family style retreat), located in Fall City, Washington.

Current research suggests that anywhere from 6-10 % of the online population is dependent on one or more aspects of cyber technology and the internet. Among gamers, those playing multi-user games (like World of Warcraft) appear to be addicted at much higher levels. Both China and South Korea have designated Internet Addiction as their #1 public health danger and have responded by developing multiple treatment programs. The United States, by contrast, has been slower to recognize and respond to the problem but now is beginning to take some active steps.  This program is part of that process.

Another great resource is the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery, located in Bradford, PA. You will find treatment services for:

Cybersex/Cyberporn

Studies show that men are more likely to view cyberporn, while women are more likely to engage in erotic chat.

Online Affairs

Partners engaged in an online affair go through several personality changes and often rationalize that an online affair isn’t really cheating.

Online Gambling

At an alarming rate, people in recovery from gambling addiction have relapsed because of the availability of virtual casinos, as they use the Internet as another vehicle to satisfy their addiction.

Online Gaming

Like a drug, gamers who play almost every day, play for extended periods of time (over 4 hours), get restless or irritable if they can’t play, and sacrifice other social activities just to game are showing signs of addiction.

Compulsive Surfing

Internet Addiction is an impulsive-control problem and five subtypes have been defined:

1. Cybersexual Addiction
2. Cyber-Relational Addiction
3. Net Compulsions
4. Information Overload
5. Computer Addiction

eBay Addiction

Online auction houses create a stimulating place where users can conquer others as the highest bidder, which can be intoxicating as one beats out others in the last precious seconds to win the desired prize.

Take a Test

- Cybersexual Addiction Quiz
- Internet Addiction Test (IAT)
- Quiz for Obsessive Online Gambling
- Quiz for Compulsive Online Gamers
- Quiz for Online Auction Addiction
- The Partner’s Addiction Test
- The Parent-Child Addiction Test

I have personally witnessed the evolution of computers and the internet from the very beginning. On a personal level, I have witnessed the devastation that can occur as a result of overindulgence in the various avenues that computers and the internet has to offer. The internet, in a sense is a virtual world, where your soul and mind can become consumed, if you let it. If you need help, please seek it!

In connection to this article and information, I also encourage you to read A Look At Our Newest Addition at Tech-for Everyone.

25 August 2009 – Another ‘must read’ article, “Internet Addiction – Do You Qualify?” at Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts.  Mr. Mullin’s explores this topic and gives us whole different angle on it.

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Technology is needed to control these monkeys…

If you think the wildlife has encroached your area; how would you like 65,000 Macque monkeys running around terrorizing your neighborhood? This is exactly what is occurring in Punjab, India. The solution being sought there is to take the worst offenders, amongst the rogue monkeys, and put them through a crash course in good manners…  My thinking is that there has to be some type of technology available to subdue these critters other than giving one laptop per monkey and sending them to school.  Anyone out there have a potential tech solution to this problem?  If so, please leave a comment with your solution.

A “What’s On My PC…” Web Clip!

[SOURCE: news.bbc.co.uk ]

24 July 2009 19:48 UK

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Indian school for rogue monkeys

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Wildlife officials in India plan to build a special school to improve the behaviour of delinquent monkeys.

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They say the aim is to target monkeys that pose a serious threat to people in the state of Punjab.

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Punjab has more than 65,000 wild monkeys.

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Macaque monkeys routinely destroy TV antennae, tear down clothes-lines and damage parked scooters and motorcycles.

“Besides people landing in hospitals after encounters with monkeys, the animals also often get hurt when house owners try to chase them away or keep them out by using live electric wires and other means,” chief wildlife warden RK Luna told the BBC

The proposed new monkey school will take in the “worst offenders” and put them through a crash course in good manners.

[SOURCE: news.bbc.co.uk ]

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The NEW Google Chrome Operating System

A What’s On My PC… Web Clip!

[SOURCE: googleblog.blogspot.com ]

Introducing the Google Chrome OS

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7/07/2009 09:37:00 PM

It’s been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web –searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we’re announcing a new project that’s a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

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