Kid’s Health Suffers From Excessive Screen Time

It is common knowledge nowadays how damaging too much exposure to technology and gadgets is to the developing minds and bodies of young kids. It wasn’t a problem in the past when kids did not have access to these innovative and smart gadgets that are taking up most of their time these days. Medical experts are always urging parents to limit kid’s screen time because it predisposes them to various health conditions that can later affect them in adult life.

Up to now, many are still wondering how much screen time is ideal for kids, and how much outside play they get. Well, it is better if they aren’t allowed to use these devices at all but that rarely happens now as there are just way too many (smart) gadgets in our life that it is inevitable for them to get their little hands on smartphones, for instance. Parents are usually harassed as well in trying to juggle their multiple responsibilities that only grow the more our technology advances. It is why they give these gadgets to their young children, so they can be free to do whatever it is they need to do as their young children busy themselves with various apps and games that are trending now. It’s even a bonus if they have access to WiFi because that means they can surf the web and do more with their time.

The average Australian child is spending the equivalent of a full time job staring at screens, according to a new study commissioned by Specsavers. While the Australian Department of Health recommends children spend no longer than two hours per day looking at screens, the new research shows that the time Aussie children spend on electronic devices is increasing year on year.

As technology advances and digital devices take the place of books and outdoor play, prolonged screen time is having an impact on children’s vision, which develops until the age of eight. A study by the Royal Children’s Hospital shows that while almost all Australian teenagers have a phone or tablet, 67 per cent of primary school kids and 36 per cent of pre-schoolers have their own mobile device.

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/specsavers-eyes-on-health/2017/aug/28/the-toll-of-too-much-screen-time)

Children spend more time indoors and no longer get to lead an active life that is often associated with childhood. Not only is too much screen time affecting a child’s normal growth and development but it also impairs their health in ways that we can’t yet fathom. Their eyes, for instance, is among the most susceptible as it gets damaged over time of continued gadget use. Kids become more prone to develop myopia or near sightedness that is worsened by excessive gadget use and lack of physical activity and movement.

Helping to prevent nearsightedness in children may be as simple as urging them to spend more time outside, some experts say.

Possibly due to changing habits among children — spending more time reading in dim light and spending more time indoors than those of past generations — doctors are seeing an increase in the number of cases of nearsightedness, also known as myopia.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC recently opened a Myopia Treatment Center to meet the growing demand. 

Nearsightedness is a condition in which vision gets blurred when viewing an object at a distance.

(Via: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2017/08/29/More-children-are-being-diagnosed-with-nearsightedness-but-experts-aren-t-sure-why/stories/201708280007)

Not only are kids becoming fat but they also get sicker without most parents realizing the harm they are consciously exposing their children into. Just the mere fact that most of these kids still get to use gadgets even past their bedtime (as their bedtime is already stretched further into the night as the days pass by) in the dim light of their room puts a heavy strain on their eyes making it prone to myopia than if they were using it in broad daylight. Aside from that, these smart gadgets release blue light, a type of an ultraviolet light that gets deeper into a person’s eye and severely injures the retina. It can even predispose a child to age-related macular degeneration over time aside from just developing myopia.

No matter how busy a parent’s life is, they must still remember that they should make wise decisions that will improve the health and well-being of their kids and not simply take the easy way out. Technology should not control our lives more so become a risk to our health, especially of the young ones.

Kid’s Health Suffers From Excessive Screen Time was initially published on https://www.euro-toques.org

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/11/15/kids-health-suffers-from-excessive-screen-time/

The Benefits Of A Responsive Web Design

Having a website is now a must for any brand, business, organization, or institution since it gives their consumers and users 24/7 access to whatever they have to offer – meaning you can also take your brand globally as the web is a global platform used by everyone. The Internet and social media is running most industries today and everyone who understands the power of the World Wide Web understands very well how effective these platforms are when marketing your business. The digital age has come and we all live in it, there is no denying that reality. So, if you need a platform where you can showcase the products or services you offer, a website is a must for you. And today, there are various web designs to choose from. Each one resonates differently to its users and responsive web designs are currently the most in-demand for a lot of reasons.

For those who don’t have an idea as to what a responsive web design means, it is simply a website design that responds to the behavior of the user and the medium used. We all know that most people prefer using handy and mobile smart gadgets and phones that are WiFi-ready that they can take with them everywhere they go. Basically, this type of web design adjusts depending on the size of the screen, orientation, and platform. It’s a common request from entrepreneurs these days for web designers to make them a mobile-friendly version of their websites that will look and work great on whatever handy gadget there is sold in the market today – whether it be a tablet or phone or running on iOS or Android that their consumer personally prefers.

It is no longer enough to design a website solely for the desktop screen. The growing market of mobile phones and tablets is compelling web designers to reconsider how their work would be displayed on various devices. People are using their smartphones more often than accessing their desktops today. This necessitates a responsive web design.

Programming codes automatically make adjustments depending on the screen’s size with responsive websites. Hence, you get to enjoy an optimal user/viewing experience and navigating the site using your mobile gadget is just as easy as when using a traditional desktop computer or laptop.

Why Is Responsive Design So Important?

If designers came up with infinite versions of any particular website that would be working effectively for every possible device available to us, the process would be impractical from the point of view of the time and it would prove to be exorbitant. These sites would not be responsive to any technological changes in the future and so site maintenance would prove to be pretty challenging. Use responsive design as it is the best solution for future-proofing your website.

(Via: https://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/understanding-the-basics-of-responsive-website-design/)

Over the years, over 60% of websites haven’t yet innovated and established a mobile design for their existing websites. Hence, it means that there are still 6 out of 10 entrepreneurs needing professional assistance in making this upgrade happen today, a plus if you are a skilled web designer that is on the lookout for endless work opportunities. This move is a must considering most web users prefer to use Google when making online searches and knowing Google, they do not stop in innovating and giving their users the best web experience possible. Hence, optimizing your site is something you should be looking into now if you still want your site to appear on top of Google searches on your specific niche.

We now live in a mobile-first era and are moving toward a mobile-first index.

That’s because consumers are addicted to smartphone and tablets. And that isn’t changing any time soon.

In this environment, responsive design is no longer an innovation. Instead, it has become a standard component of any SEO plan, regardless of industry.

Don’t Be Unresponsive to Responsive Web Design

The last 12 months have seen the web move forward at an incredible rate. Among the many changes, the inevitable happened. Mobile web browsing overtook desktop as the device of first choice for internet users.

As published in late 2016, we also saw that, of those people who only use one type of device, twice as many are using smartphones over desktop computers.

(Via: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-responsive-web-design-benefits/211264/)

Businesses that succeed are the ones who know when and how to innovate and not wait for everybody else to do it before acting on an opportunity. That essentially separates winners from losers. Also, what seems to drive the growth and popularity of a responsive web design is our growing interest in the use of mobile applications a.k.a. simply apps. Imagine how many mobile apps are downloaded, installed, and used by mobile users each day. Hence, responsive will likely reign supreme for a long time as the public becomes more increasingly dependent on their smart gadgets in doing various things every single day. These apps help you stay connected to your target audience, thus help boost sales and maintain your brand’s relevance in the now cluttered world we live in.

The Benefits Of A Responsive Web Design was originally published to Euro Toques

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/11/11/the-benefits-of-a-responsive-web-design/

What Do You Think About The Mayweather-McGregor Fight?

The world of sports is perhaps just as nasty as politics since everyone involved will move heaven and earth in order to win. Controversies aren’t new and it often extends to the person’s personal life. It really is such a shame hearing the nasty things they say to each other but the conflict among players often build up the momentum and urge the viewers to spend money to watch live matches or shell out fees for pay-per-views. And boxing, like some kinds of wrestling, is one of those sports that always attract global attention, especially when played by equally popular players.

The most recent match that has garnered worldwide attention is the one between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor. What makes this fight really notorious is the fact that the latter is not a professional boxer himself but a UFC fighter. For sure many were intrigued about how the fight turns out to be and how well the two of them will fight it out in the arena considering their different backgrounds but some were apparently disappointed at the turn of events when McGregor easily got exhausted several rounds into the fight. It is understandable, though, that he’ll have a harder time lasting the entire 12 rounds of fight in a match that he isn’t accustomed to.

So why am I so sure that Mayweather-McGregor won’t rebound into a moment in time that disrupts boxing and MMA? Two generations from now, couldn’t this boxing match similarly shift and shape the fighting landscape into something none of us ever envisioned?

As difficult as it was to picture McGregor upending Mayweather, the same is true trying to imagine a meaningful effect of what they did together. Rather than an evolutionary jumping-off point, Saturday night seems much more an ode to rationalism. The thing that was supposed to happen did, and Las Vegas wasn’t brought down by an Irish earthquake.

Rest assured: Even as Mayweather-McGregor falls in line with the fight-sport lineage that from time to time aligns boxing with mixed-rules contests, it was its own self-contained thing. This was an event predicated on one simple tease by two giant personalities who convinced millions of people that for $100 they could participate in the novelty of 49-0 versus 0-0, and that the payoff wouldn’t reside in the resoundingly likely outcome, but in the potentially shocking what if.

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/30/mayweather-mcgregors-uneasy-legacy-the-triumph-of-entertainment-over-sport)

Even if McGregor didn’t win over Mayweather, he definitely didn’t come home empty-handed simply because theirs was a billion-dollar fight. Mayweather may get the bigger pie but he still does have his fair share as well. Others even claim it has been staged right from the start although it is very different from the long-awaited 2015 match between Mayweather and Pacquiao that is perhaps the most disappointing to fans than this recent (mis)match.

That thing in a boxing ring Saturday night in Las Vegas turned out to be totally real. Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor was a genuine, honest-to-goodness fight.

Ok, so it wasn't a knockdown, drag-out fight. No one got knocked down. No one got dragged out.

But no one demanded a refund. It lasted into the 10th round. (Some thought it might last 10 seconds.) Mayweather was declared the winner by a technical knockout. (Some thought McGregor might be declared DOA by CSI.)

The referee stopped the fight because McGregor looked to be wobbly, exhausted and nearly out on his feet. A minute or two after Mayweather's arm was raised in triumph, he conceded that McGregor gave him a lot harder time than he had expected.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/27/opinions/mayweather-mcgregor-opinion-downey/index.html)

It seems that it is all about money now. The media hyped up the event and talked about everything else aside from the important issues that matter to the fight the most. It’s clearly a mismatched fight right from the beginning but it is the very concept they sold to fans – two equally great yet different fighters who are both willing to fight in the same ring. A renowned champion that remains undefeated and an underdog that has won the heart of the masses, it is the perfect marketing ploy to get people to spend their money on luxuries like spectator sports. This boxing match might even encourage people to spend their money on life priorities rather than on some senseless made-up violence show meant to attract people that will definitely not get a rematch at all.

What Do You Think About The Mayweather-McGregor Fight? is available on Euro Toques

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/10/02/what-do-you-think-about-the-mayweather-mcgregor-fight/

Inherent Right To Vote

Voting has always been a sensitive issue in years past. Wars have been fought and millions have died for the freedom we are all enjoying today. Indeed, we have come a long way but much is still left to be done. The US Constitution states and upholds this right as stated in Section 1 of Amendment XV that American citizens have the right to vote regardless of their race, color, or prior condition of servitude. While most people get to enjoy their inherent voting rights right now, many are still deprived of the right to choose the elected official they want to rule the land simply because they aren’t eligible, for instance.

Yet no matter how much the country has achieved over the years, problems pertaining to one’s voting rights persist especially that the topic of illegal votes was raised during the last election. While President Trump won the presidency in broad daylight, he still raised the issue of the three million illegal votes he insists that Clinton received and is the reason why he fails to win over the popular votes. His claim of voter fraud paved the way to the recent creation of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity that many believe is just the start of their attempt to roll back voting rights.

There is a battle under way for our democracy. The choice that lies in front of us: Will we be a country that guarantees every eligible citizen the right to vote and participate? Or will we allow states and politicians to twist voting rules and ignore constitutional rights in order to limit access to democracy?

That is the choice in front of us, and it is not an abstract choice.

Minnesota continues to be a model for inclusive voting rights and democratic participation. In 2016, we again led the nation in voter turnout with 74 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot. Minnesota enacted same-day registration more than 42 years ago, and in the years since we have expanded access through online voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting. In 2012, Minnesotans defeated efforts to put discriminatory voter ID laws into the state Constitution.

(Via: https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2017/08/voting-rights-fight-our-democracy)

If this happens, the votes of millions of Americans will be put to waste as the officials heading the commission are known advocates of voter suppression and anti-immigrant crusaders in the person of Vice-President Mike Pence and Kris Kobach. Yet despite this obvious political ploy being played by the current administration in securing their personal interests, millions of American citizens are now becoming more aware of the issue and are educating themselves on the issue of voting rights, what it means to them, and how they can protect it from power-greedy officials.

As the 2018 and 2020 elections approach, federal and state officials ought to be scrambling for ways to prevent a repeat of Russian interference or other meddling in American democracy.

Instead, many are on an obsessive hunt to eradicate phantom problems, such as supposedly massive fraud by non-citizens and people voting in two states.

The upshot is that 54 years after Martin Luther King Jr. appealed for voting rights in his "I Have a Dream" speech, those rights remain under a double-barreled assault:

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/27/president-trump-election-integrity-panel-sham-editorials-debates/562687001/)

They start with IDs since most minorities will have a hard time complying with some requirements especially if they frequently move from one state to the other. It means these people have to secure new IDs that may take time for some and will prevent them from meeting certain federal deadlines. Hence, it’s the first step to gradually restrict citizens’ voting rights and ensure that the result of the election is always in favor of the sitting president. For a president who cried voting fraud, it seems that he is doing the exact thing he was complaining about. How can you ensure that an election is conducted fairly and justly if not every citizen in the land can exercise the right to vote for the leaders they believe is the best for America?

The post Inherent Right To Vote was originally seen on https://www.euro-toques.org

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/09/28/inherent-right-to-vote/

Is There A Reason For The US To Be Scared Of North Korea?

Society as we know of today may look calm and peaceful most of the time that is because most of us have turned a blind eye to the problems experienced by war-torn nations and all the refugees who are displaced because of these wars that most progressive nations (that started these wars in the first place) refuse to accept in their shores. But there is one nation that has held itself very well and managed to resist any outside influence – North Korea. For decades, very little is known about their country and how everyone lives. The only thing we know is that they are preparing for something big that will shock the entire world when the right time comes.

Kim Jong Un, the current supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and also the Chairman of the Worker’s Party of Korea, is perhaps one of the most talked about yet feared political leader of today. He has been doing a series of missile testing over the years and has been threatening the western world with whatever they are cooking especially that it involves nuclear ammunition. And as such, his leadership of his tiny nation has, at times, caused distress to the world at large and we can only second guess what else is happening inside North Korea.

US President Donald Trump has warned Pyongyang that "all options are on the table" after North Korea fired a missile over Japan early Tuesday.

Tuesday's launch was particularly provocative as it was North Korea's first ballistic missile to fly over Japan. Kim Jong Un's regime regularly fires missiles into the sea between its own territory and Japan.

The launch comes as the US and South Korea conduct joint military drills on the peninsula and a day after drills ended between the US and Japan on the northern island of Hokkaido.

It also follows a fiery exchange of threats and insults between Trump and the North Korean regime, commenting through state media.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/28/politics/north-korea-launch-unidentified-projectile/index.html)

It is impossible to ignore North Korea’s message because they did it so in a manner that can be heard loud and clear by everyone – another missile test that dropped somewhere in the Pacific. It even passed the northern part of Japan, a rare occurrence even if they have been known to drop bombs here and there from time to time and has definitely made everyone feel uneasy because it was just quite recently when Kim Jong Un threatened to bomb the US island territory of Guam.

President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that all options are on the table for the United States to respond to North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile over northern Japan's Hokkaido island into the sea in a new show of force.

The missile test further increased tension in east Asia as U.S. and South Korean forces conducted annual military exercises on the Korean peninsula, angering Pyongyang which sees the war games as a preparation for invasion.

North Korea has conducted dozens of ballistic missile tests under its leader, Kim Jong Un, in defiance of U.N. sanctions, but firing projectiles over mainland Japan is rare.

(Via: http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/08/29/trump-says-all-options-on-table-after-n-korea-fires-missile-over-japan.html)

It seems that President Trump is really fed up now over all these ballistic missile threats they are getting from North Korea and he should be considering he now leads America. He will surely not allow any of those missiles to land anywhere in the mainland US and as such, is now communicating with allied nations on the best recourse for this new threat. The US, South Korean, and Japanese governments are all working side by side because of the bombing as it is no longer just a physical threat but an economic one too.

Despite all the ruckus, the US claims to put diplomacy first before exhausting all means whatever it may be because the capacity of the opponent is still unknown to the rest of the world and thus a grave threat to all. So yes, there is a reason to be scared but there is still time to prepare and work with allies to protect everyone from any possible attack.

The article Is There A Reason For The US To Be Scared Of North Korea? is courtesy of The Euro Toques Blog

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/09/26/is-there-a-reason-for-the-us-to-be-scared-of-north-korea/

Too Many Apps? Free Up Space On Your Device

Since we live in the digital age, most of the things we do have gone digital too. Only a few people do things manually. Why make it harder for yourself when you can simply look up things online and have them saved right on your device for easy access and storage. But because we have grown accustomed to the use of technology in our daily lives, data storage became an increasing concern for us considering the amount of data we accumulate over time. From photos, music, videos, files, and other important documents you need for various purpose, they need to be stored somewhere accessible like a computer or a laptop perhaps.

Smart gadgets are popular too and they allow us to have a smooth browsing experience because it works like any conventional computer device albeit it usually fits the palm of your hand. While most have a built-in internal storage system, some allow you to use an external SD card or external disk drive where you can migrate your files for long-term storage once your device starts running out of space. Storage space is especially a chronic problem among iOS users mainly because iPhones aren’t compatible with any type of external storage added into it.

Windows or macOS running out of room and crawling to a halt as a result? Nowhere to store your latest batch of phone photos or iTunes music purchases? Dwindling computer storage space is a problem most of us have to face from time to time, and here’s what you can do to ease the pressure.

The more empty space you’ve got on your hard drive the better—it gives your OS more room to breathe and more flexibility when it comes to storing files and all the temporary data that goes along with day-to-day use of your system. Even if you’ve already got a sizeable chunk of disk space free, it’s always worth clearing out some more.

Delete, delete, delete

Don’t underestimate how much room you can free up using nothing but the Delete key, even if you’ve only got five or ten minutes for the job. While automated tools are faster, this gives you more control over what gets deleted and what doesn’t.

(Via: https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/the-complete-guide-to-creating-more-space-on-your-compu-1798530536)

Also, devices start lagging once you have stored more than enough data. Too many apps that you don’t use eat up space and affect the way your gadgets work. It takes longer for uploads/downloads to finish and there are many more issues you may encounter because of low storage space. It always helps to clear unwanted files starting from your devices download folders because it is fast and easy to do before checking your gallery or photo, video, and music libraries. It also helps if you can purchase an external storage device that has a bigger storage space for all your data saving needs.

Western Digital Corporation has bought Upthere, a consumer data storage startup with its own public cloud.

Upthere was founded in 2011 by director Bertrand Sarlet, VP for business development Alex Kushnir, and Roger Bodamer. CEO Chris Bourdon joined Upthere as VP products in August 2012 after being Apple's senior product line manager in the Mac OS X area. He was promoted to CEO in December 2015 when Bodamer left.

Sarlet worked at Apple from 1997 to 2011, and was previously at Steve Job's NeXT.

The company, based in Redwood City, CA, stores users' data – photos, videos, documents and music – in its own data centre and says this about its core technology:

(Via: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/08/29/wdc_buys_public_cloud_storage_startup/)

Then, you can start deleting games and apps you are no longer using on your smartphone. You can even have certain data copied on Google Drive or Dropbox, for instance. Now, this is most helpful. The arrival of cloud technology has definitely made life a lot more comfortable for us as we don’t necessarily have

There are more options now like Upthere that gives consumers more freedom in saving their important data that isn’t just marketed as a secondary backup storage option but the main alternative in keeping and finding your files for the next time you need it. Best of all, cloud technology allows you to access the same file in various devices, which is really helpful now that one person probably personally own and use one or more smart gadgets at a time. Your device will thank you if you do all these measures today and not wait for the time to come when you lose access to your precious data and can’t get it back anymore.

The following post Too Many Apps? Free Up Space On Your Device was first published to The Euro Toques Blog

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/09/25/too-many-apps-free-up-space-on-your-device/

Cyber Issues On Medical Devices

Technology is synonymous with modern living. It is a crucial part of our lives that not only makes the world go round right now but somehow makes it more complex too. These high-tech innovations have actually transformed our lives and made a lot of things easier and more comfortable for us but they are also flawed like most things here on this planet. A lot of things are interconnected now on the Internet of Things and as such, things can easily go from bad to worse when disaster strikes. And it is something we have experienced many times in this digital age.

The ransomware, WannaCry, which infected over 200,000 computers globally managed to cripple the UK’s healthcare system and many patients missed out on their medications for days because the medical staff can’t access the hospital computers where the patient’s chart and data can all be found. You see, any tech issue can potentially become a major medical emergency because medical devices that are hooked and used in a patient’s care can be hacked or encrypted by dubious cyber scammers that are only out for monetary gain.

As the internet of things spreads into more and more areas, increasing numbers of medical devices are now connected, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks that could shut down medical processes, expose critical hospital and patient data, and ultimately put patient safety at risk.

Many medical devices are not built with cybersecurity in mind, yet a survey by Deloitte Cyber Risk Services of over 370 professionals organizations operating in the medical device/IoT arena shows that 36.5 percent have suffered a cyber security incident in the past year.

(Via: https://betanews.com/2017/08/15/iot-medical-device-security/)

Cyber security is not only a concern for public and private individuals using the web on a daily basis but many hospitals and health institutions have also automated most of their processes and services and are just as vulnerable as any one of us. The problem here is that human lives on the brink of death are at risk once the medical devices and machines keeping them alive suddenly stop working because of a technical error or problem. Medical institutions can’t allow that to happen because the risks are far too big to allow such a failure to prepare and plan a contingency plan for such a scenario that will endanger the lives of the people in their care.

A recent Deloitte survey of over 370 professionals whose organizations operate in the Internet of Things (IoT) connected medical device ecosystem found that more than 35 percent of respondents experienced a cyber security incident in the past year.

Respondent organizations included medical device or component manufacturers, healthcare IT organizations, medical device users, and regulators.

Over 30 percent of respondents said identifying and mitigating the risks of fielded and legacy connected devices presents the industry's biggest cyber security challenge.

"It's not surprising that managin cyber risks of existing IoT medical devices is the top concern facing manufacturers, providers and regulators," Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory partner Russell Jones said in a statement. "Legacy devices can have outdated operating systems and may be on hospital networks without proper security controls."

(Via: http://www.esecurityplanet.com/network-security/over-a-third-of-healthcare-iot-organizations-suffered-cyber-incidents-in-the-past-year.html)

Imagine the inconvenience and the outright dangers posed by malfunctioning or non-functioning (at all) medical devices that are supposed to support patient’s lives but fail to do so. Even cyber criminals are aware of this, which is probably why they showed the UK the type of disaster they can bring with the last WannaCry outbreak. Increasing cyber security efforts and taking data recovery backups seriously is something all medical institutions can do to safeguard themselves from such modern problems now that most gadgets (medical or not) are all connected to the web. It is a non-negotiable measure given that malwares are just looming on the horizon and any system can easily fall prey to these attacks.

The blog article Cyber Issues On Medical Devices See more on: https://www.euro-toques.org

source https://www.euro-toques.org/2017/09/20/cyber-issues-on-medical-devices/