40Tech » Health

Help Turn Your MacBook Into a Desktop Computer With the mStand

Evan Kline — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:56:39 +0000

Thank you, Tony Hue of LonePlacebo for helping me spend money. A couple of weeks ago, Tony wrote about the mStand, a monitor stand that almost looks like it could have been designed by Apple. I decided that I needed a stand, so I took the plunge and bought the swiveling version of the stand, the mStand 360, along with an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

Tony’s assessment is dead on. The stand looks nice, feels solid, and gets my MacBook Pro to the perfect elevation. Head on over to his review for a thorough look at the stand, and to see some photos. Use his link to order, as I think he has affiliate links on his site.

Don’t have an Apple laptop? As Tony notes,

Although Rain Design says that the stand is designed primarily for Apple laptops, you can fit any laptop with a maximum depth of 10.4″.

I enjoy Tony’s site, but if his reviews get me to purchase one more item, I might need to stay away for a while.

Cure Poor Posture at your Desk with the mStand Laptop Stand | LonePlacebo

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There’s An App for That – Get Charged Money When You Miss a Workout [iOS]

Evan Kline — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Now I’ve seen everything. Would you have more incentive to go to the gym if you knew that a missed workout was going to hit you where it counts – in the wallet? If so, check out the New York Times’ coverage of GymPact, an iPhone app that can provide this type of monetary incentive to working out.

GymPact, also coming for Android at some point, allows you to set a target number of workouts per week, and the penalty you’re willing to pay for missing your target. If you miss your target, your credit card will be charged the monetary amount. If you do hit your target, however, then you are rewarded monetarily, using the money collected from the slackers who didn’t hit their targets. How much you earn depends on the number of people who didn’t hit their targets.

The app uses your phone’s GPS, allowing you to check in when you get to a gym, and checking you out if you leave prior to the amount of time that you agreed to in your pact. GymPact does have a minimum requirement of at least one workout a week for 30 minutes, with a minimum penalty of $5 for every missed visit. You can change your pact at any time as long as you’re above the minimum.

Would an app like GymPact help you to work out regularly?

GymPact [via The New York Times]

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Credit Card Sized Tech Tells You if You Have HIV in 15 Minutes, for $1

Bobby Travis — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:08:45 +0000

This is one time when downscaling technology isn’t a cliché. None of that “cell phone implanted in your tooth” malarkey– the mChip is serious business. Serious, potentially game (and life) changing business.

Once upon a time, getting tested for HIV involved a trip to the doctor, a bit of blood-letting, and a rather tense wait. It was months, at first, then weeks, then days, and eventually it worked its way down to minutes. That’s all fine and dandy if you live in a developed country, but if you happen to live in Africa, where HIV is running rampant, then visiting your local doctor’s office could involve something of a trek. A trek you may not be able to afford or, due to fear of results, lack of time, or whatever other reason, may not be inclined to make.

Researchers at Columbia University have found a way to help.

Using nanoparticles and microfluidics, they have taken an entire laboratory and miniaturized it in the mChip. All it takes is a drop of blood and a cheap optical sensor and the chip gives results in 15 minutes that are plain as day and require no interpretation. It can test for HIV and/or syphilis and has a 100% detection rate. There is a 4-6% chance of a false positive, as well, but that is the same margin in a traditional lab test. A false positive may be scary, but it beats the hell out of a false negative.

The best part about the mChip is the price. It only costs $1, which is amazing for a new piece of technology meant to help people. Or maybe I’m just a wee bit cynical… Either way, the price is fantastic.

The mChip also has the potential to be instantly actionable. If the user has a digital medical file, the mChip can reportedly use cellphone or satellite technology to interface with medical files and include the new record.

This is a fantastic step forward in the fight against HIV in undeveloped countries, but it’s possible technology like this will find its way into your local Wal-Mart pharmacy at some point. It would only make sense, wouldn’t it? And dating could get just a bit safer — if a bit awkward: “Just put a drop of your blood here, please. If all goes well, we can get started in about 15 minutes.”

Side Note: There is also an mChip that diagnoses prostate cancer that has been approved for use in Europe.

What are your thoughts on the mChip?

(via engadget, DVICE, FastCompany, Nature Medicine)

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Too Many Facebook Friends May Cause Stress, Anxiety

Bobby Travis — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:21:12 +0000

Having many friends is classically considered a desirable thing, leading to things like wealth of spirit, a good self-image, and a generally happy life. Not so in the modern days of the internet, where terms like “friend” are used as a label for the barest acquaintance, and sometimes even for enemies. In fact, in a recent study by psychologists from Edinburgh Napier University, it was discovered that the amount of “friends” you keep on Facebook may be linked to heightened feelings of anxiety and stress.

Scream image by Robbert van der Steeg

200 students were surveyed, and it was discovered that at least 12% of them felt that Facebook made them anxious. Each of those 12% maintained an average of 117 “friends,” while the remaining 88% kept an average of 75. Some other interesting findings were as follows:

Many felt a great pressure to be on Facebook, but there was “considerable ambivalence” as to its benefits.
Stress from Facebook use was caused by many different stimuli, including “feelings of exclusion, pressure to be entertaining, paranoia, or envy of others’ lifestyles.”
63% would delay replying to friend requests.
32% felt guilty rejecting friend requests.
10% didn’t like receiving friend requests at all.

The word “friend” could be the main cause of Facebook-related stresses. Perhaps the social media giant should come up with a proprietary name they can trademark, or use something closer to the word “acquaintance” as opposed to a word that is meant to engender feelings of warmth, familiarity, and long term trust. Keeping things as they are, however helps to foster an environment where users, who are still emotionally tied to the meaning of the word friend (no matter how watered down it has become), feel compelled to log on, invite others, and be a part of the service — and maybe more due to its negative aspects instead of the purported positives.

Perhaps we should all just bite the bullet and prune our lists down to our actual friends?

What do you think?

Does Facebook Stress You Out? [WebProNews]

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Wi-Fi is Radiation Too

Bobby Travis — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:32:28 +0000

According to a Dutch study, our beloved Wi-Fi — the stuff that large populations of the planet now use in their homes, their workplaces, where they shop, where they drink coffee, and pretty much everywhere else they go — may be killing our trees. Or at least contributing to it. The researchers of Wageningen University say that more analysis is required to reach a solid conclusion on the matter, but so far, it looks like the particular radiation that is Wi-Fi is not at all interested in becoming a tree-hugger.

The tests were done in urban areas, where the high Wi-Fi and mobile phone network concentrations battle it out with other not-so-nice-for-trees elements such as fuel and other particle emissions. This leads to an obvious question about whether the trees’ sickness is more a result of other side-effects of urban sprawl, but the researchers feel they have a pretty good case against Wi-Fi. This is unfortunate, as Wi-Fi has become more and more a part of our daily necessities. Either way, something that is in the air in areas of major and connected human cities is causing the upper and lower layers of leaves to die, leaving behind a “lead-like shine” — and apparently inhibiting the growth of corn cobs.

This news, while not entirely proven true, may mark down one more in an ever-growing list of our human comforts and advancements that may actually be harmful to our immediate environment.

What do you think?

Study: Wi-Fi Makes Our Trees Sick [Read Write Web (via PC World)]

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eLegs Exoskeleton: Another Bit of Science Fiction Becomes Reality

Bobby Travis — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:00:35 +0000

I like it when science fiction tech waltzes its way into the “really real” — and that’s what eLegs is doing. Well, it may not be waltzing just yet, but it’s certainly going a long way to helping paraplegics start walking!

eLegs is based on the HULC exoskeleton built for the military by Berkeley Bionics and is heading into medical trials. At the moment, it is not complete upright mobile freedom, but it is a huge step forward and actually does help paraplegics to get out of their chairs and walk. The creators say that they are already working on a “home” version that will allow users to walk unassisted (outside of the robotic exoskeleton, of course).

This is a fantastic step forward for rehabilitation efforts and generally helping people — and while the irony of eLegs developing from a military contract doesn’t escape me, it is equally fantastic that something so positive came from the technology. The grin on the woman in the video below says more than enough to me…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out Make Magazine’s blog for more stories like this, and the one I posted on Wednesday. It’s worth your time.

Berkeley Bionics introduces eLEGS exoskeleton [Make Magazine]

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Safe Tech that Protects You from Germs

Bobby Travis — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:05:13 +0000

With fall now in full swing and winter just around the corner, people are putting on their “germaphobe” hats, armored t-shirts and gloves — and, of course, posts about ways to protect yourself from the invisible nasties have started to hit the blogosphere. One such post, just today on My Life Scoop, detailed some tech solutions to combat germs that I thought I would share with you; two, in particular. After all, tech isn’t always about computers and related objects and software… a fact that I need to remind myself of, on occasion.

UV-C Light

This is based on a specific frequency of ultraviolet light that kills germies dead. Apparently it kills more that 99% of many common molds, allergens, bacteria, germs, etc, and is clean, affordable, and safe for all surfaces. This is what they use to sterilize things in some hospitals. You can get it in a Guardian Mini Wand, or in a Halo vacuum (which, is apparently a good thing, as, accourding to the article, a square inch of carpet holds about four times as many germs as a “typical” toilet seat… freaky, eh?).

Steam

Pick up a steam mop, like Steamboy by Reliable, if you want to scald the germs off of your kitchen and bathroom floor. It works well, and refills are cheap.

Check out the article below for the full list of four.

4 High-Tech Weapons for the War Against Germs [My Life Scoop]

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My Experience Using a Fitness Ball as My Office Chair

Evan Kline — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:00:59 +0000

We tech geeks spend much of our time at the computer, and, as a result, we spend much of our time in a chair. If this concerns you, it is with good reason. BusinessWeek recently discussed how your office chair is killing you. The article points out that as recently as 150 years ago, 90% of human endeavor was agricultural, and that in a small span of time we’ve become “chair-sentenced.” The article cited several statistics for the proposition that a sedentary job is bad for your health, even if you exercise outside of work.

Image from ilovemypit.

That article finally spurred me to do what I’d been considering for a year or two now – use a fitness ball as my primary office chair. For over a month now, I’ve been using a fitness ball as my primary office chair, albeit switching to my normal office chair for up to half the day. How’s it been working? Read on for my take on the experience.

The Ball

The fitness ball that I purchased was the Gopher Sports UltraFit Anti-Burst Stability Ball. This is the ball that Leo Laporte has recommended, ever since having a cheaper ball explode on him, on the air. The ball has a much thicker and tougher feel to it than other fitness balls I’ve seen, such as the one my wife bought at Target. After a month, it’s been great in the all-important “not popping” category.

Pros

So far, I’ve noticed several benefits from the ball:

Energy level. First and foremost, I find that I’m more energetic and alert when I use the fitness ball. Even when I leave the office in the evening, I have a spring in my step that is in stark contrast to my normal, exhausted plod at the end of the day. This likely is due to the next benefit, which is that . . .

I’m always in motion, even when sitting. The fitness ball seems to keep me moving, whether it be rocking and adjusting my position, or bouncing. Yes, you heard that right. I often bounce slightly on my ball while at the office. Much of this is done subconsciously. The second part of my effort to be healthier at work was to get a wireless headset for my telephone, so I often bounce while on the telephone, without even thinking about it.

I spend more time on my feet. Keeping myself on the exercise ball isn’t difficult, but it isn’t effortless, either. As a result, I find that I often hop to my feet during the day, especially during telephone calls, and walk around my office. With my traditional chair, it was easy to just kick back in my chair, and stay there.

It helps my core. Well, that is what the so-called experts say at least. It certainly doesn’t feel like I’ve been doing situps after using the ball, but I do notice a very slight difference. I hope it isn’t just my imagination.

Cons

The use of the fitness ball hasn’t been all roses. Here are a few of the negatives I’ve noticed:

Uncomfortable backside. After sitting on the ball for extended periods, my backside sometimes becomes sore. That goes away, though, once I’m on my feet for a few minutes. I have a coworker who also uses a fitness ball as a chair, and he doesn’t have any discomfort in his buttocks when using the ball, so you may or may not have this problem.

Incompatible with much furniture. I found a chart online that suggested sizes for fitness balls. My ball is a good size for the length of my legs, but I do sit higher up than I do with my office chair. As a result, I find that I crane my neck more when reading what is on my desk. I also have to raise my computer monitor to get it at eye level. Fortunately, it slides up and down easily, so that isn’t much of an issue.

Roll Aways. In an ideal world, you’d have a flat floor and your fitness ball would stay put when you left it. Apparently, though, my office floor isn’t perfectly level, so the ball rolls away when I get up. Fortunately, it rolls about a foot and stops at my computer desk.

Tips

I’ve picked up a couple of tips in my use of my fitness ball:

Get an anti-burst ball. As mentioned, my fitness ball feels tough, so I hope I’m spared the indignity and possible pain of a ball giving way from underneath me.

Don’t overinflate the ball. My ball came with an elastic tape, that is temporarily fastened around the ball when you inflate it, so that you use the proper amount of air. I thought I had inflated my ball properly, until I measured it a few days after the initial inflation. I discovered that the elastic tape must have stretched along with the ball, causing me to overinflate the ball. So, I’d suggest that you first underinflate the ball slightly, and then measure again with the tape a day or two later, after the tape has returned to normal size.

All in all, I’m please with my experiment so far. I’m actually considering getting a second ball, so that I have one for my desk at home as well. Do you use a fitness ball? If not, are you considering it?

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5 Tips for Staying Healthy in the Computer Age

Bobby Travis — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:00:59 +0000

Well, it’s official, we live in the age of computers. Surprised? Ok, so you’re probably not — but that only serves to illustrate my point. These are the days where people are often attached to their machinery for hours and hours and sometimes days at a time; and because you geeky folks out there reading this post are so very well informed, you are probably equally aware of the rise in health issues that are related to said machinery. That’s right, I’m talking everything from arthritis, to heart attacks, to severe anxiety linking back, in many ways, to that thing attached to that soul-sucking monitor on your desk (or lap) — especially if you work from home. Which I do.

So that, in conjunction with my current bout with a very annoying cold that I was only too glad to confirm was not Swine Flu, inspired a small amount of research on maintaining a healthy outlook as one of today’s trending geek-boys. Read on and enjoy!

Image via Wikipedia

1.) Manage Your Time

Overdoing it brings about everything from stress and anxiety, to scoliosis and eye-strain to dehydration, improper blood flow, and lack of oxygen to the body. And more. Do your best to keep your time sitting in front of the box to 2 hours or less. Set an alarm. Listen to it. It is wayyyy too easy to become lost to time when in front of a computer and involved in a project.

2.) Get a Bit of Exercise

A lot of the health problems from extended computer use can be mitigated by simply getting up regularly and moving around — especially in a somewhat focused and energetic manner. Some call this practice “exercise”. The word has lost all meaning to many a tech-geek. Do some stretches, some light weights, hit the treadmill, do jumping jacks — dance around out something. Just do what you need to get your blood flowing, unlock your muscles, increase your air intake, and burn some calories. Go for a walk. If you work from home, get a dog — you need to walk those guys regularly… they like it when you do.

Also important to note: this exercise stuff is especially helpful with managing stress.

3.) Pack Some (Healthy) Food

There are two schools of thought here. Some say pack some food and make sure you take a break to eat it. Others say, as long as the food is healthy and you use those breaks for exercise, you should snack all day to boost your metabolism and energy. I tend to side more with the latter, but may be a bad example as I was born with a fairly high metabolism. Either way, the main point is that you EAT. Like I said earlier, it is way too easy to get caught up in what you are doing. Resist the temptation to do “one more thing” and go eat something.

4.) Water Water Everywhere, Make Sure You Stop to Drink

Stay hydrated. It is easier to forget than you might think. If you are feeling a bit out of sorts as you obsessively bang away at the keys or lovingly stroke the mouse, then you probably need a drink of water. Dehydration plays havoc with your body. Go get a drink of water. Go. Right now. The blog post will still be here when you come back. And stay away from bottled water, if you can. Bottled water isn’t necessarily regulated, so you don’t know what’s really in it — and tap water can’t be left in a plastic bottle in direct sunlight. You get enough carcinogens on a daily basis, cut them out where you can.

5.) The Neck Bone’s Connected to The Foot Bone

Seriously. Ever get a muscle spasm in your eyelid because you moved your arm in a certain way? I have. This is the weirdness you encounter after too many hours working on a laptop while slouching on the couch. Every part of your body’s musculature and structure is connected and screwing about too much with one area can have unforeseen effects on others. Investigate ergonomics and restructure your work area as best you can for comfort and posture. Back problems suck. Carpal tunnel sucks. Any kind of tendonitis sucks — and did you know if you tilt your head forward a few degrees to look at your screen you are adding upwards of 30lbs to your head that need to be supported by your neck muscles? Now you know why your neck gets sore… Headaches and even eye problems can also result. Good posture that is varied often is the best way keep your body from settling into where it shouldn’t.

A bit of discipline and a good dose of each of the above tips should help you to work longer, work smarter and be a healthier person overall. I really have no choice but to take these steps, myself — my brother is a personal trainer. Just the thought of my little brother (who is twice my size) chomping at the bit to extend to me his own personal brand of vengeance for childhood tortures should be enough to keep me focused on my health for years to come. *proceeds with mantra* I will take my own advice, I will take my own advice, I will use what I have learned…

What do you do to keep yourself healthy in the computer age?