Technology is designed to make our lives easier, but for many Americans, technology could be doing more harm than good. 
A survey conducted by LUMO BodyTech, found that 60% of American adults have experienced health problems related to the use of technology or sitting at a desk. The company has dubbed the collection of health symptoms caused by technology use, Silicon Valley Syndrome (SVS). The most common symptoms include eye strain, back pain, neck pain, and headaches. How Americans treat their pain is dependent on their age. Older Americans are two times more likely to fight their symptoms with medications than Americans aged 18-34. Surprisingly, younger Americans were three times more likely to combat SVS by limiting their use of technology. Who says we can’t show a little self-control every now and again? The next generations are at an even higher risk of SVS. Half of college students suffer pain associated with computer use, and the average pre-schooler spends 32 hours per week looking at a screen. It’s projected that 9 million young Americans will develop serious musculoskeletal disorders from tech use before they even join the workforce. LUMO BodyTech offers some tips for fighting SVS that essentially boil down to moving more and spending less time attached to computers and smartphones. Of course, they also have a product to help do that. LUMOback product is a sensor that the user wears under his or her clothes. The sensor monitors the user’s daily activities including steps taken and time spent sitting. It also monitors the user’s posture and will gently vibrate if he or she is using poor posture. The sensor syncs with a smartphone application so users can track their progress over time. There is certainly no shortage of wearable devices that track users’ activity levels, but LUMOback is the first I’ve seen that tracks posture. Might be worth checking out if you are one who slouches at a desk all day.
A survey conducted by LUMO BodyTech, found that 60% of American adults have experienced health problems related to the use of technology or sitting at a desk. The company has dubbed the collection of health symptoms caused by technology use, Silicon Valley Syndrome (SVS). The most common symptoms include eye strain, back pain, neck pain, and headaches. How Americans treat their pain is dependent on their age. Older Americans are two times more likely to fight their symptoms with medications than Americans aged 18-34. Surprisingly, younger Americans were three times more likely to combat SVS by limiting their use of technology. Who says we can’t show a little self-control every now and again? The next generations are at an even higher risk of SVS. Half of college students suffer pain associated with computer use, and the average pre-schooler spends 32 hours per week looking at a screen. It’s projected that 9 million young Americans will develop serious musculoskeletal disorders from tech use before they even join the workforce. LUMO BodyTech offers some tips for fighting SVS that essentially boil down to moving more and spending less time attached to computers and smartphones. Of course, they also have a product to help do that. LUMOback product is a sensor that the user wears under his or her clothes. The sensor monitors the user’s daily activities including steps taken and time spent sitting. It also monitors the user’s posture and will gently vibrate if he or she is using poor posture. The sensor syncs with a smartphone application so users can track their progress over time. There is certainly no shortage of wearable devices that track users’ activity levels, but LUMOback is the first I’ve seen that tracks posture. Might be worth checking out if you are one who slouches at a desk all day.
