Regressive Physiological Effects
The other day, I went to a McDonald’s for the first time in a few years. After walking in the door with the menu item I knew I wanted already in my head, I was instead met with a large panel display. “Tap here to start your order,” the machine said.
A little taken back, I thought “why not, I can play machine.”
After ordering a “meal” the machine decided that I needed to pick each individual item that comprises a “meal.” Like as in a complete meal. One item selected, not multiple items to select. Fine. Got it. No worry’s, I’ll continue to play the digital psych game.
After I was done and the rest of the party that I was with were done fumbling through their order, the machine instructed us to take a table marker and the machine spit out receipt and instructed us to proceed to the counter to pay the nice lady standing there staring off into space with the look of “I hate it here.”
As I stood there, I could not help but think “why in the hell did myself and the group of people that I was with have to go through this exercise of futility when there is a lady standing at the counter with a POS, order taking computer right in front of her?”
Oh yeah. Cheap. Only one lady standing there, because having two lady’s standing there in a multi-billion dollar a year business would break the bank at the end of the year board meeting.
Pay the lady, go sit down, put our table marker at the edge of the table so the food delivery person could find our table.
Instead, food delivery person was wondering around, calling out our receipt number. So…What was the use to the table marker?
In the end, I felt cheated. I was cheated out of being able to converse with another human. I was cheated out of being able to make someone else laugh or smile for the fleeting second that it takes to say “Hi. Can I get a number three please;” hand the woman some money and have her say “your change sir. thanks. have a good day.”
In the modern world, technology has become increasingly intertwined with many aspects of our daily lives. From our homes to our workplaces, technology is used to improve efficiency and productivity, as well as to provide entertainment and access to information.
Case in point would be a conversation I was having with a friend last night who had delivered a baby a couple of days ago. While discussing how the baby was doing, it came to light that the baby was having some issues.
Technology was great to have to be able to look up information about the issues and give my opinion on the matter within a few seconds, but…..
Despite the many benefits that technology affords us, it can also have a number of detrimental physiological effects if used excessively. Another case in point would be McDonald’s.
One of the most common physiological side effects of overusing technology is a decrease in physical activity. Many people now spend large amounts of time sitting – or standing at a counter – in front of screens, whether it be at home playing video games, at work using the computer, or using their electronic device for social media.
This sedentary lifestyle leads to regressive physiological effects. If we think about the lady standing at the counter in McDonald’s, it’s a certain bet that after her shift, she went home, got on social media looking for some kind of affirmation from friends or even strangers to help her cope with what she is doing for work.
Another regressive physiological effect is an increase in stress and anxiety. The constant bombardment of information from technology and the internet can be overwhelming, leading to higher levels of stress and anxiety.
In this case, just looking at the internet as a whole; thinking Google, Bing, Amazon, YouTube or any number of other large tech corporations that siphon every micro piece of information they can possible get from you and the enormous bombardment of advertising shoved in your face is enough to make anyone understand that this is not a good plan.
Regressive physiological effects also lead to a decrease in focus, attention, and productivity, (mental growth) as well as an increase in negative emotional states such as depression and irritability.
Overuse of technology can also lead to chronic fatigue, insomnia, and sleep deprivation. The blue light emitted by many electronic devices can interfere with the body’s natural circadian rhythms, resulting in difficulty sleeping and an inability to rest adequately.
This can have dire long-term effects on overall health and well being. Overall, while technology has many benefits, it is important to recognize its potential for causing regressive physiological effects. It is important to be aware of the risks associated with overuse of technology and take steps to ensure that technology use does not negatively affect our physical and mental health.