Is your cell phone killing you?

For decades now scientists have been debating whether the radiation emitted from cell phones is causing permanent damage to the brains of people who use them. A new government funded study by the National Institutes of Health seems to suggest it is doing something, but scientists are not quite certain what that is.

Let’s be clear: according to researchers the electromagnetic radiation produced by a cell phones affects glucose metabolism. When glucose metabolism inside your brain goes up, cells get activated. The complete study was published in the Journal of American Medical Association and includes the caveat that while they know something is happening inside the brain, they don’t know what. The researchers said the cell phone need to be bombarding the brain for at least 50 minutes before any increase in brain activity was noted.

radiation emitted from cell phones
Photo by SOMBILON PHOTOGRAPHY | GALLERY | VIDEOGRAPHY (radiation emitted from cell phones)

Maybe it is activating extra sensory perception, maybe it is burning calories, maybe it is doing nothing at all. They have no idea.

Like all scientific research which determines something is going on but does not reveal what exactly that is (like, say, global warming) they recommend more research be conducted.

In May 2010 the Interphone project by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the largest study of cell phone use and brain tumors ever conducted found that “no increase in risk was observed with the use of mobile phones.” The agency studied the effects of cell phone use of dozens of subjects over a ten year period. That is a substantial test group.

The latest research also tested dozens of subjects, 47 otherwise healthy adults to be precise. They tested brain levels when the cell phone was turned off and compared these with results when the phone was turned on. The study showed “significantly higher” brain activity in the area closest to where the antenna was located on the phone.

The brain is a sensitive electromagnetic instrument all by itself. It probably doesn’t need to be further stimulated by an outside device. But researchers can not say with any degree of certainty that the effects of 50 minutes of cell phone use will harm the brain of a healthy adult. They cannot say the same for adults with brains that have suffered some sort of previous damage or the brains of children, with thinner skull structures than their adult counterparts.

This is not the first time research has shown cell phone use could pose a hazard. Again and again some researchers have claimed that the electromagnetic emissions of cells phone could cause bran cancer or strokes or something, though no one has yet produced one shred of evidence to prove these claims.

Today, there are more than 300 million cell phones in use in the United States alone and almost 1 billion in use around the world. With that type of wide spread use it would seem if there was any type of negative effect it would hardly take a team of researchers and a group of 47 healthy adults talking on their phones for 50 minutes to prove it.

Thomas is the Founder and CEO of a premiere Virtual Assistant company in the US. He also consults on Search Engine Optimization and how to make your day more efficient thru the use of Virtual Assistants. To find out more information please feel free to visit their website.

How the iPhone Has Changed the Way We Communicate

It’s no surprise, but the Apple iPhone has been one of the most widely used smart phones internationally. The iPhone was first released to the market back June 2007, offered solely to AT&T customers as a combination between a widescreen iPod, cell phone and pocket device. Since the release, over 1 million iPhone’s were sold in just three months time. By June 2008, Apple launched the iPhone 3G and in just three days, over 1 million were purchased. A year later, the iPhone 3Gs was available and within two days, over 1 million were sold to new and existing Apple customers. In June 2010, Apple fans rushed to the scene and over 600,000 iPhone 4’s were pre-ordered while 1 million were sold on the date of release. This year, the iPhone 5 is expecting to hit stores by end of summer and numbers are projected to be more outstanding than the last. Let’s look at the ways that the iPhone has changed the way we communicate.

iPhone Has Changed the Way We Communicate
iPhone Has Changed the Way We Communicate

So what’s the hype about the iPhone?

Dating back to 2006, the way we communicated was vastly different. It seemed that only businesses owners and those in power utilized a cell phone to communicate on the go. Since then, the introduction of smart phones allowed consumers to navigate the web and text message, sending instant alerts to family, friends and co-workers, whether in a public setting, in a classroom or in a meeting. The ability to communicate anywhere at any time was exhilarating.

Changing the Way We Communicate

The iPhone launch meant an infiltration of our daily means of communication. It’s a device that captures our life in the palm of our hand. Consumers have the ability to customize their phone as they customize their life.

Given the capacity of the iPhone, users can opt to add or remove applications of their liking and prioritize them given the difference screen options available. Not only is the device another way to express ones personality and interests, but it serves as a central location that easily fits in your pocket, storing, editing and getting alerts for meetings on calendars, utilizing GPS navigation on the road, making and editing notes, sending and receiving emails, capturing special moments as a video or still photography, checking the weather, making calculations, listening to music, reading books, solving debates by instant web browsing, making online purchases, and the list goes on.

The iPhone Has Changed the Way We Communicate

We are now able to Skype, Facebook, tweet, and check-in to points of interest, all in real-time. Society is no longer still. Things are happening every moment around us and the iPhone allows us to document activities and thoughts along the way. In simple terms, the iPhone makes interacting, engaging, and networking stronger than ever before.

Lorna Horne is a freelance writer who covers a variety of topics in the electronics and gadgets industry. She absolutely loves her Apple iPhone and is always trying to stay on the bleeding edge of mobile technology. Thanks for reading about how the iPhone has changed the way we communicate.

Mobile Phones In The Car- Distraction Or Okay?

The mobile phone usage in the car debate is one that has been talked about for years and there are already a lot of countries including UK, China, Poland, Australia and Brazil that have already said yes to ban the use of mobile phones in the car.

The main country that is yet to say yes on a whole is the USA and this currently is put down to the individual states voting independently to make a decision. States like Alabama, Idaho and Delaware are all still saying no to a ban whereas other states like California, Washington and New Jersey have already banned the use of a mobile phone. There are states like Florida and Ohio that are only working on partial bans and there is still a lot of confusion around what is going on.

Mobile Phones In The Car

With all of this in mind let’s take a look at some of the positives and negatives of using the mobile phone in the car.

The Argument for Mobile Phones

When you sit down and think of positives of using your mobile phone in the car there aren’t many reasons that tend to pop up. Answering a phone call you can do once pulled over or hooked up to hands free, checking Twitter and other social networks can be done when you are pulled over or better yet when you have arrived at your destination and answering a text takes both eyes from the front of the car for a long period of time, is this really a good idea?

The other side of the argument is that talking or texting on a mobile phone is really no different to changing a radio station, eating or drinking and even telling the kids to quiet down in the back and these are not going to be banned anytime soon. Whilst these are not going to be banned they are still frowned upon as you have to take concentration from driving to carry the tasks out!

The only time it might be a good idea to us you’re mobile without hands free is perhaps if you are stuck in traffic or calling the emergency services. If you are not moving when stuck in traffic then you cannot really do anything wrong when using mobile phones in the car.

If you are constantly talking on your mobile phone when driving about what is the reason why you have not purchased one of the best mobile phone accessories out there, the hands free kit? Even if your state or country says it is fine to use your phone when driving your concentration and judgment skills are going to be down and your reaction times are around 50% slower which could result in an accident, just buy a kit and be safe or be even safer and turn the thing off when you are driving!

Ryan is a car fanatic working for a company that sell mobile phone accessories including the hands free kit! You can find him on Twitter @ ryanogs

Dangerous Driver Dialing Could Soon Be A Thing Of The Past

Even before the law was changed in Britain regarding the use of mobile phones while driving it struck me that using your mobile while driving was somewhat mad. Let’s look at dangerous driver dialing.

Dangerous Driving Dialing

Sane people wouldn’t read a book or write in their diaries while driving but people do send and receive texts while behind the wheel, an activity which now comes under the provision of driving without due care and attention. The law was changed before the explosion of mobile internet handsets, I can just imagine the chaos that’d be caused by people tweeting and updating their Facebook status to “Driving on the motorway at 90MPH; Good times LOL!”

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Essential Car Gadgets You Should Own

cool car gadgets
essential car gadgets
Image via Wikipedia

If you spend so much time in your car that it feels like a second home, then why not buy some gadgets to make your drive that much easier and fun? There are so many great essential car gadgets out on the market today. Here are four essential car gadgets you really should think about getting.

Cell phone charger

Everybody forgets to charge their cell phone sometimes. Hopefully, the juice left in the battery will last you the entire day, but sometimes cell phones go dead at the most inopportune times – like right before you need to make an important business call. With a cell phone charger that you can plug into your car, you will never have to worry about being without your phone again.

Auxiliary cable or cassette adapter for iPods

Have access to your entire music collection while driving without the hassle of bringing along your entire CD collection. There are two ways to hook your iPod up to a car. Newer cars will have a place for you to plug in an auxiliary cable. Plug the other end of the cable into the headphone slot on the iPod and voila, everything is connected. However, if you have an older car that only plays cassette tapes, you will need to buy a cassette adapter to connect your iPod to the car. Make sure to create a great playlist that will play automatically while driving – as a driver, you shouldn’t take your attention off the road to pick new songs and mess around with the iPod.

Satellite radio

Sometimes regular radio channels simply aren’t enough. With satellite radio, you have access to tons of additional channels that offer specialized and unique content without annoying commercials. If you are a sports junkie, then satellite radio is perfect for you, with offerings ranging from football and baseball to NASCAR racing and soccer. There are plenty of talk show channels as well as channels playing any type of music your heart desires.

A GPS navigation device

Many people like consulting maps or using MapQuest to figure out where they are headed, but with a GPS navigation device directions become so much simpler. You don’t even have to look at the device – a voice will announce the directions and tell you when to make turns. The device can also adjust to deviations in a route, so if you take a wrong turn it can tell you how to correct your route.

Author Byline:

This article was written by Ryan Embly from the website CarRentalExpress.com – they offer price comparisons on car and van rentals all across North America and Europe.

The Pros and Cons of Wireless Broadband in Australia

Wireless Broadband

The pros and cons of wireless broadband in Australia

Wireless broadband services relatively new in Australia in the grand scheme of things, and whilst fixed line broadband has now been around for a number of years wireless broadband in Australia services have only become popular over the past couple of years. Wireless broadband is a technology that is ideal for people on the go, and these days is used by both casual and business users across Australia.

Wireless Broadband in Australia
Wireless Broadband

Whilst wireless broadband has undoubtedly become an invaluable tool for many people that have become reliant on being able to access the internet wherever and whenever they need to, it can also come with its disadvantages – at least in its current form. However, there is room for improvement with wireless broadband technology, and this is something that could sort out many of the cons.

The advantages of wireless broadband technology

There are many benefits to having access to wireless broadband services, and this is why this technology has become so popular. Amongst the benefits that consumers who use wireless broadband services can enjoy are:

  • Flexibility of being able to get online where and when they need to
  • The ease of being able to connect when necessary
  • Total convenience, enabling users to send emails, go on social networking sites, and surf no matter where they are as long as there is a signal
  • A choice of low cost wireless broadband plans from a range of providers

The disadvantages of wireless broadband technology

There are also a number of disadvantages when it comes to wireless broadband technology, although many of these could be rectified when upgrades are made to the technology. Some of these are:

  • Slow speeds compared to average fixed line speeds, which means that the technology is not suitable for some activities and applications at the moment, such as streaming movies
  • Limitations to locations service can be used due to need for a signal
  • Factors such as environmental conditions or surroundings can adversely affect signal and accessibility
  • Limited capacity of 3G networks compared to demand for services can affect quality and reliability of service.

How the service can be improved

The disadvantages outlined above can be rectified through an upgrading of the existing 3G networks, and when 4G technology is widely available users of wireless broadband technology will really see the difference. In some areas of Australia providers have already put 4G technology into place, which means that users can enjoy far greater speeds, better coverage, and greater reliability from their connections. Many other providers have trialed or are still trialing the technology, with reports of impressive results. To monitor the improvements use an online speed test to see how well the speeds compare to your current providers.