That's Christmas: Why not set up a blog for a loved one this Christmas?

That's Christmas: Why not set up a blog for a loved one this Christmas?: Why not set up a blog for someone this Christmas? For many years I have used the blogging service Blogger.com which is owned and operated by...

82% of UK tech users feel unsure about best ways to recycle old tech

A new study by computer refurbishment specialists, EuroPC, has revealed that a staggering 82% of UK adults who live in a household with at least five tech devices aren't certain about about the best way to recycle retired electronic devices. 

When faced with a device they no longer use, respondents said they’re more likely to hoard it, (77%), throw it in the bin (63%) or sell it (48%), rather than recycle it (8%)

Of those who don’t currently recycle their devices, 87% of UK tech users would recycle electronics properly if they were better informed.

Charging cables (89%) are the most common item we Brits have lying around our homes, while 2% admitted holding on to Tamagotchis.

As part of www.europc.co.uk’s ongoing investigation into the relationship between refurbished technology and sustainability, a new survey of 2,100 UK adults who live in a household with at least five tech devices reveals that 82% of tech users, in excess of four in five, still feel unsure about the best way to recycle their undesired electronics.

The survey found 60% of UK tech users are keen to improve their carbon footprint by recycling technology in a more responsible manner. Respondents were also asked what they’re most likely to do with a tech device once they no longer use it, and the most likely courses of action were revealed to be:

1.       Hoarding the device – 77%

2.       Throwing the device in the bin – 63%

3.       Selling the device – 48%

4.       Donating the device – 32%

5.       Recycling the device – 18%

Of those who admitted they don’t already recycle devices that they have no further use for, an overwhelming 87% said they’d consider recycling electronics properly provided they were more well-informed on the subject, its benefits and the dangers of e-waste.

Whilst delving into the demographics of the participants who participated in the survey, it was discovered Generation Z (those who indicated they were born between 1981-1996) are the most knowledgeable when it comes to recycling tech, with almost half admitting they know how to properly recycle old tech and regularly do so, rather than just throwing old devices away (49%).

In contrast, 28% of participants in Gen X (1965-1980) said they’ve never recycled tech before and don’t know how to, while a further 15% even admitted they weren’t aware that their local recycling centres collected small electrical items.

When participants were asked which old tech they have lying around their homes, the most common items were listed as follows:

·       Charging cables – 89%

·       Phones – 71%

·       Consoles and gaming devices – 63%

·       PC equipment (mouses, keyboards and screens) – 52%

·       Laptops – 47%

Some of other the items respondents cited included DVD players (21%), portable CD players (16%) and even Tamagotchis (2%).

For those looking to learn more about recycling electronics responsibly, Alan Gilmour, Managing Director at www.europc.co.uk, has listed some of the top benefits of doing so:

“You might only associate recycling of any kind with helping the environment, and while recycling old tech and all other electronics definitely does help the environment, there are some other benefits that you might not immediately think of. For one, recycling old tech devices can salvage precious metals like gold, copper and steel. These metals can be used to make a variety of different items, from crucial medical equipment to jewellery! If you have an old phone rotting (not literally – hopefully) in a drawer dedicated to junk, try to picture a shiny gold ring whenever you next rummage for something.

“Properly recycling your electronics also creates more jobs. As weird as it may sound, consider how we sort through reusable materials. With people, of course! Recycling your tech help keeps the recycling business in good shape.”

 

That's Books and Entertainment: Dream job: Get paid to view James Bond films every...

That's Books and Entertainment: Dream job: Get paid to view James Bond films every...: You can get your Licence to watch: Get paid to view James Bond films every day for a fortnight. CarTakeBack UK is offering one lucky app...

Laduma's CaVRn

Is Digital technology dangerous? Expert says "yes"

According to a top mental health expert, digital technology could be helping contribute to rising suicide rates in the UK.

Suicides in the UK are now at a 16 year high, largely driven by higher rates amongst boys and men, with females under 25 also seeing a major rise.

Shelley Perry, Clinical Director of SEED and Breathe, a charity which treats people with mental health issues and eating disorders said: “There isn’t one issue that’s driving increasing suicide rates, every case is different, but a combination of factors do contribute, meaning people are less resilient to deal with problems.

“In today’s society we have increased loneliness and isolation, which is partially due to a breakdown in community and family units, structures and support mechanisms.

"This is further increasing in the digital age, especially as children younger than ever before now have access to handheld technology such as iPads, which encourages and enables play and time to be spent alone, rather than with other people.

"Furthermore, young people have access to pornography, violence and other content and materials at a much younger age. We have become desensitised to all of these things and yet the psychological impact is enormous.”

According to Shelley, this combined with inadequate and under-resourced mental health and social services, which aren’t able to provide sufficient early intervention for people, means issues are going undiagnosed and people who are having problems simply fall through the net.

Shelley wants to see a marked change to help deal with the rising problems.  She said: “It will be difficult to tackle some of the root causes that create depression, but the key is building resilience in people.

"To do that there’s a number of things that can be done from a health service perspective, from working with employers and GPs on identifying people who need support to understanding what treatment and support is available to them.”

Shelley also believes more investment is required to provide therapies and treatment for children, young people and adults.

“At the moment mental health treatment is underfunded and under resourced. External factors influencing the deliverance of services e.g. staffing, funding, number of hospital beds, means that not everybody can be seen and receive appropriate and sufficient help in a timely way to meet the recommendations in the NICE guidelines.

"Plenty of the population have now put their hand up saying they are not mentally well, yet the NHS is unable to meet this demand, therefore, waiting lists are increasing and during this time often an individual's mental health state deteriorates. More investment is needed but the third sector (not for profit organisations and charities) can also help, but we need to work and collaborate together.”

 For more details on Breathe Therapies services visit www.breathetherapies.co.uk.

Laduma's 360° VR Dome with the Red Arrows

Laduma's LFC Champions League AR Experience

Could a touchscreen make you ill?

Touchscreens are a vital part of everyday life. 

When we visit the doctor, or a hospital, go shopping, visit a bank or travel, we touch more surfaces than any other generation in history, it's said.

When there are four times as many germs found on a self-service touchscreen than on a toilet seat, it’s no surprise to learn many people are concerned about touching surfaces, and being exposed to a variety of infectious germs like MRSA, E. coli and C. diff.

In a recent consumer survey from nano-technology outfit Kastus, over 70% of respondents reported being fearful of using public touchscreens.

Bank ATMs caused the most concern, with doctor’s surgery and hospital check in screens running a close second. Fast food chain order screens, supermarket self-service tills and airport check-in kiosks were also identified as of concern.

It's claimed that by 2050 antibiotic drug resistant infections will kill an extra 10 million people a year worldwide. That's more than currently die from cancer.

Back in 2015 there were a reported 52,000 cases of superbugs such as MRSA and E. coli and 2,100 deaths in the UK alone with 700,000 deaths, worldwide.

With the WHO reporting that antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global health, people are looking to manufacturers to help control the situation, asking for touchscreen and smartphone businesses to introduce an environmentally friendly, scientifically proven solution that would help keep touchscreen surfaces germ-free.

Of those surveyed, in excess of 80% said they'd actively seek out businesses or establishment which offered a touchscreen with an invisible germ-free coating.

Parents also raised concerns over other touchscreens including mobile phones and tablets. Smartphones, carry 10 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, but an alarming 65% of people surveyed revealed they never clean their mobile phones.

As 90% of respondents with children under 12 regularly share their mobile phones with their children, phone screens are also a key area for manufacturers to look at.

John Browne, founder and CEO of Kastus, said: “Touchscreens and smartphones are an ideal surface for bacteria to reproduce due to the heat they emit, harboring all kinds of germs that can easily thrive in those conditions.

“There is a scientifically proven solution that will help manufacturers protect against the spread of bacteria, we just need to do more to encourage the widespread use of it as it delivers a very real control measure in the fight against antimicrobial infections.”

To find out more about Kastus, visit www.kastus.com 

LFC's iconic Boot Room recreated in VR

Laduma works with tech giant Microsoft to create immersive experiences.