Once upon a time, a very long time ago, what one could complete during a day depended entirely on daylight. With technological innovations we’ve managed to extend our days to such an extent that we’re now living in a 24-hour society. City people in particular tend to live high tempo lifestyles, moving between meetings, appointments, various roles and activities. We live in a society where every service or product is now offered, and can be demanded, at every hour.
While this seems impressive, some would argue that it isn’t healthy and that technology that moves us in this direction can’t be good for mankind. Over the last 20 years, several studies have identified stress and ill health as one of the most critical issues when people become active around the clock.
Despite this, I think most people would agree that the technological innovations that made the 24-hour society possible, for example the electric light, power/heating, communications services, computers and computer-based transactions, and so on, have overall been good for society.
But the question remains, how do we cope with the stress?
In the latest ConsumerLab findings I learnt that people today use communications technology to relieve some of their stress. If evolution towards a faster paced lifestyle is inevitable and if people still need rest for the human body to function well, then we have to find ways to relax. Apparently, 40-50 percent of people in big cities use internet and/or TV to relax and some 20 percent play games (I bet they are computer or TV-based!) or talk on the phone. I recognize myself in these numbers. I still take a walk, exercise, or meet friends to relax and have fun, but more and more I feel that the anonymous belonging presented by a discussion or game online can be very relaxing after a full day’s work. It’s sort of a way to both relax and be active at the same time, without the demands.
So it seems like technology, which is part of driving the 24-hour society evolution, is also part of the solution to the issue of stress and health. So let’s surf!
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