Which of your geeky gadgets is most likely to hurt you?

I do like my tech. Okay, “early adopter” seems to have picked up a negative connotation these days, but I’m still happy to identify as such!

Here’s the twist? Maybe tech is more harmful than I hope. Maybe even our household electronics are out to get us! Research, such as the US 2021 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) project, traced over 22,500 injuries to video games.

Electronics Hub, which offers free info on electronics, has processed the latest NEISS data to work out which household electronics cause the most injuries.

Vape pens rank, as do batteries, but the number one terror is the smartphone.

It’s getting worse too. No one will be surprised to see that VR headsets are causing more injuries. The number of VR headsets in circulation has gone from about zilch to a few more.

What sort of household injuries do smartphones cause?

I wasn’t sure how a smartphone could injure someone so I asked the newly released AI Bard from Google.

Google’s new chatbot had five examples and then continued, unpromoted, to give me some health tips. Here’s what the bot said;

Here are some of the household injuries that smartphones can cause:

• Finger injuries. These are the most common type of injury caused by smartphones. They can happen when you drop your phone on your finger, or when you try to type too quickly and accidentally hit your finger on the screen.
• Back pain. Looking down at your phone for long periods of time can put a strain on your neck and back. This can lead to muscle pain, headaches, and even nerve damage.
• Eye injuries. Staring at your phone for too long can strain your eyes and lead to dry eyes, headaches, and vision problems.
• Slips and falls. Using your phone while walking or standing can increase your risk of slipping and falling. This is especially true if you are not paying attention to your surroundings.
• Burns. If you drop your phone in water, or if it gets too hot, it can cause burns to your skin.

It is important to be aware of the potential risks of using smartphones and to take steps to prevent injuries. Here are some tips:

• Use a case or cover to protect your phone from drops and scratches.
• Take breaks from looking at your phone every 20-30 minutes.
• Adjust the brightness of your screen so that it is not too bright.
• Be aware of your surroundings when using your phone.
• Do not use your phone while walking or standing.