FROM A TECHNICAL MIND

BUSINESS: FROM A TECHNICAL MIND Blocking the Blues

by Tyler Hatfield

It has become common to see blue-light blocking glasses on drug store and supermarket shelves as the world seems to agree on one thing: Blue light is harmful for eyes.

But is it really all that bad?

As laptops, phones, tablets, and even smart refrigerators become more common in homes, a side effect has come with them.

With extended use of these devices, many people experience eye strain that can lead to headaches and eye pain.

In some cases, vision becomes blurry, as well.

While the pain felt from eye strain is real, it is only temporary. The belief that eye strain caused by bright screens can leave lasting damage is not true (https://bit.ly/3qzAm62) .

Eye strain can be avoided by taking breaks during use of electronics and typically lasts for approximately an hour. However, even though the pain does not last, that does not mean it should be ignored. If you are experiencing eye strain, it is time to evaluate whether blue-light blocking glasses would be of help.

Some people question if blue-light blocking glasses are even doing anything, which is not helped by the fact that many of these products are filled with gimmicks and cheap marketing tricks.

The good news is that some blue-light blocking glasses actually do work.

Before investing in a pair, however, try this easy way to test if blue light is causing your eye strain. Enable a “night-light” or similar feature on your device. Most modern phones and tablets offer a way to make colors on the display warmer to help you settle in for bed.

If this seems to help, then blue-light blocking glasses should work for you. At that point, it will come down to your preferences on looks and how they feel.

While blue-blocking glasses are not a perfect solution, they do help lessen the amount of blue light that makes it to your eyes.

Tyler Hatfield has a passion for technology that he would like to someday turn into his own business. He runs a small media group, hatsmediagroup.com, and works on computers on the side. He can be contacted with questions and for recommendations at hatsmediagroup@gmail.com

BUSINESS: THE NETWORKER Finding Networking Peace

by Bob Arnold

I remember a day when I would gather a few things, drive to a meeting place, physically enter the meeting, and meet some people I did not know.

Passing business cards was a ritual, along with exchanging a handshake and a smile. I left anticipating getting to know those I had met and had peace about how the event was handled.

Peace of mind is critical when meeting people and networking. I have found that a person’s biggest fear of networking is anxiety about meeting new people. The anxiety gets in the way of conversations and the act of attending a networking event.

Recently, no fewer than 10 people told me they are tired of networking online and want to get back to live networking. Half of them mentioned they have no peace about how networking is going and believe there is a conspiracy in place to keep people away from each other.

Please rest assured, I am not writing about conspiracy theories. However, I do want to write about networking peace, especially considering the comments I have been receiving about the future of networking. To be fair, there are those who are enjoying some of the online networking since it solves certain issues of theirs.

It is interesting that peace is brought up in networking, especially since human beings desire relationships with other humans, and it is usually found through networking.

Peace is a necessary ingredient. Having peace with our surroundings and those we are networking with plays very heavily into the results realized from the interaction. The setting must feel harmonious with and have a connection to the person we are meeting. It also is important that it is within a secure and safe location.

Online, every person on the screen is in a different setting and it confuses our brains, hindering the connection. Being able to talk with only one person at a time, with everyone listening while you talk, is frightening for some people.

Peace of mind can be found in online meetings, but it takes acceptance that this is temporary, and we will be back to inperson networking soon.

Bob Arnold is the founder of ONward Networking and the international best-selling author of “The Uncanny Power of the Networking Pencil,” which can be purchased at zMore networking tips are available at “Bob’s Pencil Points” blog at http://onwardnetworking.com/ or by contacting Arnold at TheNetworkingPencil@gmail.com