DECT, Wi-FI, and WLAN wireless systems and health

Infants ‘unable to use toy building blocks’ due to iPad addiction

Rising numbers of infants lack the motor skills needed to play with building blocks because of an “addiction” to tablet computers and smartphones, according to teachers. Many children aged just three or four can “swipe a screen” but have little or no dexterity in their fingers after spending hours glued to iPads, it was claimed. Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers also warned how some older children were unable to complete traditional pen and paper exams because their memory had been eroded by overexposure to screen-based technology.They called on parents to crackdown on tablet computer use and even turn off wi-fi at night to address the problem. The comments were made after Ofcom figures showed the proportion of households with tablet computers more than doubled from 20 to 51 per cent last year.
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Waves of uncertainty over wi-fi

The Dominion Post New Zealand:

Last updated 10:10 29/03/2014

Excerpt

After thousands of studies, the most that experts worldwide can determine is the radiation used for wi-fi networks, digital devices, cordless phones and cell phones is a “possible” cause of cancer. With such uncertainty, OLIVIA WANNAN asks if we are using this technology with enough caution.

As in many countries around the world, the debate about long- wave radiation has come to a head in New Zealand through the recent introduction of wi-fi networks in schools.The energy waves have been harnessed for more than a century to bring radio and television to our home, track objects by radar, microwave our food, and connect us through texts, phone calls and the internet.Yet the World Health Organisation lists this radiation as a “possible” cause of cancer, based on research showing a link between heavy cellphone use and an increased risk of developing brain tumours.Kapiti Coast parent Damon Wyman is a vocal advocate for caution. He became aware of the possible health effects of wireless technology after losing his son Ethan, 10, to cancer last August.Ethan died 11 months after being diagnosed with two brain tumours. Three months earlier, he had been given a wi-fi connected iPad.His parents later discovered he had been falling asleep with the device under his pillow.Even though it was on standby, it was still emitting bursts of radiation as it tried to connect to the router, Mr Wyman said.Doctors who saw Ethan said the tumours appeared to be about four months old, Mr Wyman said. “We’re not saying that caused it, but it seems like a bit of a coincidence.”
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A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute

This article dates from 2011 but still very relevant for today’s high-tech rollout in school. Well worth a read!

Don

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The Waldorf School in Los Altos, Calif., eschews technology

Excerpt

LOS ALTOS, Calif. – The chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to a nine-classroom school here. So do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard.

But the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home.

Schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, and many policy makers say it is foolish to do otherwise. But the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix.
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Australian Primary school opts not to install wi-fi

From the Adelaide Advertiser, February 18, 2014

Back to nature to bring out our best

Martina Simos
Education Writer

UPPER Sturt Primary School is going without wi-fi in favour of valuing local bushland, but the decision does not compromise the value of the internet in children’s learning, an educator says.

Principle Barb Jones said the decision for the school to not have wi-fi as part of its environmental and safety stance, was made in combination with the local community.

When she arrived at the school of 27 students, parents approached her about their concerns over the long-term exposure to wi-fi, because research had been published about the possibility of health problems. After readingthe research, Ms Jones began a discussion with staff aaans it was decided not to install wi-fi but to data cabling instead. “The parents had done lots of research from Canada and they sent us information.” she said.

“I looked at that research and I thought there was something there – especially for girls in the area of reproduction. This does not mean we do not value the internet or that children are unable to access the internet.”

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iPad and phone dangers for kids

From Baden Eunson to this list

I have read so many stories about iPads being the ideal Xmas gifts for kids. Why not spoil Apple’s party (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/05/san-francisco-gives-up-on-cell-phone-warning-stickers/) and do a media release advising parents not to do this? You could link it with wifi http://www.wifi-in-schools-australia.org/p/worldwide.html , towers, plus possibly my paper on Telstra cooking the books http://www.anzca.net/component/search/?searchword=eunson&ordering=&searchphrase=all

Other relevant links:
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