All posts tagged: smartphone

Study finds reducing smartphone use increases work satisfaction

Study finds reducing smartphone use increases work satisfaction

Published by skeptic

Employers have long sought effective ways to boost work satisfaction and employee motivation. A recent study published in the journal, ScienceDirect, highlights a promising solution: reducing non-work-related smartphone use and increasing physical activity. These simple, low-cost interventions not only enhance mental health but also improve work-life balance and overall productivity. Researchers conducted an experiment with 278 participants from various professional sectors in Germany. These participants were divided into four groups. The first group reduced their private smartphone usage by one hour daily for a week. The second group increased their daily physical activity by 30 minutes. The third group combined both interventions, while the control group made no changes to their routines. Participants completed online surveys at three stages: before the intervention, immediately afterward, and two weeks post-intervention. These surveys measured work satisfaction, mental health, work-life balance, and the presence of depressive symptoms. The results were striking. Results of repeated measure analyses of variance (ANOVAs) for work-related outcomes: (A) work satisfaction, (B) work motivation, (C) work overload, and (D) work-life balance (Smartphone Group: N = …

Matt and Emma Willis: ‘I cannot see any safe or logical way for a kid to have a smartphone’

Matt and Emma Willis: ‘I cannot see any safe or logical way for a kid to have a smartphone’

Published by skeptic

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter TV presenters, and husband and wife, Emma and Matt Willis have opened up about the driving force behind their involvement with the new Channel 4 documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, and their key takeaways from it. The two-part documentary shines a light on the impact smartphones have on children’s behaviour with a landmark social experiment, where 30 Year 8 pupils from The Stanway School in Colchester are challenged to give up their phones and iPads for 21 days, and are monitored by researchers from the University of York. Matt and Emma revealed that their primary motivation to get involved with the programme and join in with the social experiment was to learn more about the digital world that their kids – Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, eight – …

Getting your child a smartphone or tablet for Christmas? Here’s what you need to know about security

Getting your child a smartphone or tablet for Christmas? Here’s what you need to know about security

Published by skeptic

Smartphones – or other devices, such as tablets – are likely to be high on many children and teenagers’ wish lists this festive season. It’s a gift that parents may be apprehensive about giving. Many people have concerns about their children spending too much time in front of a screen as well as the impact of social media on their mental health and their online safety. But while potential risks exist, smartphone use can bring many benefits for young people. Smartphones can help maintain connections with remote family members, build connections with communities that are meaningful to them, or bridge social gaps for those living in rural areas. With the right tools and guidance, a smartphone can be a positive part of your child’s life. But that means being proactive about their security online. A new smartphone with basic call and messaging functions, YouTube Kids, a video calling app to speak to family members and a well-managed contact list presents far less risk than a hand-me-down device full of social media and communication apps without …

How to Extract Audio From Videos on Your Smartphone

How to Extract Audio From Videos on Your Smartphone

Published by skeptic

Quick Links Use a Third-Party App to Extract Audio From Video Use an Online Video to MP3 Converter Key Takeaways Extracting audio from video on your smartphone is quick and free with the right tools. You can use third-party apps on iOS and Android like MP3 Converter or Video to MP3 to extract audio from videos. Alternatively, you can use online converters like FreeConvert for a one-time audio extraction from a video. Came across a video with a song you’d love to use for your Instagram Reel? Whatever the reason may be, there are plenty of times when you might want just the audio from a video file. Here’s how to extract audio from videos on your smartphone. One of the simplest ways to extract audio from a video on your smartphone is by using a third-party app. There are plenty of free options on both the App Store and Play Store, but I’ll walk you through using one of the highest-rated apps for both Android and iPhone. For iOS users, MP3 Converter is a …

10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

10 Best Mobile Games for iOS and Android

Published by skeptic

Don’t doomscroll more depressing news, use that phone to lift your mood instead. The best mobile games will bring a little joy to your day, whether you’re killing time on the commute or chilling on the couch. And these games are all addictive slices of gaming pleasure that we have been gorging on for years. As smartphone screens and processing power have grown, the lines between mobile gaming and just gaming have blurred, and you can find tons of great mobile games that have been ported or adapted from other systems (Minecraft, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Roblox, Stardew Valley, Grand Theft Auto, and the list goes on). But all of these titles are best enjoyed on other platforms. Our picks here are games that work especially well on your phone. Snag one of the best mobile controllers to level up your smartphone gaming. You may also be interested in subscription services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade. You can even play some Android games on your PC now. Power up with unlimited access to …

UK Considers New Smartphone Bans for Children

UK Considers New Smartphone Bans for Children

Published by skeptic

We know surprisingly little about the impact of smartphone bans in schools, says Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics who studies how digital technologies affect young people. There are relatively few good studies in this area, and those studies that have been done often point in contradictory directions. There is just about enough evidence to suggest that preventing children from accessing their phones improves concentration, says Livingstone, but it’s much harder to say that banning phones leads to less bullying or more play. “The research is just really insufficient for that,” she says. Separating out how specific issues like bullying, mental health, sleep time, exercise, and concentration are impacted by smartphones is extremely tricky, says Livingstone. She points to the lack of mental health services for young people and poor pay and conditions for teachers as other potential issues that get overlooked in favor of smartphone bans. Phones might be part of the problem, she says, but they’re also seized upon as an all-purpose solution. “They seem the bit we can …

5 Types of Photography Lighting You Can Easily Capture on Your Smartphone

5 Types of Photography Lighting You Can Easily Capture on Your Smartphone

Published by skeptic

Key Takeaways Utilize harsh lighting creatively for vintage-style photos and visual storytelling, but avoid facing the sun. Backlighting can create flattering effects if done correctly with natural or indoor lighting. Explore artificial lighting options such as streetlights and neon signs for creative night photography. You can use lighting for your smartphone photos in numerous creative ways, and this guide will show you a list of your best options. Keep reading to discover the best ways to use soft lighting, artificial lighting, and much more—with real-life examples. 1 Harsh Lighting While I used to avoid photographing in harsh lighting at all times (i.e. around midday), I’ve been looking for ways to get creative during my least favorite conditions—of which this is one. When done correctly, you can use harsh lighting to great effect. For example, it’s handy if you want to capture vintage-style photos on your phone. Danny Maiorca/MUO Photographing in harsh lighting can also be useful if you have other interesting subjects in your images. You’ll also have fewer problems creating an amazing photo if …

How I Make Harsh Lighting Work for My Smartphone Photos

How I Make Harsh Lighting Work for My Smartphone Photos

Published by skeptic

Key Takeaways Use HDR mode to balance light contrasts in harsh lighting situations. Block out light with your hand or use third-party camera apps for exposure control. Utilize natural diffusers, reflective surfaces, and varied angles for creative photo outcomes. Harsh lighting can be a real headache when trying to capture the perfect shot with your smartphone. Unlike DSLRs, where you have all sorts of controls, smartphones can feel a bit limiting. But here’s the thing: harsh lighting doesn’t have to ruin your photos. I’ve found a few tricks that help me make harsh lighting work in my favor. Here’s how I do it. 1 Using HDR Mode My first go-to when shooting under harsh light is turning on my phone’s HDR mode. HDR mode gets a bad rap sometimes for producing overly processed-looking images. However, I’ve found it particularly helpful when shooting in uncontrollable light conditions. HDR mode captures multiple images at different exposures and blends them to create a balanced shot. This can help reduce the intense contrasts that harsh lighting often creates, making …

The Smartphone is the Enemy of Learning

The Smartphone is the Enemy of Learning

Published by skeptic

With K-12 schools back in session across the nation, millions of students are adjusting to a new learning environment — a cellphone-free classroom or, in some cases, a phone-free school day. Lawmakers in several states are pushing for such restrictions. Florida led the way last year by passing a law that prevents the use of personal wireless devices, including smartphones and earbuds during class time. Orlando County Public Schools has banned any smartphone use during the school day. Other states that have enacted laws of varying restrictiveness include Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and South Carolina, with more legislatures considering similar bans on phones in classrooms. The two major reasons for the bans are increasing disruptions to student learning caused by personal tech and concerns about student mental health, which skyrocketed during the prolonged COVID-19 school closings. Cellphone focus issues can go beyond mere distraction to a much more concerning rewiring of the adolescent brain, damaging students’ ability to concentrate in a more lasting way. This is another reason to encourage phone-free learning environments. In his book The …

8 Cool Smartphone Photography Tricks That Actually Work

8 Cool Smartphone Photography Tricks That Actually Work

Published by skeptic

Key Takeaways You can take all kinds of interesting photos with your smartphone, no expensive DSLR required. Using reflections and capturing images in tight spaces are two examples of unique smartphone photography. Experiment with different lighting conditions and angles to get the best possible shots. Get more out of your smartphone photography by thinking outside the box when you take pictures. These tried-and-tested tips will help you capture more interesting images and automatically make your shots stand out above the rest. 1 Make the Most of Reflections One of the easiest ways to improve your photography in general is by using reflections and symmetry. You’ll find plenty of opportunities for this right after a rainstorm, or if you live near a river or lake. Next time you’re near water, look for unique reflections such as trees and buildings. Here, for example, is a picture that I took on holiday a few years ago. In addition to the reflections themselves, I also added another unique dimension by including low-lying fog. You can use this technique in …