The sun has pretty much set on summer, and the recent Labor Day Weekend reminds us that it’s time to get back into a work and school routine. Of course, there’s plenty to talk about with tech when you are in the refurbished computer business, but the question crossed our minds: just how much does technology help us? Are we overlooking the drawbacks, whatever those might be?

Because the topic of technology and its effects through social media are truly their own volume of discussion and debate, look for a blog on that another time. We’ll stick to its effects, negative or positive, as they pertain to how we work and learn.

Pandemic Productivity

So, first, the good news... If ever there was a testimony to the value of technology, 2020 stood up and preached to the congregation. While there was a devastating effect on certain business sectors, like accommodations and travel, there were far more businesses who found it easier than they would have expected to shift to an all-remote workforce. Zoom calls were the norm, and most employers saw little if any productivity losses.In fact, businesses often achieved gains from not having to light up their buildings, provide coffee in the breakroom, and see a workforce that ended up working longer hours in their home offices.

According to the tech hiring company Apollo Technical, working from home ended up being a positive for the corporate bottom line.

“Several studies over the past few months show productivity while working remotely from home is better than working in an office setting. On average, those who work from home spend 10 minutes less a day being unproductive, work one more day a week, and are 47% more productive,” the company stated in an article.

A study by Stanford University was a bit more conservative at 13 percent, while other surveys yielded hugely positive pandemic productivity numbers,with gains of as much as 77 percent. However, the verdict was unanimous in putting technology in the plus column.

In addition, vulnerable businesses in the food service industry found new ways to serve customers who either couldn’t or wouldn’t dine in. Partnering with food delivery companies like Door DashⓇ or Uber EatsⓇ, creating or updating apps to make take out and delivery easier, and having onsite, to-go ordering managed on portable devices all helped soften the blow of an isolated clientele.

Broader Benefits

Automation, artificial intelligence, and instant communication have all been the hallmarks of technology, and that trajectory will only continue to steepen as we move forward. It’s hard to imagine how much time was wasted trying to connect with a client or even another coworker, especially if they were on the other side of the globe.

Accounting, billing and payroll functions are also made more efficient through software tools that allow companies to do more with fewer employees. The data those areas generate also can be accessible at any hour, by anyone with the authority to use.

On a more personal level, the marvel of a smartphone is in its tools to send files, take photos, navigate your journey, and oh, yeah -- make a phone call, all in the palm of your hand. The portability of slightly larger devices like laptops and tablets also allow people to take it all with them, tucking neatly in a small tote or purse.

On the other hand…

Deepening Divide

Despite tech’s ability to connect more people than ever in human history, the difference between the haves and the have nots remains a challenge. We’re seeing ever-affordable prices on tech devices, and the growing market for refurbished computers has placed tech in the hands of lower-income families at a fraction of the cost of new. Yet the speed of new technology continues to separate people along income lines.

Along the job front, technology advances have required higher-skilled workers as they eliminate the need for lower-skilled positions. The speed of improvements also challenge the efforts to close the technology gap, both socioeconomic and in the workforce. Smaller companies that can’t maintain the training required to stay competitive with their larger counterparts are losing productivity and market share, according to a study by the Brookings Institution.

Even choices made to upgrade to newer technologies can run afoul if management chooses inappropriate software, wasting capital, efficiency, productivity and morale. When the landscape changes every year, technology can be the toughest thing to maintain in even a medium-sized business.

Health Hazards

Doctors have created names for a new list of maladies based on our devices and how we use them: “Smartphone slouch.” “Desk slump.” “Text neck.” All are related to our posture when we’re deep in a text conversation or scrolling through Facebook. And while it’s apparent that poor posture can cause pain, it also can impact attitude. Really!

Back and neck issues aside, psychological effects are being documented as well. Lower self-esteem and mood, decreased assertiveness and productivity, and an increased tendency to recall negative things have all been linked to our use of technology, according to a column in The New York Times.

"Your physical posture sculpts your psychological posture, and could be the key to a happier mood and greater self-confidence," Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy wrote in the column.

Eye exhaustion, also called digital eye strain, has been noted by the American Optometric Association. Those at greatest risk stare at a computer screen for just two hours or more in a row every day. Among the symptoms are blurred vision, headaches, difficulty concentrating and increased sensitivity to light.

The trouble really is amplified when the thing you need most -- sleep -- is also negatively impacted by too much screen time, especially later in the day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, "The more electronic devices that a person uses in the evening, the harder it is to fall asleep or stay asleep," according to the foundation.

"Besides increasing your alertness at a time when you should be getting sleepy, which in turn delays your bedtime, using these devices before turning in delays the onset of REM sleep, reduces the total amount of REM sleep, and compromises alertness the next morning."

Our waistlines aren’t immune, either. As more of us stayed parked in front of a screen of varying sizes throughout the day, we aren’t moving. The sedentary lifestyle then can lead to overweight, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Companies can therefore see a higher incidence of absenteeism through the use of the very tools meant to make them more productive.

It’s a sobering list of issues, and we haven’t even talked about the debate surrounding relationships and our current social environment. However, it’s not a helpless situation. There are a lot of things you can do to minimize technology’s liabilities, while enjoying its many benefits:

• For IT managers, research your companies needs thoroughly before investing in any technology to make sure it fits your needs
• Don’t throw out your old technology - turn in your devices to a place that will refurbish computers to be resold at a fraction of the cost of new to help those in tougher economic circumstances stay connected and competitive
• Find a good, ergonomic chair, set your monitor height at a level where your neck is not bent, and check yourself every 10 minutes to make sure you’re not hunched over
• Set a schedule to turn off your devices, and use that time to socialize or relax without it, especially if it’s approaching bedtime
• Keep a regular exercise routine, even if it’s a brisk walk 30-40 minutes every day; leave the phone at home while you do it
• If you must look at a screen all day, purchase protective “blue blocking” glasses to lower eye strain

So, let’s bottom line it. We all know the strength in the tools of tech, and the future promises even more positive impacts, especially in the fields of education and healthcare. However no tool is perfect, and it’s good to be aware of their pitfalls. While the many warts that come with technology are real, they are also for the most part something we have the ability to manage with a little forethought. The power is always ours to harness, and there’s no greater power than knowledge.