Access to information is essential to health -- planting information, weather information, straight-up health information (115 million people use the web in the US to get health information, according to Pew). In addition, most physical ailments (as shown in visits to primary care clinics) do not have an organic basis but have an emotional base -- making human connections and relationships vitally important as an aspect of human health.
--Steve Snow [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- >From: Taran Rampersad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Aug 1, 2008 9:38 PM >To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group ><[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [DDN] The Digital Divide and Human Health > >It is difficult to say that the digital divide and human health are >linked, in my opinion. Socioeconomic status affects both the digital >divide and human health. That said, sitting around on one's posterior >most of the day while eating fast food or microwaveable food most >certainly could be seen to demonstrate how decreasing the divide can be >linked to poor health. Improper equipment - and sometimes even proper >equipment - can lead to repetitive stress injuries such as the infamous >metacarpal tunnel syndrome. > >There are some that believe that human health can be increased through >empowering users. I tend to agree on the bunny slope. But on the >steeper, more slippery slopes this type of thinking can itself be >dangerous to one's health. Even Twain quipped that reading health >magazines could cause one to die of a misprint - on the Internet, that >is an even more serious issue since not only can anyone publish - anyone >does. While it is all well and good that people may read information on >the internet that can be helpful, this does not and should not replace >properly educated and trained members of the medical community. Reading >about placing a chest tube is quite different than doing it; diagnosing >a disease is something that people take years and years to learn how to >do - and these people, Medical Doctors, still sometimes make honest >mistakes despite their training. Should we expect better from those >without training? > >Technology, properly used, can facilitate health and quality of life. >Improperly used, it can do quite the opposite. > >And I haven't even really touched on the issue of children... a large >topic, indeed. > > >Ilan Tsekhman wrote: >> As promised here is the suggested conversation topic for August (a few >> days early!). >> >> That a myriad of socio-economic factors influence human health is well >> known. But how about the digital divide in particular? Are there >> implications on human health resulting from the digital divide? >> >> Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on the subject > >-- >Taran Rampersad >Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >http://www.knowprose.com >http://www.your2ndplace.com > >Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/ > >"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo >"The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine." - >Nikola Tesla > >_______________________________________________ >DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list >[email protected] >http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide >To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE >in the body of the message. Stephen Snow, PhD, LPC Executive Director Collaborative Family Health Association www.cfha.net [EMAIL PROTECTED] 828-689-3615 828-689-5066 (c) "Nearly 70% of all health care visits have primarily a psychosocial basis." (Fries, et. Al 1993, Shapiro et al., 1985) _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
