How to distance yourself from technology’s grip :: WRAL.com

THE SEVEN FIREFIGHTERS DO HAVE MINOR INJURIES ACCORDING TO THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF AND THAT FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL, RIGHT NOW. >>> TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO STEP AWAY FROM TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU USE EVERY DAY BECAUSE IT IS THE NATIONAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING. ENCOURAGING YOU TO REALIZE HOW THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE USE EVERY DAY IS REALLY AFFECTING OUR LIVES. RICHARD McLEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS? WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNPLUG? >> IT IS SUCH A COINCIDENCE BECAUSE I HAD PLANNED TO BE COMPLETELY UNPLUGGED. AFTER THIS, I WILL BE UNPLUGGING MYSELF. YOU POINT TO THE DANGERS AND WE DON'T REALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH WE ARE STARING AT OUR SCREENS AND TECHNOLOGY. IT IS REALLY TWOFOLD. ONE IS OUR CONCENTRATION. WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON THE TASK WE ARE DOING AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUDIES SHOWING THAT BLUE LIGHT AND THE LIGHT COMING OFF OF PHONES AND THE DEVICES IS REALLY DANGEROUS TO YOUR EYES FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. WE ARE BOMBARDED BY ZOOM CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES AND ALL OF THESE THINGS AND IT IS REALLY HARD TO FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO THINK. IT IS GOOD TO TAKE THESE MOMENTS AND UNPLUG. >> WE WILL GIVE YOU A FREE PASS THAT YOU ARE WORKING FROM HOME, LOTS OF FOLKS ARE WORKING FROM HOME. WE FEEL TIED TO OUR DEVICES, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY FEEL SO GLUED TO THAT TECHNOLOGY? >> IT IS RUNNING A COMPANY AND GOING THROUGH THE LAST YEAR HAS REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY AND IT IS IN YOUR LIFE EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF MEASURES TO LIMIT OURSELVES LIKE TAKING THE PHONES OUT OF THE BEDROOM, REALLY TRYING TO COME UP WITH NEW HOBBIES. I LEARNED HOW TO COOK OVER THE LAST YEAR AND MADE SOME NICE BANANA BREAD SO I THINK IT IS ABOUT EXPLORING OTHER THINGS INSTEAD OF THE ENDLESS SCROLLING AND DAYS LIKE TODAY, MAYBE STEP OUTSIDE AND GET SOME FRESH AIR. >> AS LONG AS YOU USE THAT TIME WISELY BUT WHAT ABOUT SECURITY ISSUES THAT COULD TAKE PLACE ON A DAILY BASIS? CAN WE GET A BREAK FROM THAT BY UNPLUGGING FOR A DATE? >> SECURITY IS TOP OF MIND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PRIVATE DATA. I THINK UNPLUGGING AND KIND OF LOOKING THROUGH -- SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT ON YOUR PHONE AND SOME OF THE APPS, YOU DON'T REALLY CONSIDER HOW MUCH VALUE THEY ARE ADDING TO YOUR LIFE AND IF YOU REALLY NEED THEM OR NOT AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU ARE TRADING YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE USE OF THE AND SOMETIMES, THAT TRADE- OFF IS NOT WORTH IT SO I SAY REEVALUATE AND THINK IF THEY ARE ADDING VALUE TO YOUR LIFE. >> SHUT IT DOWN, RICHARD.