An increasingly common fear is growing across the world that technology is getting smarter, and humans are getting dumber.

The sheer level of control that technology seems to be taking over our lives can certainly be perceived as daunting, but studies are suggesting that it is simply the nature of our relationships to cognition that are changing, not our level of intelligence.

The smartphones that such a large percentage of the world is now in possession of are doing things that people even five years into the past could never have dreamed of, and the advancements are happening every day.

But how does technology actually influence our ability to think for ourselves? In 2021, this is a question that millions of people are starting to ask – let’s find out the answer.

Smart Tech is Not Making Us Stupid

Contrary to popular belief, technology is not making us stupid. While it is understandable why people may think otherwise, recent studies are suggesting that advanced technology (like a modern smartphone) does not remove our ability to think, but simply changes it.

In the past, accessing information was much harder, with people having to manually seek out information via educational texts like encyclopedias, knowledgeable mentors, or go through informative first-hand experiences.

Nowadays, accessing information costs us little more than a quick Google search before finding out whatever it is that we want to know.

What this accessibility means is that we are given a lot more free time to focus on tasks we consider to be important and apply our energy in whatever way we see fit. From a global perspective, the average intelligence of any given human being is steadily increasing over time.

The Good Outweighs the Bad

To make things easier to understand, here is a list of reasons that reinforce the idea that humans are not getting dumber over time, but actually are getting smarter.

• Complexity – the level of technological complexity has greatly accelerated over the past decade, allowing humanity to create powerful systems that have required great understanding and intellect of those systems.
• Skills and Resources – Advancements in computational technology have enabled data scientists to allocate more of their time and resources into developing new skills as well as understanding data and creating improved systems.
• Flexibility – there is so much information available to us, that we can choose freely what information to retain and what to let go of. This flexibility is an advantage because it allows us to better focus on our priorities and relax and enjoy the real money pokies offers without getting overwhelmed

The Risks of Technology on Human Intelligence

While fear-mongering around the “dumbing down” of humanity has proven to be an unnecessary and harmful stance on progressive technology, that doesn’t mean it comes without any risks at all.

Not only have we become incredibly reliant on technology to do everything from navigating our way around cities to ordering and obtaining important resources like food, we have also started replacing many integral employee roles with AI or computational systems.

With advanced technology comes great power, and therefore great responsibility. Hopefully, society is able to maintain a healthy relationship with technology that aims to elevate humanity’s trajectory rather than dismantle it.

To able-bodied individuals, technology is often swift and easy to use. But if you are a person that struggles with a disability (such as visual impairment or paralysis), using and managing even simple technology can be a challenge.

Approximately 15% of the world’s population has a disability of some kind. That percentage covers a wide variety of disabilities, but can be anything within the realm of cognition, mobility, or speech, and may be mild or severe depending on the individual.

Accessible technology is a concept that states people from all abilities or disability backgrounds should be able to access technology with ease and comfortability.

Examples of Accessible Technology Features

Many people with disabilities are excluded from important social and connective functions by virtue of those functions not adhering to the concept of accessible technology.

For example, when it comes to job applications, disabled people may not be able to successfully make a submission due to a disability that prohibits fine motor skills or visibility. In fact, a 2015 study found that 46% of respondents found their job applications “difficult to impossible” to complete.

Things that traditionally able-bodied people consider normal can be very challenging for those with disabilities. The following features are examples of what accessible technology can look like:

• Zoom – being able to zoom in to images or webpages means that people with poor visibility can still perceive information clearly
• Text to speech – being able to vocalise a text message or search for something online makes life easier for people with hand dexterity problems
• Word prediction software – people who have cognition disabilities can benefit from this feature which predicts sentences and corrects obvious spelling errors

The Difference Between Assistive Technology and Accessible Technology

Many people may be confused about the differences between accessible technology and assistive technology, but they are two separate concepts with different attributes.

Accessible technology describes technology that has been designed with a wide range of differently-abled users in mind. It tries to anticipate commonly occurring struggles and provides solutions for them in a seamless and intuitive way.

Assistive technology is technology that has been designed for accommodating a specific disability. It aims to support particular disability struggles (whether that is a cognitive, mobility, or speech impairment) as opposed to a wide variety.

Accessible Technology and UX Design

The concept of accessible technology is not necessarily new – technology designers have been working at making apps and tech features and functions easy-to-use and intuitive for years. However, as the technology industry becomes increasingly globalized, so must the features that support it.

By making technology and by default the  Australian pokies online offers more accessible, disabled people from all over the world will be able to participate more actively in the growing information age and technological era that the world is currently living through.

With disabled people making up such a large percentage of the world’s population, the emerging push for high-quality UX (user experience) designers will continue to grow.

Making technology as accessible as possible for people of all abilities and disabilities is important for equal representation, equal opportunities, and the cooperation of humankind.

Modern humans may be spoilt for choice when it comes to devices, but laptops remain a consistent favorite for everyone. Whether you are editing photos, sending emails, or simply browsing the internet, the big-screen impact of a good laptop is hard to beat.

In 2021, laptops are just as ubiquitous as smartphones or even smartwatches, which makes picking the right one for your lifestyle all the more overwhelming. There are so many options out there, knowing which one to pick can be a struggle.

This list will look at the five best laptop options on the current market that focus on different elements and user needs – there’s something for everyone here.

1. For Everyday Use: MacBook Pro 13

It’s hard to beat Apple when it comes to high-functioning, user-friendly laptops. The MacBook Pro 13 was released in late 2020, and it is perfect for users who balance a heavy workload every day.

This laptop has the same internal processor as the MacBook Air, but looks slightly different and boasts additional features such as the Touch Bar and a fan (which the Air does not have), allowing it to sustain much longer periods of heavy usage.

• For the Budget Buyer: HP Envy X360

Not everyone can afford to spend what Apple charges, but the quality won’t be an issue when it comes to the HP Envy X360 from Windows. This laptop has a chic ergonomic design, a solid and sturdy build, and outstanding performance levels.

Kitted out with a bright touchscreen, the HP Envy X360 supports the HP MPP2.0 pen, and users may choose between a 300, 400, or 100 nit panel. There are also additional kill switches available for the webcam and microphone.

• For Big-Screen Fans: LG Gram 17

For designers or digital graphics artists, a big screen can allow for better visibility and easier workflow. The LG Gram 17’s screen is 17 inches from one side to the other, yet conveniently very light at only 3 pounds.  

In addition to having a very large screen, this laptop has an outstanding battery life that can last up to 12 hours at a time. There is also a sturdy port selection, a fast processor, and extremely quiet fans that make usage feel easy and unstrained.

• For College Students: Dell XPS 13

This reliable, compact laptop is perfect for multitasking college students. The high-performance level of the Dell XPS 13 enables it to work extremely well under pressure and has a clear 16:10 display.

With a beautifully well-designed chassis and powerful battery life, anyone working long hours will appreciate the responsive and sustainable approach this laptop takes when it comes to both performance and functionality.

• For Gamers: Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Weighing just a little over four pounds, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is one of the lightest gaming laptop options, powered by some of the best mobile chips available. This makes it perfect for all types of gaming, whether you enjoy FPS or online Roulette.

This solid laptop can withstand even the hardest AAA titles while maintaining excellent QHD resolution, and the battery can last up to eight and a half hours per charge. With a dynamic, fluid keyboard and audio to match, any gamer would be lucky to call this laptop their own.

In a world where mobile device activity is seeing record heights with every passing year, exciting new apps are becoming a ubiquitous part of our daily lives.

Whether you use them for social networking or keeping anxiety at bay, there’s an app for just about everything – and they are all competing for your attention.

In 2021, it’s likely that your smartphone is already filled with numerous apps that you know and love, but why miss out on what’s new? These apps are five of the best, all easily downloadable on both Android and Apple iOS systems.

You may have heard of them, you may have not – but all of them are uniquely designed to capture your attention in some way and provide you with a nifty service that is accessible from your back pocket.

1. Duolingo

The number one educational app in the world right now, Duolingo is an app that teaches users how to speak multiple languages. With over 300 million users worldwide and an excellent user engagement stance, Duolingo is any aspiring multilinguist’s go-to app.

Duolingo’s learning sessions are gamified for an easy and addictive approach that keeps users entertained while they are educated. Offering an amazing 98 different language courses, Duolingo was listed as Forbes’ “Next Billion-Dollar Start-Ups for 2019”.

• Bumble

Tinder may have had the floor for the past few years, but Bumble is quickly becoming the international dating app of choice. What makes this app special is its unique approach towards male and female communication: only users who identify as women can make the first move.

Dating sites can often be unsafe for women, which is why Bumble has become such a popular choice for them to meet potential partners in an environment that is totally within their control.

In addition to being a dating site, Bumble also offers friendship and business networking options for those seeking connections of a different kind.

• LastPass

LastPass holds all of your passwords in one secure place so that instead of remembering login information for five or six (or more) different accounts, you only need to remember the information for one – your LastPass one. This is great if you have several bingo for cash memberships.

With two-tier authentication services such as a fingerprint detector and separate PIN number, LastPass can be relied on to keep your private information safe from harm.

• Pocket

This clever app is designed as a holding space for all of your saved articles, videos, and stories you can’t read now but want to read later. Accessible even without an internet connection, Pocket serves as a neat little nook for on-the-go readers.

Previously known as “Read It Later”, Pocket saves all of your favorite pieces of news or information in one space so that you don’t have to backlog your internet tabs or miss out on reading articles that interest you.

• HeadSpace

Global stress levels have pushed meditation apps like this one up to unexpected heights. HeadSpace offers a range of meditation courses that are about 10 minutes long each, catering for everything from anxiety to insomnia.

With soft visuals and high-quality audio options, Headspace is dedicated to helping users find peace and relaxation in everyday life and promoting awareness around mental health.

For those affected by a disability, even the smallest tasks may require some additional support. But in the busy world of today, not everyone has the time or means to receive that support, especially on short notice.

Smartphone apps are one way that disabled people can both seek and receive help in moments of need, as well as simplify daily tasks that would be otherwise challenging. Many of them are free or very affordable, and easy to download and operate.

Almost everyone has a smartphone, and there is now a wide variety of top-notch applications that disabled people can access to make their lives easier.

WheelMap

The WheelMap app is designed with wheelchair users in mind. For many wheelchair users, arriving at a new destination for the first time can be a gamble, as wheelchair-friendly facilities may not always be available.

With WheelMap, users have access to a map that highlights where wheelchair-friendly places are (such as restaurants, gas stations, shopping centers, etc.), thus eliminating the chance of them arriving somewhere that cannot accommodate them.

The map installed on WheelMap itself can be edited by users in real-time, allowing them to upload pictures of the facilities and leave comments behind about the quality of their experience.

This enables wheelchair users to both connect with other disabled people and give them the opportunity to share important information with one another. WheelMap is available on both Apple iOS and Android.

Fuel Service

A common issue facing disabled people is the inability to refuel their cars at gas stations. Although FuelService is only applicable to those living in the UK, this app is designed to show users a map of gas stations that provide additional support for disabled people.

Through FuelService, users can rest assured knowing that the gas station they arrive at will be able to help them tend to their car’s needs without even getting out of the vehicle.

Through the FuelService app, attendants are notified in advance of when to expect the disabled user, and the user themselves are given an estimate of how long they can be expected to wait before being served at the gas station. This app is available on Android and Apple iOS devices.

AssistiveTouch

For some disabled people, even the act of using a smartphone may be a struggle. Accessing different apps requires a certain level of fine motor skills and hand dexterity, which are abilities that not everyone is born with.

AssistiveTouch is an application that solves this problem. By allowing users to create their own commands and actions, managing and utilizing the other apps on their smartphone without needing to find them in the traditional way.

This app is highly customizable and therefore caters to each user’s individual physical needs, eliminating frustrations during smartphone usage and making the lives of disabled people much easier to manage. They may even be able to enjoy games like online bingo for cash in this way.

These three apps really promote the idea of accessible technology by making sure everyone is included and accommodated when it comes to new tech developments around the world.

You have possibly heard the phrase: you can sleep when you’re dead, and back in the day you probably didn’t mind skipping it when you were out partying or working late to meet that deadline that your boss set. But if you are serious about your health and keeping your physique lean and trim, then you are going to want to discover why eight hours of sleep a night is incredibly important for your overall health.

1. Rebuild and Repair

When you’re sleeping your body is able to rebuild and repair itself, which is exactly what you need if you’ve been through a grueling workout. While supplements and protein will go a long way towards helping you sculpt and tone, sleeping is where your body rebuilds what’s been broken down and repair those micro-tears made in the muscles. So in essence, sleeping well will have you waking feeling stronger in the long run.

• Keeps You Mentally Strong

Forgetting where you placed your keys, or having a brain fog until that first cup of coffee may be the norm, but when you get your full eight hours a night, you’re far less likely to suffer from short-term memory loss or walk around in a cloud of fatigue. Sleep strengthens neural pathways and if you’re learning a new skill, it’s vitally important to get your sleep in each night in order to maintain and better retain the information you’ve assimilated.

• Less Stressed

People who are chronically sleep-deprived tend to also gain weight faster due to messing with leptin production, along with increased anxiety due to excess cortisol staying in the system. Sleep helps your body flush out these excess hormones, which allows your body to fully recover from trauma and anxiety as you rest. It’s as good as yoga to help you destress.

The Science

When you sleep at night your body goes through several stages of sleep, and it is critical that you reach each one successfully. So, try to avoid waking frequently at night in order to get the full benefits.

Stage one – Non-REM Sleep: During this phase of sleep, you are most likely to wake easily at sudden noises or loud sounds. Your brain waves are focused on muscle memory and logging each movement learned throughout your waking hours.

Stage two – HGH Sleep: During the second sleep stage your body relaxes and your brainwaves slow down as you begin producing the Human Growth Hormone. This is responsible for increasing muscle tissue growth as well as regulating the metabolism of the body.

Stage three – Deep Sleep: During this sleep cycle your body enters a deeper phase of sleep and blood supply to your muscles is on the rise, along with more muscle growth and more HGH is released.

Stage four – REM  Sleep: During this phase, the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) of sleep, you’re likely to experience dreams as your brain kicks into high gear again. Extra oxygen reaches your muscles to eliminate any lactic acid (released during workouts). If you don’t reach this phase of sleep enough, then the lactic acid stays in your body and can cause intensely painful knots to build up. Prolactin is also released during REM sleep which helps with joint recovery as it’s an anti-inflammatory hormone.

If you’re not seriously prioritizing your sleeping schedule yet like you’re prioritizing the need for bingo for real money, then hopefully these reasons will help convince you of sleep importance to your workout routine, and overall lifestyle.

Having a pet seems to be the dream for children around the globe, they love the idea that a furry animal will give them as many cuddles and love as they want, and that they have a nonstop companion to go on adventures with. But how do you know what dog is the most appropriate, which one will add value to their lives in more ways than we realize with pets, and are they responsible enough to take on the chores and walks that go along with a furball?

It can be tricky deciding on the breed, shape, and size, but also the diet and nutrition that comes with having a pet. Certain dogs can be fussy eaters which can be tricky for kids to navigate around, others are prone to health issues if not fed correctly, but most importantly the breed is what will determine the complexity of the new furry family member.

The right fit.

As adults we tend to like different animals than those of our children, while we are all fine to see exotic lizards and Japanese fighting fish at the zoo or Oceanarium we aren’t rushing out to buy the necessities to have one in the home. Some people do however get drawn in by the mystique of something unusual, see here for an idea of what those are and how pet owners are pushing the boundaries with their choices.

The same goes for dogs, you think it is easy to choose one, but when you begin your research on which puppy is suitable you are overwhelmed with choice and not to mention their cuteness.

Thinking small and manageable is most parent’s go-to option, and one in particular that stands out from the crowd is the Maltese. The fluffy white hair blowing effortlessly in the breeze, a little bow usually adorns the top of the head nestled amongst curls and which matches its little owner’s princess dress and shoes. But just because it is small does it make for a good fit?

Maltese for Mary.

What you need to be careful of when purchasing your pup is its history, does it have good energy, is it family-friendly, and has it got a good temperament to withstand Mary dressing him and combing his hair when she feels in the mood?

Small doesn’t necessarily equal toy things, they are petite and fragile animals that can be seriously injured if your toddler decides to have an overly exciting wrestling match, and may even turn on them in self-defense. In general, they are playful and very social, considered as royal lapdogs during the Roman and Greek eras, but be sure it has the patience needed for a home filled with children.

The last thing to think about is their training, they are tough to get down to a routine and set schedule as they prefer to be with their owners rather than alone for long periods.

Be sure of your Maltese temperament before making any conclusive decisions, certain foods and organic products are available on the market to assist with this but you will need to do your homework. Maltese don’t do well with quantity as opposed to quality so using generic food brands could cause an upset stomach and certainly won’t offer the nutritional value your growing pup needs.

Why pets are important in child development.

We often don’t realize the impact an animal can have on a child both emotionally and mentally, of course, a physical comes as part of the package as the race and tumble in the garden for hours. But it can be even more than that, let’s take a look at some of the top features parents praised about giving their child a pet.

• Friend. They will always have someone there by their side, a shoulder to cry on, a cuddle when it is most needed, or simply just having someone to lie on the grass with and stare at the clouds floating by.
• Schooling. Kids can feel pressured at schools to participate, perform, or read, and this can cause them anxiety. Getting your child to read a ‘bedtime story’ to your family pet will be the best of both worlds, they get to practice their daily required reading and increase their bond.

And this is no ordinary connection, kids and pets speak their own language, click in a way that sometimes surprises adults, you can click here to read an in-depth article on the topic and see if what you learn is evident in your home.

• Responsibility. Depending on the age of the child they may or may not take full responsibility for the family pet, but there is some level of ownership as they grow up. Cleaning after them, walking and exercising them daily, and having fresh food and water are basics that children learn with a pet.
• Communication. Doing activities together as a family such as walking the dog or going to a dog show helps to keep the lines of communication open between family members. Hearing advice, asking questions all adds to the relationships built between parents and kids.

At the end of the day, a pet brings an abundance of love, even on the worst days when you think nothing can bring you out of the funk they appear and smother you in licks and slobber. It has also been shown that stressful situations can be diffused by simply stroking your pet, so next time there’s a big exam try it and see how they forget about tomorrow’s big test.

Payroll processing is a tedious task for anyone that has to fulfill payroll for an organization. You’ll want to make sure that you set up the payroll system in a way that makes the process easy and efficient. This post will cover six methods that will make your payroll processing far more straightforward.

1. Use Software

In days gone by, everything must have been done manually, causing mistakes, decreasing productivity, and ironically regarding payroll, increasing the amount of staff you needed to get it all done. Fortunately, you can find software that either automates or increases efficiency in almost all business areas these days. If you use payroll software as part of your workflow, you will drastically reduce the time and effort you spend on this process. Furthermore, the payroll gurus over at https://www.zenefits.com/payroll/ suggest that being a payroll compliant business can be a full-time business on its own. Therefore, software that can connect to your Human Resources (HR) department could save you a lot of effort. Additionally, these types of software usually work in conjunction with other accounting software, which can further increase productivity and remove a great deal of guesswork. 

The main benefit of using software is that everything can be updated in real-time. This is an immeasurable advantage because if you give an employee a raise, you can merely plug it into the software, which will work out the rest. It allows you to focus on increasing business rather than becoming bogged down in numbers and compliance. 

2. Maintain Accurate Records

Any business worth its salt should always maintain proper records. This is beneficial for tax reasons, profit and loss reasons, and other payroll reasons. These records can include:

• Employee salaries.
• Time each employee has worked.
• When you hired them and their starting salary.
• Any raises they have earned over time.
• Time cards (both electronic and manual).
• Details of their 401k
• Any medical leave they have occurred.

There are far more, and the things you must maintain a record of will vary whether your employee is exempt or nonexempt. The principal point is to ensure that you have a comprehensive account of each employee you have hired. 

3. Ensure Your Employees Are Paid On Time

The schedule that you can pay your employees is indicated on a state-by-state basis. Not many people understand this fact and end up falling foul of the pertinent laws. While the state will set the minimum standard, you as a business owner have discretion if you want to increase the payment schedule. For example, the State of Delaware says that you must pay employees at least every month. If you wish, you can pay your staff weekly, but you cannot decide to pay them every two months as this would be against state law. There are four standard pay schedules which include:

• Weekly.
• Bi-weekly.
• Semi-monthly.
• Monthly.

You can maintain a payroll calendar and let all staff members know that this will be how they are paid in the future.

4. Ensure You Take Proper Withholding 

The employee fills out a W-4 form to choose how much is deducted from their paycheck. A voluntary deduction for insurance premiums, charitable contributions, or retirement contributions can also be made by employees. The W-4 forms for employees usually indicate what needs to be withheld for federal and state taxes during payroll processing. You must ensure that you have signed consent from all employees to deduct certain items from their salaries, such as uniforms or meals. You may also be required to withhold some of their pay for student loan payments or court-ordered payments. If this is the case, you must fully understand your obligations as an employer.

5. Maintain A Simple Policy

As the saying goes, add more simplicity than subtract. It is best to get your management team together to review everything related to employee pay. Once you have this information, see hope you can simplify things and make universal rules that apply to all levels of staff.

6. Outsource Your Payroll

If all of the above seem like work you would rather avoid, you can always outsource it to companies that deal with payroll. It is often relatively expensive, but if you perform a cost to benefit calculator, you might discover that you save money or at least allow yourself to increase business by focusing on what matters.

Payroll is one of those things that every business would rather avoid if possible. Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid. It is, fortunately, possible to make things easier by utilizing a variety of methods.