Tech makes our lives easier, but sometimes it comes with side-effects. That’s where these great gadgets can help…
ADLENS INTERFACE GLASSES
Whether you spend your days working at a computer, or are just addicted to your smartphone, it’s likely that when it comes to eye health, you’ve probably felt the effects of staring at a screen for too long. In fact, research from The Vision Council found that 61% of adults have experienced digital eye strain. It’s caused by the blue light emitted by screens. These glasses stop the harmful light and annoying symptoms in their tracks. The lightweight yellow lenses cut out 80% of the blue light and you can adjust them from 0 to 2.75 dioptres simply by turning the screws on either side of the glasses. £44.99 from www.adlens.com/uk
HIVE ACTIVE PLUG
You used to leave the house and the only nagging worry would be if you’d locked the door or not. Nowadays, there are plenty of concerns to add to the list: are the hair straighteners still on? Did we unplug the charger? If not, is it a fire hazard? That’s where Hive’s Active Plug helps. Pop the plug into your wall socket and plug your gadget into it. Then, when you become concerned the iron’s still on, you can click on to the accompanying app and ensure it’s turned off. Other gadgets in the range include a window or door sensor – so you can nip your traditional, “Did I close the door?” worry in the bud too. £39 from www.hivehome.com
BENQ WIT LAMP
We’ve swapped the home office for a laptop and books for an eReader. You’ve adjusted your tools, but how about the lighting? Whether you’re using a desk lamp that only lights up part of your screen or you’re sitting in a dark corner and squinting, bad lighting when paired with modern technology can play havoc with your vision. That’s where this light comes in. Created specifically for eReading, the wide lamp comes with “smile curve technology” which means you’ll get even light coverage across screens up to 90cm wide. £159 from www.wit-lighting.com
HOMEDICS HEATED SHIATSU MASSAGE CUSHION WITH REMOTE CONTROL
We sit hunched over our laptops, tablets and phones, not only giving ourselves poor posture, but also neck and back pain. If you find yourself feeling particularly sore after a tech session, treat yourself to a shiatsu massage courtesy of this gadget. The cushion will help soothe those aches away – whether they are in your legs, back or shoulders and neck. Plug it in, place it on the area that needs attention and let the gizmo do its work. It heats, up, comes with a remote control and has an automatic shut off after 15 minutes so you can’t over-do it. A great tool to ease muscular tension. £54.99 from www.homedics.co.uk
ALTRUIS BY VINAYA JEWELLERY
You’re having a deep and meaningful conversation with a loved one but are very aware that you’re awaiting an important call, e-mail, text or Whatsapp notification. You don’t want to be “that” person, constantly looking at their phone during a conversation, but what other option do you have? How about investing in a piece of Vinaya jewellery? Taking the wearable tech tag seriously, the pretty pieces will connect to your smartphone and vibrate when you get a message. What’s more, you can set it up so only certain contacts or keywords cause the jewellery to subtly shake, so you won’t be disturbed unnecessarily. Prices start from £220 from www.vinaya.com