Wireless System Links to Health Risks

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Two years ago, innovation seemed to soar at a whole new level with the wi-fi technology that was suddenly widely available. Developers tried everything from wireless sensors to Livecast from mobile phones, generating real time content and connecting the world without having to pull together cables and lines. With wireless technology, the laptop suddenly became an overnight hit. (What could be better than internet on-the-go?) In the midst of all this hype, Toronto Hydro even thought about a city-wide wi-fi network plan. I am sure many other cities thought about having this widely avaliable broadband, but at the same time background noises about the health implications about the issue started to bubble up and concerns were voiced out.

The major concerns and fears are directed towards electromagnetic waves emitted by wireless technology. Health impacts are the primary concern, but it still remains a controversial issue due to wireless technology being a recent innovation, which means that convincing studies cannot be conducted in such a short period of time. Environmentalists are voicing their concerns and demanding wireless restrictions; parents tell children to not place computers on their laps while they are using wireless internet connections. Should someone address these concerns, or are they just symptoms of the typical worry-wart? All these issues can trigger decisions that can make or break companies that ground their either assets in wireless communities.

Now, I just stumbled across an article about the potential harm that wireless health monitor systems can cause by causing breakdowns in lifesaving devices. A study shows that these wireless systems can send out radio waves that interferes with respirators, external pacemakers and kidney dialysis machines. Hospitals were warned to take action upon these "disturbing results". Just two years ago, these wireless monitoring systems were considered a medical breakthrough. Although the study might be a bit shortsighted, but one should still consider the implications that this suggests. I'm really starting to wonder if we're risking our health for technological advancements to make our highly modernized, fastpaced, urban lives even more efficient. Read more on the wireless health monitor study here.