How Your Smartphone and Laptop Are Ruining Your Sleep

Analysis of the image

The image reveals that the individual is glued to an information technology device. It is probably night time because the individuals surrounding is full of darkness. The only source of light in the room emanates from the light that is emitted by the device that is in the hands of the individual. The high level of attention that the person in the image has accorded to the gadget is likely to distract her from concentrating on other issues of importance. The bright light from the gadget is likely to cause sight problems in the individual after some time (Sutherland 1).

Effectiveness of the authors rhetorical choices

The author appeals to logos in his article. The author uses scientific evidence to support his argument that use of a tablet or a laptop can cause sleeping problems. Research by scientists from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reveals that use of an iPad with maximum brightness can suppress peoples normal release of melatonin (Sutherland 1). Melatonin is a hormone that is used to control peoples sleeping patterns. Melatonin governs a persons internal clock. Courtesy of melatonin, a persons sleeping and waking cycle is controlled. Levels of melatonin often rise during late evening time and remain high during many hours of the night. In early hours of the morning, levels of melatonin often drop. A drop in levels of melatonin causes individuals to awaken from sleep. Light plays a role with regard to the amount of melatonin that a persons body produces. More melatonin is likely to be produced in seasons characterized by low light intensity. Bright screens deceive melatonin that it is night, making individuals feel sleepy (Bolton 1).

The author appeals to ethos by revealing that the dose and wavelength of light that a person receives is important when it comes to affecting melatonin. It is revealed that light that is emitted by tablets affects melatonin and leads to the production of melatonin regardless of the time of the day (Sutherland 1). Laptops and desktops emit the same light, but they are often positioned far away from a persons eyes. The positioning of desktops and laptops far away from peoples eyes often mitigates the effect of the light. It was revealed that wearing of light-detector goggles while using a tablet in the evenings does hamper production of melatonin. Use of the goggles revealed that light wavelength affects melatonin production. The author appeals to ethos when he reveals that use of bright screens can be used for the treatment of light based problems. There is a need for tablet manufacturers to ensure that the light that is emitted by tablets does not interfere with individuals circadian system. It is imperative for tablet users to reduce the intensity of light that is emitted by their tablets if they do not want their body clock to be negatively affected. The author appeals to ethos when he recommends that it will do human beings no harm if they stop using tablets and go back to the old ways where people used to read books and articles in their hardcopies. Studies have revealed that staring at a bright screen before one goes to bed can deter production melatonin. Deterred melatonin production is likely to prevent an individual from getting sleep that is full of rest. Studies have revealed that as technology advances, electronic devices continue to emit brighter and bluer light. Brighter and bluer light has a more significant impact when it comes to impeding melatonin production. Given that melatonin is naturally produced as the day goes darker, use of electronic devices that emit bright light at night hinders the production of melatonin. Blue light and green light from electronic devices often trick the human brain into thinking that it is day-time when it is not. Scholars have for some time suggested that manufacturers of electronic devices should build their devices in a way that will ensure the devices emit red and yellow light as evening and night approaches. By the electronic devices emitting yellow and red light, the brain will be made to understand that it is night time and as a result, there will be increased melatonin production. Despite the fact that manufacturers of electronic devices have not picked the recommendation to make their devices emit yellow and red light during the night, there are applications that a user of an electronic device can download to change an electronic device screen color (Hill 1).

The author appeals to pathos when he states that interfering with the normal functioning of melatonin is likely to interfere with the circadian system. The author evokes an emotional response when he states that use of bright screens is likely to interrupt the body clock and later cause serious health ramifications (Sutherland 1).There are cases whereby smartphone and gadget owners have voiced their concerns that they do experience difficulty in sleep after using devices with bright screens. There have been suggestions that bed mode options have to be built in electronic devices to ensure that users of electronic devices get to sleep quicker (Orenstein 1).

Works Cited

Bolton, Doug. Your smartphone and laptop are ruining your sleep- heres how to improve it. Independent. 2013. Retrieved on April 24, 2017, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/laptop-phone-sleep-bright-screen-flux-twilight-a6737696.html

Hill, Simon. Is blue light keeping you up at night? We ask the experts. Digital trends. 2015. Retrieved on April 24, 2017, from http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/does-blue-light-ruin-sleep-we-ask-an-expert/

Orenstein, David. Bright screens at night imperil sleep of young teens. Brown University. 2015. Retrieved on April 24, 2017, from https://news.brown.edu/articles/2015/08/sleep

Sutherland, Stephani. Bright Screens Could Delay Bedtime. Scientific American Mind. 2013. Retrieved on April 24, 2017, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bright-screens-could-delay-bedtime/