Is technology making us physically lazy?

Anything that can entice the user of an electronic device to sit hunched over a screen for long periods of time is going to make them physically lazy. But that's not the whole picture. Excessive computer gaming can certainly become problematic, the symptoms akin to addiction. On the other hand, although this subject conjures pictures of recluses hiding away in bedrooms, the games played are often designed to tax the mind, immersing the player in a virtual world where initiative must be used to solve problems, sharpening reflexes. Pokemon Go, a recent example of a game that encouraged participants to interact with the real world, became a worldwide phenomenon.

There is a whole raft of games that are far more exciting than just firing at targets with a joystick. Players can enjoy a nightclub in their own living room, dancing energetically to their favourite songs. They can play virtual tennis, or bowls, or golf. Gaming aside, there are a host of apps that promote exercise. They can tally up calories and advise about healthy diets, while encouraging fitness by counting steps or monitoring cardiovascular activity.

There is, of course, a downside to technology. Where shopping once involved strolling around retail outlets, now there is the option to place orders via a web browser. But convenience does not always have to equate to laziness. The individual can choose the extent to which technology is allowed to take control. Or not.