Stress should not be a problem when using technology; after all, the main purpose they were made was to alleviate the stress and make life easier for humans. However, that is not always true because technical problems can cause significant stress among people, especially on workers who constantly use technology to finish their daily tasks.
Dell Technologies led a study and partnered with neuroscience company EMOTIV to find how technology problems correlate with stress on workers. They found a significant correlation between the two factors wherein bad computer experiences are linked to higher stress levels among employees.
Technology Problems and Stress
The researchers measured the participants' brainwaves as they were put through a series of bed computer experiences. The participants were a mix of adults of many ages with different computer level skills.
Some participants were tested on simple computer problems, like trouble in signing in, while others were also presented with slow-speed internet connections. Also, some have experienced system crashes.
According to a study by the Swedish company Ericsson, stress caused by slow-speed internet connection, particularly when loading videos, is comparable to the stress felt when watching a horror film, Engadget reported.
"The moment people started using bad technology, we saw a doubling of their levels of stress," said EMOTIV's president Olivier Oullier. "I was a bit surprised by that because you rarely see those levels going so high," the VOA News reported.
Moreover, Oullier added that the experiment showed how technology-related stress had lasting effects on people. They do not relax back into calmness after being triggered by bad computer experiences quickly. He noted that it takes a long time before that happens.
Additionally, the study found that technical problems do not only affect the workers' mental health but also affects the company's business. For instance, technology problems can reduce productivity, contrary to the primary reason computers were used in business.
It is most especially true with younger workers wherein employees' productivity under the age of 40 dropped by 30%, the researchers said.
Lead customer experience officer at Dell technologies Clie Montgomery said that bad computer experiences affect productivity regardless of computer literacy. But young people seemed to have struggled the most because they expect that technologies always work.
Increasing Technology-Related Stress During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unexpected technology surge due to social distancing and lockdown protocols worldwide. The researchers believe that if the participants have displayed significant stress levels in the lab, it is much worse in real life.
With the surge in virtual meetings and technology use for work or school and entertainment purposes, technology problems could indeed cause stress on people.
Employees working remotely can testify to some technical problems they encounter day to day and how stressful it was for them. Unlike their experience in the office, they could call computer support to fix their problems, something that they always do not have access to when working from their homes.
"That's why it's so important when you're remote, to have technology that works," Oullier said.
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