Recent research in the UK has found that people have been turning to smart speakers, such as Amazon Alexa, as a way to ease loneliness.
An Ofcom report published this month spoke to 100 participants about what they used such devices for, and while the majority of respondents used their smart speakers to listen to music or receive news updates, some said they regarded such devices as a companion, particularly if they were a single-person household. “It’s like having a friend in the house,” said one of the people surveyed. The same research also found that ownership of such devices had nearly doubled in the past two years.
While some of that expansion in ownership of Alexa and similar devices could be explained by the ubiquity and utility of technology in our lives, it also speaks to the world’s recent history of pandemic lockdowns and acts as a form of rebuttal to the social isolation that the global health crisis provoked in the first place.
In early 2020, as coronavirus cases rose, people sheltered at home and the search for solutions intensified, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the pandemic as representing something far bigger than a public health emergency. “It is an economic crisis. A social crisis. And a human crisis,” Mr Guterres declared.
In hindsight, the pandemic was always destined to be more than a health crisis. And so it has proven, delivering a host of consequences that will, in all likelihood, take years to unwind.
Much of the digital world relies on connectivity and connectedness and yet, those interactions can feel hollow and fleeting
The economic crisis is now well-known and definitely proven, with parts of the post-Covid-19 world consumed by a deepening cost of living crisis, rising interest rates and general instability. Even the big tech architects of those voice-activated digital assistants, previously seen as unsinkable vessels of profit and transformation, have experienced the treacherous economic tides of 2022.
The full scale of the social and human crisis, meanwhile, is just beginning to appear. Loneliness may have emerged as the unwanted collateral damage from all of this.
As suggested at the start of the pandemic, many of us have changed our habits radically after long periods of sheltering at home or seeing friends and family far less than previously. Life is undoubtedly different now to what it was in early 2020.
We know that so much of the digital world that we all inhabit relies on connectivity and connectedness and yet, those same interactions can sometimes feel hollow and fleeting. The quantity of social interactions within our lives is probably higher than it has ever been, albeit most of it occurring within the digital world, but many will also say that the quality of many of those interactions is not high.
Social media is such a powerful and transformative part of our daily lives, but it is also capable of alienating and promoting feelings of low self-esteem or prompting withdrawal by some. I doubt many people see it as a harmless or neutral force in their world.
The sacrifices that many people had to make during periods of lockdown and, more generally, via requirements to work from home or even to follow instructions to “socially distance” may have all contributed to increasing levels of disconnection.
Research in the US found a small but significant increase in loneliness during the pandemic and cautioned that it should continue to be monitored through future studies.
Separate research by the UK government, also published earlier this year, identified what it described as “clear links between loneliness and mental health distress”. Their data found that a broad range of people were at risk of experiencing chronic loneliness. They included the young, as well as people living with disabilities and those on lower incomes.
The straight line between social withdrawal and possible poor mental health is not difficult to discern, but there is also increasing evidence that loneliness can be just as damaging to general health. In fact, the risks to general health may “rival those of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity", according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a national public health agency in the US.
Experts don’t always agree on what an appropriate response to this may look like, but certainly it requires action at all levels of society – from government to communities, workplaces and schools – to tackle loneliness and, in all probability, recognition of it as a potential broader crisis in the making.
This is a time of year, of course, when many UAE residents will be thinking about friends and family elsewhere in the world or, in many cases, making trips to see loved ones for Christmas and New Year. There is much to be thankful for today after those pandemic-era travel restrictions upset so many plans in the past. It was only this time last year that the Omicron wave of Covid-19 cases proved so disruptive and this year is the first time in three Decembers that travel is returning to close to pre-pandemic levels.
It is also a time of year, as 2023 approaches, to take stock of our lives and count up what we have done well and what we could do better. And, surely, it is a moment to remember what has been left behind by this years-long health crisis as it slowly recedes from view.
How we reconcile a world where increased connectedness could end up inducing greater feelings of loneliness and withdrawal will be key to our future.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
FIGHT%20CARD
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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The five pillars of Islam
More on animal trafficking
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
More on animal trafficking
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
