overall bacterial contamination level of of 78.4%, 82.5%, 82.5%, 82.6%, 83.9%, and 86% have been reported for mobile phones sampled in Iran, Iraq, India, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and Italy

Globally, mobile phones and computers (laptops and desktops) are indispensable part of human lives for communication, entertainment, and educational purposes. However, there are concerns about the increasing risk of bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistant trends from the surfaces of these devices. This study aims to assess bacterial contamination of mobile phones and computer keyboards and their resistant profile at the University of Ghana, Korle-Bu Campus, Accra. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2017 with 240 swabs collected from the surfaces of mobile phones and computer keyboards used by healthcare students...

READ MORE

NORFOLK, Va. - With the spread of coronavirus, people now seem to be second-guessing the surfaces they touch.

There are conflicting ideas about how long a virus can live, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it can be viable for hours to days.

Early research by scientists at the National Institutes of Health suggests the virus could be "detected in aerosols up to three hours post aerosolization, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel."

READ MORE

When you spend hours at your desk every day, even the smallest features of your workspace–such as the position of your monitor or the height of your chair–can greatly affect your productivity and even your health. Here's what science says about the best way to set up your office for ergonomics and productivity.

Your workspace shouldn't wear you down every day, but that's what uncomfortable chairs, messy desks, and poor lighting do–even though you might not notice these things day after day. With a few adjustments, however, you can improve your working environment and keep your desk from killing you.

Infographic: How to Set Up Your Desk for Productivity and Ergonomics The illustration below offers a bird's eye view of some of the most important elements in a healthy and productive office.

READ MORE

The average smartphone screen is more than three times dirtier than a toilet seat, according to recent research.

Gadget insurance specialists Insurance2go swabbed three different handsets – an iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel – to find out how much bacteria each accumulated.

They found quantities of yeast, mould and aerobic bacteria in all areas of the phones. Which isn’t surprising when you realise the average Brit touches their phone screen 3,000 times a day.

But according to the firm, a third of Brits have never even cleaned their phones. After polling a thousand UK adults, the firm found that only one in 20 clean their phones every six months or less.

After polling a thousand UK adults, the firm found that only one in 20 clean their phones every six months or less.

READ MORE

Ever spent more than two consecutive hours looking at a computer screen? Us too. Computers can make us more productive, but the bad news is they could also lead to something called Computer Vision Syndrome. More recognizable as that tired, strained feeling those eyes get after a day in front of a screen, the condition packs a punch: 64 to 90 percent of office workers suffer from CVS. Read on to learn how to spot the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome — and what to do about them.

I Spy Eye Strain — The Need-to-Know

CVS likely doesn’t cause permanent eye damage, but it can still affect computer users’ comfort. The most common symptoms of CVS include eye strain, redness, irritation, or dryness, a burning feeling in the eyes, blurred or double vision after computer use, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain (eesh!)

READ MORE

From managing your hours to exercise, here are simple tips on how to de-stress and foster wellbeing at work  

Three in five employees have experienced mental health issues in the past year because of work, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by charity Business in the Community. So what steps can be taken to improve wellbeing in the workplace?

IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS 

Working out what triggers stress or poor mental health can help you anticipate problems and think of ways to solve them, says mental health charity Mind.

Emma Mamo, head of workplace wellbeing at Mind, says: “Take some time to reflect on events and feelings that could be contributing to your poor mental health. You might be surprised to find out just how much you’re coping with at once.”

READ MORE

The average adult spends more time awake in work than at home. Here's why you should keep the cleanliness of work at an all-time high.  

Most people devote some time out of their busy schedules every week to clean and tidy their home, to ensure it is always kept in tip top condition, so why should your place of work be any different? The average adult spends more time awake in work than at home, so surely you should keep the cleanliness of work at an all-time high! You could be surprised at how a clean workplace can make a difference, especially when it comes to productivity throughout the day. Hygiene in the office can be a factor in this; take a look at how a clean and tidy office can impact productivity.

REDUCING SICKNESS

With the average worker losing around nine days a year at work due to sickness, isn’t it time you took action against this? Office furniture and equipment can often be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria; in fact, the average keyboard can harbour up to 7,500 bacteria at any one time. It is this that can aid the spread of germs and illnesses around the office. Viruses such as the flu can survive on hard surfaces such as your desk for 24 hours.

READ MORE

Your PC feeling slow? Use these tips to boost your performance 

If you noticed your computer running slow, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to dump it in the garbage. This guide will help your PC run closer to the way it did when you booted that baby up for the first time.

STEP 1: UPDATE YOUR COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Ensuring your computer’s software is up to date is the one of the easiest ways to possibly speed up your computer. That said, much of your computer’s software could be at the mercy of...

READ MORE

The disgusting extent of germs and filth lurking in the average office is laid bare in a new experiment.

These repulsive pics show vast amount of bacteria allowed to fester in a typical work place.

During the research, carried out by Viking Direct , used cotton buds to take swabs from these commonly used areas:

• Computer mouse
• Photocopier
• Keyboard
• Desk surface
• Computer mouse
• Telephone

The buds were then wiped into agar-filled petri dishes to let the bacteria grow.

After being left in a warm place for a five days, the bacterial and fungal cultures were examined.

The results are staggering: