In this tech-insight, we look how extreme heat can affect IT hardware and what measures you can take to keep the equipment cool and prevent damage.

High Temperatures 

Hot weather UK-style is not normally a problem. With an average temperature here of about 14 °C, temperatures over 30 °C are a fairly rare occurrence – although becoming more common in the summer if only for a few days as the effects of global warming continue.

Primarily as a result of our usually temperate climate, many homes and businesses don’t have air conditioning. Most of us cope by donning some shorts, opening a window, and putting on a fan or two!

IT Equipment In The Heat 

However, whilst we humans can keep cool by sweating, our expensive IT equipment cannot. That equipment relies on a constant movement of air passing over heatsinks inside to dissipate the substantial amounts of heat generated by the electronics. Modern processors will run at around 70°C (internally) and would quickly overheat and damage themselves were it not for these cooling processes.

Of course, these cooling processes throw out heat into the room and compound the problem when the outside temperature starts to increase.

Ideally, IT kit likes to work in room temperatures circa 21°C but it can cope if it gets warmer. The problem is the warmer that it becomes, the more stress it is put under, and the shorter the life span. Major problems come when the ambient temperature around the equipment rises above 35°C. Servers and computers simply can’t effectively dissipate the heat they generate and, in many cases, they will shut down to protect themselves.

With a general move to the cloud, office servers are becoming less common but other equipment in your IT rack or cabinet will suffer too – battery backup units (UPS), NAS drives, routers and network switches for example may not have the same thermal protections and can easily overheat and malfunction.

What About Air Conditioning? 

If you have air conditioning, then all should be well – although many people have been turning it off to save money. Don’t turn off the one in the server room when temperatures are at record highs though!

A portable air-conditioning unit could work. At about £400 for a small office room, they can provide an answer to keep the temperatures down but with an exhaust hose that needs to pass out through a window, this may introduce security issues. Ideally, don’t use cheaper air-coolers that have a refillable water tank as they increase the humidity in the room which comes with its own problems. Squirting cold water on your server to cool it down is definitely NOT the answer!

If air conditioning is a non-starter, keep the air moving around the equipment as best as you can – fans and ventilation are key. Block any windows that could have direct sunlight upon them at any stage and open room and cabinet doors.

Turn It Off 

The final and perhaps less obvious answer – just turn the equipment off! If you don’t need it over the hottest periods, then shut it down. Any bit of electrical equipment not running in your office on the hottest days this week will all help to keep the heat from building up.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

At the time of writing this, temperatures are at a record high. Your expensive and important IT kit likes to work in room temperatures circa 21°C and simple measures you can take to protect it from the heat include air conditioning units in key rooms and turning off any equipment that is not needed on the hottest days. If you have no form of cooling in your office or server room especially, keep a close eye on the temperature. A basic thermometer in the room could provide an early warning. Servers especially will start to make a lot more noise as their temperatures climb and fan speeds increase. There are remote ways of monitoring the internal temperatures of your servers and some other kit too. Whilst they are miracle workers in many ways, your tech-team can’t control the weather so if it gets too hot, the only answer will be to turn it off!

BMW UK is now offering ConnectedDrive owners Front Seat Heating for a £15 per month or £150 per year subscription.

BMW ConnectedDrive Services 

BMW ConnectedDrive Services use the smart / Internet connected element of the car to enable owners to use software to activate more services in the car by paying a subscription for each, without needing to visit a dealer to activate them. Subscriptions can be purchased for features such as Adaptive Suspension, Drive Recorder, Safety Camera Information (traffic camera alerts), High Beam Assistant, Steering Wheel Heating, and more.

Front Seat Heating 

The new Front Seat Heating feature can be enabled following a subscription sign-up, using an “over-the-air remote software download”. The service enables the front seats heating to be activated so that the seats warm-up “in no time” and can be individually adjusted in three levels, with the service heating the seat cushion, side bolsters, and backrest.

Other Car Companies Also Offering Subscription-Based Extras 

Other companies also offering subscription-based extras include:

– Tesla. The company started a rear heated seats service back in February 2020 for its Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus as a new over-the-air upgrade. Since then, it has added more options.

– Toyota. Last December it announced that it would be charging for a remote start key fob feature.

– General Motors. The company is reported to have added a $905+subscription for GM’s OnStar Connected Services to Buick and GMC vehicles.

Huge Revenues To Be Made From Subscriptions For Extra Services 

With these types of subscriptions, car companies appear to have found a way to increase the revenue they can make from each car on top of the sale itself, although many cars may be leased or offered as a subscription service anyway. For example, Stellantis, the world’s sixth-largest automaker has said that software subscriptions could enable it to be making $4.5 billion in annual revenue, perhaps as soon as 2026.

Criticism 

Although software subscriptions may be good news for car makers, customers have been critical of the idea. Some of the main criticisms include:

– Owning a car should mean owning everything in it instead of only actually purchasing part of it and being forced to rent other parts.

– Car manufacturers are effectively putting software blocks on part of the car which owners must pay to remove.

Benefits 

Some of the benefits of the subscription services could include:

– Giving owners of a second-hand vehicle the opportunity to add the original features of the car that the previous owner may not have used.

– Owners can purchase a short-term trial of a feature, meaning that they don’t need to fully commit to paying for a feature until they’re happy with it.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The pandemic saw car manufacturers’ profits hit by a slump in demand and there are now many different ways to ‘own’ a car. Also, making many different variations of a car model can add costs. Technology, i.e. a ‘smart’ car and the use of software, plus a marketplace that is used to a subscription economy, have given car manufacturers an opportunity to dramatically increase their revenue from vehicles. Producing a car that already has the hardware built-in but is controlled by software blocks gives car manufacturers a way to reduce some costs and offer a faster and easier way to offer customers a kind of customisation. These subscriptions may, however, put pressure on dealerships because they are bypassed in the process. For many motorists, however, there is feeling that buying a car may no longer mean owning all of it, rather just buying the basics and having to essentially rent other parts of it, thereby raising questions about whether it fair or ethical. The situation could also result in complications over the right to repair, contractual and legal challenges, and security.

Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have announced that their customers will be joining both Three and EE’s customers in having access to high-speed mobile connectivity on London’s Tube network, including within the tunnels.

Joined BAI 

As confirmed by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have joined BAI Communications’ 4G and 5G-ready mobile network, meaning that all four mobile network operators are now offering mobile connectivity across the London Underground. In June last year, Transport for London (TfL) awarded a 20-year concession to BAI Communications (BAI) to enable mobile coverage on the whole Tube network by 2024 which, up until now, has been one of the most high-profile UK mobile ‘not-spots’. BAI is a leading global provider of 4G and 5G connected infrastructure which has already deployed communications networks in dense urban environments across the world, including New York, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

Work Under Way 

4G mobile coverage has already been introduced to the eastern half of the Jubilee line and work is currently underway to deliver 4G and 5G connectivity across the whole Tube, with the first stations being Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Euston, Bank and Camden Town, all due to go live by the end of this year.

Backbone Across London 

BAI says that its concession will see it providing a backbone of mobile and digital connectivity across London, and the intention is to run 2,000 kilometres of high-capacity full fibre cabling through London’s Tube tunnels which can be connected to buildings, street lighting, and bus stops. BAI also says that such a network could deliver “gigabit-capable speeds” and support digital inclusion.

Vodafone 

Vodafone, which made itself unpopular with Tube travellers back in June 2021 by withdrawing its free Wi-Fi from the Underground network, said about joining BAI’s Underground 4G network: “The UK needs world class digital infrastructure, and bringing 4G and 5G to the London Underground is a big part of that. 4G on the eastern stretch of the Jubilee line is already making a huge difference to our customers, and we’re proud to continue our investment in keeping consumers and businesses connected across more parts of London” (Ahmed Essam, CEO).

O2 Says… 

O2 / VMO2’s CEO, Lutz Schüler, said: “With our 5G network already reaching two-thirds of Londoners, this investment will bring next-generation mobile connectivity deep underground for the first time ever, giving our customers a seamless service while on the move. We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds in the capital to expand and upgrade our fixed and mobile networks which has accelerated London’s transformation into a cutting-edge digital hub, fuelling growth and connecting communities to gigabit services.”

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

It has been frustrating to Londoners (and visitors) for such a long time that a major transport network in the capital has been a ‘not-spot,’ and Vodafone’s withdrawal of free Wi-Fi there last year added to that frustration. The tunnels are probably an ideal place to spread a fibre network across the city and businesses and home users will now be pleased that this is finally happening, although it will take a couple of years (or possibly longer) to complete across the whole network area. Mobile and digital connectivity are important tools for businesses which can help with productivity, competitiveness and growth, so with all four mobile network operators now on board with BAI things look promising going forwards.

In this article, we look at what eyestrain is, what causes it, and the many measures you can take to prevent it.

What Is Eyestrain? 

Eyestrain is eye fatigue, caused by intensely focusing the eyes during a task, such as staring at a computer screen (or phone screen) for extended periods, driving, reading, or engaging in detailed activities, e.g. sewing or reading, and being exposed to bright light or glare, and artificial and ‘blue light’.

The symptoms of eyestrain can include watery, dry, itchy, or burning eyes, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, double vision, headache, neck, and shoulder pain, and difficulty keeping eyes open.

Having a prior condition, e.g. having dry eyes, uncorrected vision, or muscle imbalance, can increase the risk of eye strain, as can stress and fatigue.

Digital Eyestrain 

The central part that technology such as digital devices – desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablets or e-readers, television, and video game consoles – play in our lives, coupled with factors such as working from home / remotely (working long hours and into the night, or in the wrong visual conditions), and a lack of awareness for / concern about the condition have led to the prevalence of digital eyestrain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Digital eyestrain is now common. For example, a US Vision Council survey (2020) found that 60 per cent of people have suffered from digital eyestrain.

Blue Light 

The kind of ‘blue light’ emitted by digital device screens is often cited as being a contributing factor to digital eye strain, and to lack of sleep. Blue light from screens (which is also given-off by fluorescent lights) has shorter wavelengths and higher energy than other colours, and this particular kind of light has been the subject of discussions and research about whether it may contribute to issues such as retina damage, the risk of certain cancers, mental health problems, and childrens’ health problems, e.g. obesity, near-sightedness, and attention focusing issues.

How To Avoid Eyestrain 

Although eyestrain itself is not serious and doesn’t have long-term consequences, it can be very uncomfortable and disruptive. It is, however, preventable and there are many different measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of eyestrain and relieve its symptoms. Examples include:

– Shut out the light. For example, break up longer periods of screen time by sitting or lying down quietly for a few minutes, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing. This can obviously be relaxing as well as reducing eyestrain risk.

– Use the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of looking at a screen, look 20 feet into the distance for roughly 20 seconds to relax the eyes.

– Use an eye compress and ‘palming.’ Place a cool or warm compress (e.g. cloth dipped) in cold water over the eyelids for a few minutes. Alternatively, rub your hands together to create heat and then cup your palms over your eyelids (palming).

– Take measures to block out blue light. These could include wearing blue-light-blocking glasses, changing the brightness and blue light levels in the device/computer settings, install a screen filter (on the phone), or use blue light blocking software.

– Choose a monitor with easy-to-adjust settings and ergonomic adjustments and use an adjustable chair. Adjust your screen or chair so that your eye level is at the top of the screen, and you are sitting 23 inches / 58cm (approximately) away from a screen on a desk and 14 inches / 36cm away when using a laptop.

– Make sure there is proper lighting in the room and arrange the room to avoid glare from uncovered windows, lamps, and overhead light fixtures. Also, be aware that air conditioning units which can dry the eyes.

– Increase the font size or zoom percentage size on the screen when working.

– Take regular breaks away from the device.

– Pay attention to posture, i.e. sit up straight rather than leaning back or forward – too close or too far away from the screen.

– Use eye exercises to help reduce the symptoms of eye strain, e.g. moving a pen towards and away from the eyes while focusing on it, and jumping between focusing on looking at pen close by and a fixation point 3 to 4 metres away (as suggested by Specsavers).

– Take care to blink more often. Research has shown that staring at the screen too long can result in less blinking. Normal blinking ensures that the eyes are moistened, thereby preventing dryness and irritation.

– Have regular, comprehensive eye tests and consider the benefits of getting customised computer glasses from your optician.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

So much of our work and home life now involves looking at the screens of different devices, often for long periods of time, in different locations, in the day and at night. All these factors can contribute to eyestrain, which research shows 6 out of 10 people have suffered from. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, it can disrupt work and affect productivity and morale. For businesses in an office setting, it is a case of providing the correct and up-to-date equipment, e.g. fully adjustable monitors and chairs, as well as the appropriate lighting, and giving advice as well as allowing for (and encouraging) breaks from screen time. With remote and hybrid working, businesses can also help by reminding and providing information to workers about how to avoid the risk of eyestrain when working at home and in other settings.

If you are reading a web page or blog in Google Chrome and come across a term you’d like to know about, Google has a built-in way to search for that term simply as a result of when you highlight the text with your mouse. Here’s how it works:

– In Google Chrome, find a term or word you’d like to know more about in the text of a web page or blog that.

– Highlight the text with your mouse.

– Right click and select Search Google For “you highlighted words here”.

– Google will then open a new window with the search results for word or term you highlighted.