We have to wake up to dangers of new technology

Homes are no longer refuges, sanctuaries or, in Jane Austen’s words, “a nest of comforts”.

No longer is the home a place to retreat to after leaving work behind. Mentally most of us are still at work.

Everywhere a screen dominates.

The internet has become like Twitter and Facebook replacing conversation.

Our sense of community is slowly becoming less and less. Real people says one leading expert, “are becoming tiresome”.

Radio, then TV and smartphones and now Google’s Nest and Amazon’s Alexa dominate.

They entertain but also be aware they collect personal data.

Three weeks ago a very senior scientist at Silicon Valley announced that over 87 per cent of employees had banned their children from having a smartphone in order to “preserve privacy and a sense of home”.

No one knows better than they of the dangers posed by new technology.

It is time we woke up and followed their example. Otherwise, a nation of zombies awaits.

Dr Barry Clayton

Thornton Cleveleys