Have You Taken Your Tablet?

It is a worldwide trend. People love tablets. A recent survey in Australia found that almost 10 million were regular users (that's almost half the population). The tablets referred to here are of the digital kind, which are becoming the primary computing device in homes, across Australia and elsewhere. According to TechCompany (an Australian publication), at the end of 2013, the total Australian tablet market was worth $2.4 billion. (I am using figures for Australia because Australians are leaders in the use of this technology.) Get more information here about tablet tips.

An increasing number of 'old' (55+) rely on tablets; some even take their tablets with them when they catch up with friends for a chat or coffee. In 2002, a survey found that less than 10% of Australians over the age of 55 used the computer regularly, mainly to keep in touch with family and friends and to order online. While the reasons haven't changed significantly, the usage has. Tablets make life ever easier, whether the user is sitting in front of the TV, resting in bed, or as a passenger in a car or plane.

Thanks to tablets, people not only keep in touch but also build relationships. And, over time, those relationships can turn into friendships.

The need to develop and maintain friendships has not changed. More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle regarded friendship as the "highest goal of humanity", and Epicurus reckoned: "Of all the things that wisdom affords, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship." Friendship has a lot to recommend it. Research shows that friendship helps prolong life, stimulates the heart, lowers blood pressure, reduces recovery time after heart disease, and can even increase resistance to the common cold. When it comes to building and maintaining friendships, a tablet can go a long way.

One of the many benefits of taking tablets is developing new friendships with people of all ages. In years past, friendships were restricted to people from a similar era. Thanks to tablets, age is not considered a reason why Generations Y, X and Boomers can't be friends. Samuel Johnson was not thinking of technology when he said: 'If a man does not make new acquaintances as he goes on in life, he will soon find himself alone.' His observation is just as relevant 250 years later. By taking a tablet, people discover that staying in touch has never been easier.

A tablet cannot be expected to take the place of intuition, insight and flexibility. These qualities will always be needed when cultivating new friendships. However, you can be sure that regular 'doses' of medical and technological tablets can lead to a better and longer life.