In the modern world we are surrounded by technology. Gadgets such as cell phones, portable computers, and electronic diaries accompany us throughout the day. But is this a good thing? Are we being served by these technological wonders, or have we become enslaved by them? Does constant availability via technology make us more efficient or more stressed? Is our ability to connect with others all over the world, day or night, making us more sociable or turning us into recluses in a virtual world? This book considers the impact of technology on the different spheres of our life - work, home, family and leisure - and assesses ways in which to build better communication between technology developers and society to ensure that technology enhances our lives and psychological well-being, rather than damaging them.

The rapid advancements in technology, and our increasing interaction with it, have key implications for the field of psychology. The Psychology of Technology brings together research from different subdisciplines across psychology to address the ways in which technology and Big Data are changing how psychological research is conducted. It also examines how technology allows us to better understand human psychology. This text showcases cutting-edge research at the intersection of psychology and technology to provide an outlook into the future of psychological research in a tech-enabled world. The growing capabilities and reach of technology show no signs of abating, so it is critically important that psychology understand it and harness it effectively and ethically. Chapters offer fascinating and novel insights about the human condition using digital technologies as a window into human psychology, highlight the opportunities and challenges people face interacting with digital tech, and address the consequences of technology for individuals and societies. The intricacies of human-machine interaction, analyses of digital footprints, and "big data" approaches are investigated in detail.

This book considers the impact of technology on our lives and ways to ensure technology enhances, rather than damages, our psychological well-being.

A case for building a digital environment that can make us happier and healthier, not just more productive, and a theoretical framework for doing so.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential role that digital technologies can play in promoting well-being. Smartphones, wearable devices, virtual/augmented reality, social media, and the internet provide a wealth of useful tools and resources to support psychological interventions that facilitate positive emotions, resilience, personal growth, creativity, and social connectedness. Understanding the full extent of this potential, however, requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the scientific principles of well-being into the design of e-experiences that foster positive change. This book provides an overview of recent advances and future challenges in Positive Technology, an emergent field within human-computer interaction that seeks to understand how interactive technologies can be used in evidence-based well-being interventions. Its focus of analysis is two-fold: at the theoretical level, Positive Technology aims to develop conceptual frameworks and models for understanding how computers can be effectively used to help individuals achieve greater well-being. At the methodological and applied level, Positive Technology is concerned with the design, development, and validation of digital experiences that promote positive change through pleasure, flow, meaning, competence, and positive relationships.

Most research on the psychological impact of computers and the Internet has focused on the negative side of technology – i.e. how the use (abuse) of interactive systems and videogames can negatively affect mental health and behavior. On the other hand, less attention has been devoted to understanding how emerging technologies can promote optimal functioning at individual, group, and community levels. Integrating Technology in Positive Psychology Practice explores the various roles that technology can play in the development of psychological interventions aimed at helping people thrive. Exploring the ways in which ICT can be utilized to foster positive emotions, promote engagement in empowering activities, and support connectedness between individuals, groups, and communities, this timely publication is designed for use by psychologists, IT developers, researchers, and graduate students.

Technology and Adolescent Health: In Schools and Beyond discusses how today's adolescents are digital natives, using technology at home and in school to access information, for entertainment, to socialize and do schoolwork. This book summarizes research on how technology use impacts adolescent mental health, sleep, physical activity and eating habits. In addition, it identifies monitoring and screening technology-based tools for use with adolescents.