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What is blue light, and why is blue light protection important?

Blue light is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of yellow light. It comes from the sun, as well as man-made sources such as computers and smartphones screens. The sun emits blue light in the form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of yellow light. Whichever source it comes from, it is best to get protective spectacles online in Sri Lanka for this purpose, in order to protect your eyes.

What is blue light, and why is it important to protect your eyes from blue light exposure?

This type of light can damage your eyes, leading to problems like eye strain, dryness or infection. Blue Light Protection refers to any technique used to reduce exposure to blue light, for example by using blue blocking glasses, filtering software on devices or choosing an appropriate screen brightness setting. You can also find blue light blocking contact lenses in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for those who prefer not to wear bulky glasses.

Without protection, you may experience dry eye, headache and/or neck pain. In the long term, and blue light exposure can cause macular degeneration and cataracts, which are both very serious eye conditions.

In order to protect our eyes from this harmful type of radiation, we must avoid using digital devices in dark rooms for a prolonged period of time, as well as seek professional help if you experience discomfort while wearing your current glasses. Blocking software is available on many different computers and smartphones today, allowing users to adjust their screen brightness accordingly or have more control over how much blue light they are being exposed to at any one time.

Blue Light Protection Tips

Here are some tips on how to protect your eyes from blue light:

Switch to glasses that block blue light if you are going to be staring at a digital device for prolonged periods of time.
Block your exposure by adjusting the brightness on your devices or using software applications such as F.lux, which changes the colour temperature of your screen according to the time of day.
Seek professional help immediately if experiencing any discomfort while wearing your current glasses.
Regularly visit an optometrist in order to receive an eye examination and discuss protection options with them, including possible prescriptions for new lenses or even transitioning towards contact lenses entirely (which also offer some UV protection).

How to protect your eyes from too much blue light exposure

Optometrists regularly check their patients’ eyesight and can recommend lens options that would best protect them from too much blue light exposure. They are well aware of which prescriptions come with optimal levels of eye protection, so it is important you visit an optometrist at least once every year (or more often if necessary) for an annual eye examination. The earlier they find problems, the better chance there is for successful treatment before serious damage occurs. Not only will this help to protect your vision, but it will also ensure that you are able to see as clearly as possible.

Eye problems caused by blue light may be more common among children, especially in recent times, due to excessive use of mobile devices for online classrooms etc. It is best to get your vision and especially that of children checked every year, so that the optometrist can monitor your eye health. Children who are exposed to high amounts of blue light could even have long term eye problems, hence it is an absolute necessity to get their eyes checked on a regular basis.

This will help to ensure you have healthy eyes and are able to see clearly. It is also important for children who often use their mobile devices in class or at home to be monitored closely by an adult on what kinds of apps they visit online while using these devices. If possible, parents should limit screen time during the day and encourage other activities such as going outside more frequently because blue light emitted from computers, tablets or phones reaches deeper into our eyes than natural sunlight does. Protecting kids’ eyes from blue-light damage will not only preserve their sight but it could potentially save them from developing serious long term eye problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

In addition, limit the amount of additional screen time for kids if they need to do their classes online, this will at least help to some extent. This can be done by limiting screen time during the day, encouraging other activities such as going outside more frequently rather than watching TV or playing computer games.

Blue light is an important part of our natural environment but it also has some harmful effects on eyes if not protected properly. Make sure that you are taking the right precautions if you are someone who is constantly using computers or other devices.

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Protect Yourself Against Evolving Investment Fraud Tactics

Scams involving investment and broker fraud can cost victims millions of dollars. Knowing the common strategies used by scammers, how to avoid them, and what action to take if victimized can help individuals invest confidently and hold scammers accountable for their dishonest and fraudulent actions.

Common Fraud Strategies

Although it’s rarely easy to spot a scam before becoming a victim of investment fraud, there are a few common tactics used by scammers that you may be able to identify. These tactics are successful because they prey on the victim’s weaknesses. The most popular include:
- The “Phantom Riches” Tactic
- The “Source Credibility” Tactic
- The “Social Consensus” Tactic
- The “Reciprocity” Tactic
- The “Scarcity” Tactic

The phantom riches tactic entices prospective victims with promises of great wealth. For example, they may promise that investing in gas wells will result in thousands of dollars a month in income.

Source credibility is a technique that attempts to persuade victims by impressing them with the scammer’s credentials. Scammers will state that they are the vice president of a prestigious firm or have extensive experienced with investments like the one they are trying to sell you.

The social consensus strategy is reminiscent of the warnings we receive as children: just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you should. The scammers use the notion that since everyone else is in on this deal to convince victims that they will be missing out if they don’t jump on the bandwagon.

The reciprocity tactic focuses on the scammer doing a favor for the potential victim. For example, the scammer may offer a “deal” on the investment, providing it without the broker’s commission because they “believe so strongly” in the investment.

The final tactic frequently used by scammers involves tricking the victim into believing that the investment is rare and should be acted upon immediately. They will tell prospective victims that the amount of shares available is extremely limited and failure to act will cause them to lose their opportunity to invest.

Steps to Take to Protect Yourself and Your Business from Fraud

There are some simple steps that can help investors avoid receiving contact from scammers in the first place. First, register with the National Do Not Call list. This will immediately weed out a portion of potential scammers. Also, be careful about attending free lunch or dinner seminars and remember the old adage: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

The Better Business Bureau also provides a few recommendations to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim. It is important for investors to take their time before jumping into investments. Be wary of any investment that appears to be “risk-free.” All investments have some degree of risk, so any broker or investment advisor claiming otherwise should be a red flag.

Investments that consistently offer high returns should also be avoided, as was the case with the Madoff scheme. Steer clear of returns that are so consistent they appear to be fake. The return data may be manufactured.

A broker or investment advisor should also be able to provide potential investors with information about the risks, obligations, restrictions and costs of the investment. It is prudent to obtain and file a hard copy of this information. Any advisor who is reluctant to discuss the investment strategy or provide these documents should be avoided.

In addition, it is important to ask for the registration status of the broker and investment, and to take the time to check that the broker is licensed and the product is registered.

Avoid investing in commodity futures and currency futures brokerage accounts, since these brokers do not carry protection against bankruptcy. If the investment falls through there are few recourse options available for investors in this scenario.

Consequences of Investment and Broker Fraud

Fraudulent acts on the part of scammers can result in both criminal and civil penalties. Criminal penalties can lead to imprisonment, probation and fines.

Civil penalties focus on returning victims to the same position they were in prior to the fraudulent act. This often includes restitution or monetary payments designed to pay victims back. Civil penalties may also include substantial fines designed to punish the offender for their behavior.

Each situation is unique, and the extent of the penalty depends on various factors including the nature, scope and severity of the scam.

Proving fraud generally requires a victim to establish the following:
- The scammer made a misrepresentation
- The scammer knew that what he or she was saying was false
- The investor or victim justifiably relied on the false statement
- The investor or victim suffered a loss

If you or a loved one is the victim of a fraudulent investment scheme, it is important to remember that you are not alone. The sophistication of recent scams has increased significantly and even professional investors are fooled. Remedies may be available to help you recover your losses. It is wise to discuss your situation with an experienced investment fraud lawyer.

Article provided by Schachter Harris, LLP
Visit us at www.schachterharris.com

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Current Trends in Hotel Payment System

Metrics such as occupancy and revenue likely will return to pre-pandemic levels, but the hospitality industry has forever changed. Currently, there are three trends in play that are influencing the shape of things to come. And although it may not be immediately evident, having a robust and complete Hotel Payment System will be integral to fully capitalize on these marketplace dynamics. Let’s discuss them

Trend 1 – A More Personal, Yet Independent Guest Journey

The first is an evolving guest journey. The guests themselves have changed, and their expectations are different. They now insist upon a certain degree of high-tech and low-touch options. Their mantra: know my preferences but give me my independence and flexibility. An integrated payments platform lets guests pay with maximum convenience and minimal touch, while giving hoteliers key insights. For instance, by using a payments platform that supports card tokenization, returning guests can check-in and pay even more seamlessly (without compromising security). They can also skip the checkout queue without worrying about the hotel pursuing them for an unsettled bill.

Trend 2 – The Continuous Search for Non-Room Revenue

As the industry recovers, the search for ways to bolster non-room revenues will intensify. Whether it’s promoting hotel rooms as co-working spaces, Staycations, culinary experiences, or just vouchers and gift cards – we expect the industry to pursue a variety of initiatives to diversify revenue. But such efforts will require different payment environments – and the need for a flexible payments infrastructure. For example, the ability to seamlessly switch to per-hour billing might become a new staple.

One of the best sources of valuable insights comes from payments data. But there are challenges to glean them. Data needs to be mapped back to individual guest profiles, broken down by category, and evaluated using the necessary analytics to help guide the next move. Having a single platform for Hotel Payment System that can sit across the entire payment value chain is the key to overcoming these data issues.

Trend 3 – Using Automation to Boost Efficiency

Labor shortages are hampering the industry’s recovery and leading to the rise of automation to improve efficiency. A top Hotelier noted recently that 20 percent of employees in travel and tourism globally have permanently left the segment calling it among the most significant challenges we have to navigate.

This is where high-tech, low-touch options such as contactless check-ins can play a role – not just on the front end, but on the back end as well. They can free up limited staff and direct them toward areas where high-touch is a core part of the experience. Such automation will be critical to managing the resurgence in guest volume.

Having a payments platform that accommodates this switch will be essential. And because hotels will make different choices regarding the level of automation that best fits their needs, payment platforms must be flexible enough to support multiple variations. Flexibility is paramount in a complex, fast-changing landscape. As a chief commercial officer of a reputed hotel recently reflected on the lessons of the pandemic – being comfortable with experimentation is crucial. But such experimentation must rest on a robust foundation.

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