In the wireless technology communities, and possibly amongst consumers too, the advent of 5G is eagerly anticipated.  Proposed super-high speeds, possibly as much as 100 times faster than 4G, will mean that huge quantities of data  can be downloaded/uploaded/processed in the blink of an eye.  And it’s expected that there will be quite a lot of blinking of eyes because when 5G makes it onto the higher frequency wavebands (28 – 60 GHz) one result is likely to be superficial sensitivity on the human body, such as stinging eyes and a sensation of burning on the skin.  This is because these higher frequencies use ‘millimetre waves’ and these are not able to penetrate buildings easily, or human bodies. That’s good news for those of us suffering from electrohypersensitivity because it means that electro-pollution from other people’s 5G devices will not be able to penetrate inside our homes so there should be no need for shielding.

However, initially, 5G will utilise existing handsets and the frequencies used by 3 and 4G.  This will be by way of keeping costs to the consumer down (maximising profit to the industry) and there will necessarily be a restriction on what 5G can do for us at this point.  In any case, the best predictions are that we are not likely to see any form of mainstream 5G service available for about five years.

But the point is this.  Our addiction to wireless gadgets and our unfettered willingness to let this technology penetrate our lives in admittedly occasionally useful ways but more often than not through quite bizarre and frequently dangerous applications, is the thing that is driving the development of this technology.  All the time we are buying this stuff, industry will respond by producing and marketing more.

Perhaps we should stop and ask ourselves whether we really need apps to alert men their trouser zips are undone or that menstruating women need to change tampon.  And why dilute the experience of watching great films on a screen no larger than a palm of a hand.  I can’t imagine the world’s best directors are too impressed by how little we value their work either.  Best to get a fibre connection, a decent TV screen, some popcorn and friends, and watch films appropriately.

But this is the real point.  Nothing comes without cost, to ourselves and the environment.  We know of many of the health effects associated with wireless technology and the number of people with electrohypersensitivity in the UK alone now runs into the millions.  There will be other health effects in the future too.  Remember that none of this technology is tested for safety.  We are the living experiment, a population of guinea pigs and lab rats.