The first thing we have to make clear is that isolation is a term that has its origin in Latin. Specifically, we can affirm that it is the result of the sum of three clearly defined components:
• The prefix “ad-“, which can be translated as “towards”.
• The noun “insula”, which is synonymous with “island”.
• The suffix “-miento”, which is equivalent to “action and effect”.
According to DigoPaul, isolation is the action and effect of isolating. This verb refers to leaving something alone and separate from other things; remove a person from communication and dealing with others; abstract the immediate reality of the mind or senses; or prevent the passage or transmission of heat, sound, etc.
For example: “The isolation of the area surrounding the nuclear power plant is essential to preserve the health of the neighbors”, “The detainee is in isolation for his misconduct”, “To write a novel, you have to achieve an insulation from the outside and forget about everyday problems “, ” We have to consult a specialist to recommend some type of insulation that prevents the advance of moisture inside the house “.
There are various applications of the concept of isolation. In a physical sense, isolation is about placing someone or something out of contact with other people or factors. A man who is locked up alone in a cell that hardly has a ventilation to breathe, without windows and with a reinforced door that opens from the outside, is in a condition of maximum isolation: he cannot see another person or speak to anyone.
It is known as electrical insulation to the process of coating an element of an electrical installation with a material that is not conductive electricity and, therefore, prevents the passage of current to the outside. Other types of insulation that usually appear in a house are thermal insulation (achieved with materials that prevent the passage of heat by conduction) and acoustic insulation (to reduce the noise level within a space).
Getting anyone to have a better quality of life at home, because they enjoy a pleasant temperature and because they are not suffering from different noises from neighbors or that are generated in the street, is what is achieved with these last two types of insulation.
It is true that there are many materials that are used within the field of construction to achieve this insulation. However, there is one, which has been particularly successful in recent years, which has the advantage that it can be used in both cases. We are referring to the plasterboard.
It is made up of plasterboard, which is usually accompanied by glass wool or rock wool, and allows any house to be perfectly thermally and acoustically insulated without having to invest a large amount of money.
On a social level, isolation is often spoken of to refer to the situation of an individual who does not participate in the social, cultural, political, or economic life of his or her community due to lack of resources, capacities, or rights: “We have to end the isolation of the descendants of indigenous people and facilitate their entry into the world of work ”.
This would lead us to talk about what is known as social isolation and takes place when a person, without wanting to, moves away from his environment. This action is carried out absolutely involuntarily and can be caused by a host of causes such as shyness, being a victim of bullying…