In this modern world, technology has developed a device that keeps the lives of the people easier. This device plays a very important role in every person who embraced the fast changing phase in technology, Smartphone. Smartphone is one of the products of technology that has a great impact to people in the society. It has positive and negative impacts or advantages and disadvantages that should be analyzed independently. Smartphones merely changed the way people communicate, and its functions are more than just a phone. Even though people become addicted to smartphones and users become slaves to this device, still smartphones are significant in the society because it performs the functions of both cameras and personal digital assistant.
Smartphones on its fast internet connections perform fast; users can send emails, tweet, text, and communicate anytime and anywhere. According to Saylor, in the next five years there will be an estimated 5 billion people would have smartphones to access to the mobile internet and applications . Majority of American phone owners have smartphones. Smartphones are handy devices with multiple features that run many applications. It is known to everyone that the only way to access the internet is at home using the personal computers or laptops. Smartphones are very significant in the society; it performs the functions of both camera phone and personal digital assistant.
Some students are hooked on smart iPhones, but it does not attack the current practice in education . Students used the technology; the capacity for digital games, social networking technologies, and simulations facilitate deep learning. It is suggested that there should be continuous exploration and development of new practices, to infuse new technology in the educational system . A survey among 766 mostly academic librarians across the United States of America used personal digital assistants, smartphones, and other handheld wireless devices in their institutions.
A large percentage of librarians compared to other society indicated that they are using wireless handheld device with the variety of ways. According to Bethell, “the digital revolutions are like an express train taking people to an unknown destination” . In 2013, the released of Sony Xperia M features single and dual-Sim options for entry-level smartphones, and it has one of a kind feature that is not found in most high-class devices or camera close button for speedy snapshots anytime . Another device or tablet that most of the kids love to take, and keep on a road trip with the family; these are smart iPads and smart iPhones. These devices are useful for educational and entertainment purposes; there are thousands of applications on smartphones designed for kids and mostly free to both entertain and educate children smartly.
Moreover, smartphones help people to be superhuman. The book “The Mobile Wave” highlighted one of the many superpowers of a mobile phone, the tablets that are granted to humanity. It enables people to video any events, can alter the course of global politics potentially, and tools for fighting corruption, promoting politics, buying stuff, improving education, bolstering memory, and access to health care. The Swiss Army argued and just like other authors that if tablets and e-readers are included in the mix, the mobile devices are close competition to computers and laptops; its usefulness in life and business, respectively.
According to Bischoff, “my hesitancy has nothing to do with cost; rather, the reason is a fundamental belief that such technology has more downside than upside when one takes a big-picture view of the situation” . However, arguably, smartphones are the critical productivity enhancers. One of the reasons that mobile technology is interesting in a unique manner, in the world is that it represents the fifth wave of computing. Smartphones have superpowers that offer features that are futuristic. For example, the digital X-ray or known as terminator vision outlined by Google. Another development of mobile technology, in rural parts of Africa, schools that have no textbooks incorporated smartphones as an information source.
The Media and Community Networking Committee provided a result of a research that identify that the mobile technology or smartphones have positive influences for the students. In Harvard University, mobile phones are used to bring health care to some remote areas of the world. The most significant role of smartphones to the people is that smartphones have many features to run the applications and change the society for the better. If superman can fly, then mobile phones fly infinitely. It implies that mobile phones can help people do everything; smartphones are big hits in the market every day.
Since the new smartphones are released in the market, people cannot stop their faces to digital screens . In 2010, Amber Case said during a lecture at TED Women, “it is not that the machines are taking over, the machines are helping people to be more human, connect people to each other, and help people live their lives for the better. Despite the effects, there is one direction where the adaptation of mobile technology that is an up direction. In 2011, there are nearly 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide . Many companies provide Smartphone mobile services; these are Apple, Windows Mobile, Android, Palm, Symbian, and Blackberry.
There are many applications available in these smartphones. For example, the users of iPhone and Blackberry can call a toll-free numbers and record memos that seek for area code lists and scheduling appointment. Some of the applications apart from iPhone are iFitness and iBreath that can prove to be helpful for smartphone users. Smartphones are arguably used for social networking and internet browsing. The users can browse, receive, and send emails at an extreme speed. The users can communicate directly with friends and relatives using the instant messengers, for example, Yahoo and Gtalk. Smartphones applications are very popular and become an integral part of the lives of the people and society as a whole.
People become addicted to smartphones and users become slaves to these devices; however, smartphones have a very important role in peoples' lives and the society. More users are addicted to social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook. The users can access the websites and post comment or poke friends anytime or anywhere with the help of smartphones. Among the Americans, smartphones are very popular for them. As reviewed by Ericsson Consumer Lab, one-third of Americans access smartphone applications such as Facebook. People at their behavior are driven by an obsession with smartphones . It implies that people are addicted to smartphones; equally become slaves to these devices. The users cannot wait to check their phone right after they hear the tone that signals the arrival of the messages even in the middle of their work, or meeting.
According to Bischoff, “I do not believe that is healthy. If the engine is left to run around the clock, it eventually will run out of gas. I think the same holds true for humans. I wonder whether the time will come when people become so burned out from having to be "on" all the time that productivity will plummet” . A growing acceptance of technology in a society meant attitudes have changed towards children who are using tablets and smartphones for fun. The parents are proud of the media consumption of their children. They let their children play apps in the restaurant, in the car, waiting at the doctor's or home on the sofa. Alternatively, there are no doubts that smartphones improve the lives of the people in an easy way. Posting on the wall on Facebook and sending a tweet on Twitter are some of the examples how smartphones help people to keep in touch and communicate with family, friends, and other people in the society.
In learning, smartphones make students lives easy when finding answers of their questions by simply browsing on the internet anytime and anywhere. In a business, users who receive emails through their smartphones can help develop the business with good profit. More advantages are being experienced by some users than its disadvantages. As long as the user knows how to balance his time in using the device, more likely they can be able to improve their lives better. It is better that the smartphone companies should maintain the competition to improve the mobile technology. Smartphones are changing the world outstandingly. It is expected that future smartphones should include the reduction of negative impacts on the society and should increase the positive impacts.
Works Cited
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