Introduction
The advancements made in the field of technology have irreversibly changed the way people live, communicate and perform the everyday activities. Some of the routine duties have disappeared, yet humans experience the extreme shortage of time and energy to perform all the activities they are wiling to do. The digitalized tools have replaced the everyday practices. The reading and writing have also been affected by these changes. Some technologies brought negative consequences to people’s lives, while others were positive. One of such technologies, which had positive influence on the literacy practices, is the iPhone 6s Plus. Its design, option and functions provide many new opportunities for the educational process and meet the requirements of the modern literacy practices. This paper is going to discuss the basis characteristics of iPhone 6s Plus, establish criteria of its evaluation and analyze its impact on the improvement of language learning and literacy techniques.
Personal Evaluation of iPhone 6s Plus
The apple company has not stopped improving and making its Iphone 6s product superior both in terms of hardware and software. It has a sturdy and outstanding brand image. I have never been using the phones of Apple Incorporation, before the production of iPhone 6s Plus. This model has become my first Apple phone, after the years of using the many other products (Sony, Samsung, Fly). Obviously, getting the phone of Apple has become a new experiment for me. My friends and relatives strongly recommended this phone for me, stating that it has better functions and properties, in comparison with the models of other manufacturers. My choice of phone depended on many factors. Particularly, I was interested in many applications, quick services, games, comprehensive design and multiple options for image and video editing. Moreover, I prefer devices with a loud sound because I usually use my phone with the aim of listening to music. As a college student, I also care a lot about taking short notes using the phone, calendar and reminders which assist me with organizing my leisure time, as well as my schedule of classes.
In addition, I was looking for the phone with the long life battery, since there is not always a chance to charge the phone, on time. Moreover, as I spend plenty of time on campus, it may be difficult to find the place for charging the phone. As I like to take photos and do selfies, it is also very vital for me to choose the phone with a high quality camera. Analogically, tis interest calls for the high memory storage in order to save the pictures.
Before buying this device, I have asked opinions of many people, who had already used it. Similarly, I have looked for different commentaries and remarks about the phone, on the Internet. Several times, I have asked my relatives to show me the phone on practice in order to get better imaginations about its functions and working capacities. After the long considerations, I have decided to purchase this phone and use it for surfing the internet, taking short notes, texting and using social network applications.
Evaluation Criteria of iPhone’s 6s Plus Impact on Literacy Practices
It is possible to set the following evaluation criteria of iPhone 6s Plus, which contribute to the promotion and facilitation of literacy and language teaching. To start with, the first criterion is the memory. The iPhone 6s Plus can have different memory size, depending on the technical characteristics (Ferro, Helbig, and Gil-Garcia 7). In any case, it is possible to say that its memory storage is sufficient for saving plenty of information, needed for the literacy teaching. For example, the phone can store up to 128GB of information, in different formats (Wee, 2016). Thus, it provides numerous capacities for recording, taking, producing and storing the educational information.
The second criterion of evaluation is the camera. Iphone 6s has image stabilizers that are optic though the old and the new generations cameras have 12 pixels. The introduction of retina flash enables a customer to take photos in the absence of light. Before capturing the image, the feature produces light that illuminates the display and also conserve speed autofocus. The built-in camera supports 4k video that can operate at 30 frames per second capturing over 62 megapixels. The users get Sharp and clear images than the previous Iphone 6s (Wee, 2016). The quality of camera plays an important role in literacy practices. With its help, it is possible to conduct on-line classes, watch videos and presentations, record new information and report about it to the others.
It is also essential to evaluate the criterion of speed. The new Iphone 6s comes with a sophisticated and finer 64-bit processor. It has an improved transistor with high-quality architecture that saves energy, 70 and 90 per cent quicker at CPU and graphics operations respectively than A8. The energy efficiency utility allows the users cut cost on their energy expenditures. The Iphone 6s is both user and environmentally friendly. According to A. Wee (2015), the iPhone 6s Plus is considered to be one of the fastest mobile phones ever. Obviously, this is a great advantage of the model, as it allows analyzing and processing huge amounts of information, in a short period (Ferro, Helbig, and Gil-Garcia 9).
Another important criterion of iPhone 6s Plus is the index of its battery life. The producers inform that the phone can work up to 14 hours, in the talk regime. Moreover, the phone can play audio files up to 50 hours (Wee, 2016). Such characteristics witness about the possibility to use IPhone 6s Plus without recharging, during a long period. This option is very important, as many learners have to work, outside their homes. As a result, there is frequently a need in recharging (Wee, 2015). The iPhone 6s Plus guarantee long period of functioning without recharging. Correspondingly, the learners can process more information, acquire many new skills and experience without wasting time and efforts.
Finally, the important evaluation criterion is the existence of a variety of applications. The new software and mobile applications comprise of useful information, regarding the language and literacy practices. The iPhone 6s Plus offers both conventional and interactive methods of teaching and provides innovative tools and practices of acquiring literacy and language skills (Hutchison, Beschorner, and Schmidt‐Crawford 22). Overall, it is possible to assume that the new iPhone 6s Plus possesses all the needed characteristics for the effective learning. The analysis of the evaluation criteria allows making the right conclusions about the productivity of iPhone 6s Plus and its role in the literacy and language teaching.
Overall, the iPhone 6s Plus plays an important role in the modern educational process and highly contributes to the promotion and development of the language and literacy skills. The design of the phone, its numerous functions, options and technical characteristics make this model a useful technology in the new literacy and language teaching practices. The analysis of the evaluation criteria shows that the phone meets the new requirements of the educational process and provide many capacities for the effective studies. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that iPhone 6s Plus is a fruitful innovation, in the field of literacy and language practices.
Conclusion
Thus, the new context of scientific and technological progress innovates all spheres of human life, including the field of education. Consequently, new demands to the teaching of literacy and language skills appear and call for the modernization of existed methods of education. Many users have already appreciated the positive features of iPhone 6s Plus, in teaching literacy and language skills. The evaluation of its characteristics and possibilities allows stating that this phone strongly assists in education and presentation of the learning materials. As a result, it is possible to recommend this phone for the usage in educational purposes.
Works Cited
Ferro, Enrico, Natalie C. Helbig, and J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. "The role of IT literacy in defining digital divide policy needs." Government Information Quarterly 28.1 (2011): 3-10.
Hutchison, Amy, Beth Beschorner, and Denise Schmidt‐Crawford. "Exploring the use of the iPad for literacy learning." The Reading Teacher 66.1 (2012): 15-23.
Wee, Alex. "Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs Apple iPhone 6s: Who'll win the duel?.", 2015.
Wee, Alex. "Here's is how they upgrade 16GB iPhone 6s to 128GB!" Power, 2016.
