One obvious trend that has started up is the use of smart phones. If you want to make a call, play music, watch movies, search the web, and use a variety of different applications, all you need is one device. Most people say this is great. I have an I-phone and I have to admit that it is an awesome device. I can call and text people, search the web, listen to music, and play all kinds of games. If I wanted to I could download thousands of other application and do basically whatever I want, all in the palm of my hand. The cause of this device is obvious, it makes life convenient. There are a lot of positive effects, as in people can have the internet and e-mail wherever they go. Most people don’t even think there can be negative effects of a smart phone. Did you ever think about how smart phones may affect the economy? Or maybe how they can be used for cheating? How about simply getting addicted to them? Despite the good effects of smart phones, there are still negative ones.
Over the years broadband connectivity has become a necessity instead of a luxury. Broadband services penetration increased from 55 percent of U.S. households in May, 2008 to 63 percent in April, 2009 (Sastrawinata para1). Despite the recession, smart phone industries continue to grow. Broadband and smart phone prices continue to climb but people seem to be unaffected. Apple reported that it sold a million I-Phone 3GS units during its launch weekend (Sastrawinata para2). If prices are climbing and more people are buying, this means that people have less money to spend on other items. Traditional landline phone companies are also taking a hit because people are less likely to drop their wireless phone than their home landline (Sastrawinata para6.) According to Yarmey-Tylutki, professor at Scranton University, "There's a lot of consensus that within the next five to ten years, cell phones will be the way that most people access the Internet most of the time (Zygmunt para4).”
If you’re a student or teacher, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Smart Phones are rapidly increasing in schools. Cell phones have even changed the way people communicate in school. Years ago, when a student would see someone they know in the hall, they would stop and talk or create small talk. Recently this has changed from small talk to simply a nod that says “hey”. A lot of students are too wrapped up in their I-phone or Blackberry to even care about anything else. Smart phones also create a cheating problem in school. In a survey 200 high school students with smart phones were asked a pretty random history question. 80% of the students were able to find the answer to the question in less than two minutes (Zygmunt para4). If I were a teacher I wouldn’t like to hear this. When doing an assignment in class, a lot of students don’t need to even use their textbook. If the student is sneaky about it, he or she can just Google all of the answers off their smart phone. Even a bigger problem is cheating on tests. On a smart phone it doesn’t take long to whip it out and find an answer. So what are some students doing when they “get a drink,” or “go to the bathroom?”
In the article Addicted to your Smart Phone - Here’s what to do, Susan Davis states: “one day I realized instant access could go too far. As I pulled up to a stoplight, I felt an urge to grab my BlackBerry out of my briefcase and check my email. Long a critic of texting while driving, I realized I was on the verge of doing just that -- just because I could. I started to understand why the phone is nicknamed "Crack Berry (Davis para2).” This is an example of a person getting addicted to their smart phone. You may be thinking, “There is no such thing as getting addicted to a smart phone.” According to David Greenfield, PhD, "we already know that the Internet and certain forms of computer use are addictive, what is the difference if it’s on a 2-3 inch screen (Davis para3).” If you have a smart phone do you feel like checking it every five minutes, whether it be your text messaging, facebook, or recent sports scores? Have you ever forgotten your phone at home? How uncomfortable are you until you have it in your phone or pocket? If you keep feeling in your pocket wishing you had your phone so you could look at something that isn’t really needed, you are addicted to you smart phone. Smart phone addiction can lead to potentially dangerous acts and not so good consequences, take checking your e-mail while driving as an example. That could ultimately lead to serious injuries and also a fatal accident. So in the end, it is important to know that smart phone addiction is a real thing.
Despite all the amazing things that a smart phone can do, there are still negative effects. If you have a smart phone or are considering a smart phone think about a couple of things. Are you going to potentially hurt the economy? Are you going to be honest when using your phone? Lastly, is your phone going to control your life? These are just a few things to think about this amazing but potentially dangerous device.
Works Cited
Davis, Susan. "Addicted to Your Smartphone? Here's What to Do." WebMD. N.p., 2/15/2010.
Web. 10 May 2010.
Sastrawinata, Lalitya. "Economic Effects: Radio, Broadband and Smartphones ." Atlantic
ACM. N.p., 2010. Web. 10 May 2010.
Zygmunt, Stan. "Research Studies Effects of Smartphone on Information Literacy." The
University of Scranton. N.p., 0/31/09. Web. 10 May 2010.
Monday, May 10, 2010
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