The One thing you definitely cannot live without
Nowadays a look around in even the most rural areas may yield a scene like the busiest cities. People heads looking down at their smartphones engulfed in whatever that tiny (or not so tiny) screen has to offer, which is a lot by the way. A smartphone is a mobile cell phone that can do a lot of functions of a computer.
The change in physical form factor went from physical buttons to clamshell design to the now ever-popular bar shaped phones. From making phone calls and taking notes to video-chatting with someone on the other side of the world and asking your phone to play your favourite music track, the smartphone has become a staple in many people’s lives.
Some of the functionalities offered by a smartphone are:
- Making phone calls
- Sending text-only messages or SMS
- Sending instant messages (like those through WhatsApp)
- Taking pictures or videos
- Finding out the weather
- Finding out directions to wherever you want to go (Waze or Google maps)
- Browsing the internet
Integrated into smartphones nowadays are virtual assistants. The popular ones are Siri (from Apple), Alexa (from Amazon) and Cortana (from Microsoft). They digital assistants work by saying their name and asking them a question or saying what to do. For example, you could say “Siri, book a meeting with Jane and Peter at 4pm on Wednesday”.
There are some dangers involved with smartphones usage. A common, world-wide danger with mobile phones is texting and driving. And more generally non-hands-free mobile phone usage. The upsurge in medical apps prompted government regulatory notices and, in some places, laws have been enacted. Also, becoming addicted to your smartphone is a serious issue.
Recent research, points out that a high SAR emitting smartphone might be an issue. SAR stands for Specific absorption rate and is the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body after being exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field.
So, given the nature of the smartphone, can you live without it? What issue do you find most pressing? Let us know in the comments below.
So true; I can't remember how life was without a smart phone must less without a cell phone.
ReplyDeleteNah I'm PC fo Life. But when outside phones all I got for entertainment, honestly still better than a silly tablet. I mean why pay the same for it if it can't make a phonecall. (I remembered Skype but that doesn't count)
ReplyDeleteOnce you get used to something its very hard to let go and change, after getting used to a smartphone I wont want to go without one. I can if I had to, but life would be a lot more difficult, especially when you want to avoid someone you can be engrossed doing so many things on your phone, not only making a call or sending a text message! lol
ReplyDelete