Sustainable Issues on Mobile Phones in the UAE - Case Study Example

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Sustainable Issues Related to Mobile Phones in UAE

Introduction

Mobile phones have formed an essential part in the lives of most people in UAE and the world as a whole. GSMA (2016) has approximated 3.6 billion mobile phones subscribers globally with about 7.5 billion SIM connections. This has been linked to many benefits that are got from the uses of mobile phones from communication, to entertainment and doing business services. However, despite of such benefits, mobile phones have also come with various drawbacks that have seen its increase in use having negative effects. Such negative effects have been viewed in the environment and human health. The components of mobile phones include arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, which when discarded, leach form their place of decomposition to contaminate water and soil due to their toxic nature. Furthermore, there sue can cause damage to the brain and hearing. Mobile phones have gained an increased use in UAE dues to advancement in technology and thus have prompted the question of its sustainability.

This paper entails discussion of high use of mobile phones in UAE taking into consideration the various aspects that are related to sustainability. The paper tackles the causes for the high rate of mobile phones use in UAE and then its effects on the people of UAE economically, socially and environmentally. Furthermore, the article comes up with recommendations to curb such effects for the protection of the coming generation.

Causes

Overview

There has been an increase in the use of mobile phones in UAE, with many companies coming up with more advanced feature to fit in the current technology. Its increased use can be linked to positive impacts that are widely experienced within the society, with people viewing phones to have made life easier. The relationship and association within the public life has been made easier with an improvement in education and creation of new communities. Furthermore, the discovery of smart phones have made it easier for individuals to engage in photo shooting, listening to music, play games and provision of services for location such as maps and various apps that have made life more enjoyable. Adoption of Smartphone among individuals connected rest at about 51% in Europe with &0% in North America, giving an impression that the sue of such phones have increased worldwide including in UAE. According to Mirani (2016), such adoption rates are expected to reach between 70% and 80% coming 2018. The major aspects that have made the use of mobile phones high in UAE include: Education, entertainment and communication.

Communication

Mobile phones form one of the major communication equipments known globally and within the UAE. People had taken mobile phones as the preferred and easier way of communication, with many business people finding doing business in UAE very easy. Mobile phones have thus formed the preferred mode of operation due to their ability to track communication faster and link a large number of individuals within no time increasing its use within organizations, entrepreneurs and activists. People will either communicate through use of SMS, making a call or through the apps that have been developed and incorporated into the smart phones. Such apps include Whatsapp, Facebook, and Messenger among others. Furthermore, the advanced technology has made it easier for the mobile technology to be sued in money transfer, paying of bills and getting medical advices or services. These benefits have made the use of mobile phones in UAE high, with the recent survey by YouGov showing how motorist in UAE communicate using their mobile phones, stating emirates to be consisting of the highest numbers of traffic offenders (Serkal and Reporter, 2016).

The founder of Road safety UAE, Thomas Edelmann ones stated that, “It is upsetting seeing only 26% of motorist to avoid using their mobile phones when driving. Distracted driving has been among the top accidents causes leading to deaths and injuries in the roads of UAE and all this have been linked to the use of mobile phones behind the wheel.” (Serkal and Reporter, 2016) According to the survey, about 74% of the drivers have been shown to use their mobile phones for incoming calls, with 19% and 14% from incoming messages and outgoing messages respectively Serkal and Reporter, 2016) (Figure 1). The above survey has thus shown us how the use of mobile phones for communication is high in UAE.

Figure 1: Survey on Mobile Phones Use in UAE by Motorists.

Entertainment

Innovation of Smartphone has made has made the sector of mobile phones to be a good source of entertainment in UAE. Most people are now relying on mobile phones to play games, to watch live games, to listen to music, to watch videos and events to watch live events from various countries. This has been made easier by various apps that are usually downloaded into the phones. Such benefits have made many people within in UAE to go for Smartphone increasing the number of Smartphone owned by individuals. This has also increased the population of students owning mobile phones as they fit in the age groups that enjoy such benefits.

Education

Mobile phones have also made learning easier and more enjoyable. The internet have made in easier for students to look for learning material and information through the use of Google. UAE students and business men can now goggle anything from the internet in seek of clarification. Furthermore, the existence of smart phones has made it easier for entrepreneurs to locate areas by use of maps and also in location of business institutions that has enabled carrying of business easier. Furthermore, tablets have been incorporated into learning institutions that has made it easier for distance learning and sharing of learning materials. All these have also seen an increase in the use of mobile phones in UAE.

Effects

Overview

The high rate of mobile phones use in UAE has been found to lead to various effects both positive and negative. This has seen the mobile technology viewed differently with various scientific researches showing evidence of such impacts. Use of mobile phones in UAE has been seen to lead to increased economic growth, environmental damage and health issues.

Effects on Economy

Through mobile phones, the economy of UAE has experienced positive impacts from such technology. Several studies in microeconomics have suggested economic growth to be linked to mobile phones (The Economist, 2009). According to Sridhar and Sridhar (2004), there has been a relationship between economic growth and telecommunications. Furthermore, there has been a positive significant impact of mobile telephony on economic growth (Waverman et al. 2005). Also, the investigation by Lee et al. (2009) has shown that the expansion of mobile cellular phone is significant in the determination of growth in economy. UAE has experienced economic growth through mobile cellular phone expansion. Such impacts are seen in regions where there are fixed-line phones (Qiang, 2009). It is through mobile phones and technological innovations that Emirates Identity Authority has come up with smart government where the customers are allowed to check its services through the mobile phones and tablets. The customers have been allowed to apply the smart apps that were launched in mobile phones, which enable various services related to ID cards and transactions (UAEINTERACT, 2013). Further innovations within UAE in connection to mobile phones is still underway with the coming generations waiting to enjoy the full benefits of such advancements, which will make their lives more easier and of higher standards.

Effects on Health

Generally, mobile phones have been proved to have various negative effects on the health of users. A research was carried out on the issue, done on students, with many students using mobile complaining of frequent headaches, backaches, eyes redness, neck pains and limb pains (Acharya et al. 2013). Some neurological symptoms are believed to occur due to frequent mobile phones use such as sadness, headache, irritability, memory loss, anxiety and lack of sleep. WHO had grouped use of cell phone as a nuisance to health and radiation form mobile phone as carcinogenic. The effects on mobile phones on health has been linked to brain tumors and damage of fertility and genes (Senthil and Sakthi, 2015).According to the UAE New paper article, UAE24 there has been questioning on the cause of brain tumors by mobile phones by the authorities. Dr. Suresh had explained an increased in glucose on the side of the brain where the mobile antenna is placed for more than 50 minutes which is believed to cause the issue. Furthermore, constant use of earphones have the patients complaining of one sided headache and issues related to hearing (24 and George, 2016).

Effects on the Environment

The high use of mobile phones in UAE has been linked to lead to environmental degradation. The poisonous substances that are found in the mobile phones can leach into the groundwater or soil ones they are decomposed. Mobile phones have currently been brought under scrutiny in connection to their sustainability and their adverse effects to the environment. The consumption of energy from the batteries of mobile phones is believed to lead to environmental impacts from devices. The emission of Carbon oxide that are closely connected to total consumption of energy from the 3G mobile phone life cycle can be compared to emissions got from driving a car at a distance of about 65km to 90 km or the use of 4.5-6 litres (Senthil and Sakthi, 2015). Furthermore, the recycling of wastes got from the mobile phones also leads to environmental hazards and contamination of soli and water hence threat to fish and wildlife. Also, the mobile phones consist of various electronic components that also have effects impacts on the humans and the environment (Senthil and Sakthi, 2015).

Solutions

Overview

The minimization of negative effects of mobile phones in UAE will need incorporation of various strategies and recommendation especially with the manufacturing companies and the users. Some of the solutions include: elimination of hazardous materials, users participation in manufacturing and reduction of exposure to mobile phones.

Elimination of hazardous materials

The manufactures should focus on energy efficiency, smart packaging and use of materials sustainably. The company should dedicate itself to the employment of environmental specialist who plays roles in the project of product developments. These specialists should be involved in the verification of legal, environment and voluntary substance implementations from more suitable choices of material that are energy efficient and provision of sustainability reports.

Users Participation in manufacturing

The manufacturing companies should come up with measures needed to empower customers to make choices that are more sustainable. For instance, the company can come up with a rating scheme for assessments of handset on scale as ethical or accountable environmentally. Such idea will see the manufacturers responding to answers by customers concerning the environmental and social impacts on each and every phone all the way its life cycle up to the use and disposal by the consumers. This will see manufacture of mobile phones that are more sustainable and environmental friendly.

Reduction of exposure to mobile phones

The reduction of exposure can be done through:

• Use of landline phones where available
• Minimizing the length of calls through mobile phones
• Use of hands-free kit
• Not carrying a mobile phone that is switched on close to the body
• Choosing a model of mobile phone with low specific absorption rate

Conclusion

The technologies of mobile phones have been accepted fully in UAE and globally. However, the mobile phones have shown to have inherent features which are hazardous to both the people and the environment. However, the technology of mobile phone has also shown to have positive impacts on the economy leading to its growth. There has been minimal information concerning the effects of mobile phones on the human and environment that will call the need for further research on the area. Carrying such researches will lead to theoretical ideas that will be used in the minimization of toxic effects. There is therefore the need of the manufacturer, the government and the users to collaborate to improve the confidence of the consumer on design, manufacture and consumption of energy within mobile phones.

The founder of Road safety UAE, Thomas Edelmann ones stated that, “It is upsetting seeing only 26% of motorist to avoid using their mobile phones when driving. Distracted driving has been among the top accidents causes leading to deaths and injuries in the roads of UAE and all this have been linked to the use of mobile phones behind the wheel.” (Serkal and Reporter, 2016) According to the survey, about 74% of the drivers have been shown to use their mobile phones for incoming calls, with 19% and 14% from incoming messages and outgoing messages respectively Serkal and Reporter, 2016) (Figure 1). The above survey has thus shown us how the use of mobile phones for communication is high in UAE.

Figure 1: Survey on Mobile Phones Use in UAE by Motorists.

Entertainment

Innovation of Smartphone has made has made the sector of mobile phones to be a good source of entertainment in UAE. Most people are now relying on mobile phones to play games, to watch live games, to listen to music, to watch videos and events to watch live events from various countries. This has been made easier by various apps that are usually downloaded into the phones. Such benefits have made many people within in UAE to go for Smartphone increasing the number of Smartphone owned by individuals. This has also increased the population of students owning mobile phones as they fit in the age groups that enjoy such benefits.

Education

Mobile phones have also made learning easier and more enjoyable. The internet have made in easier for students to look for learning material and information through the use of Google. UAE students and business men can now goggle anything from the internet in seek of clarification. Furthermore, the existence of smart phones has made it easier for entrepreneurs to locate areas by use of maps and also in location of business institutions that has enabled carrying of business easier. Furthermore, tablets have been incorporated into learning institutions that has made it easier for distance learning and sharing of learning materials. All these have also seen an increase in the use of mobile phones in UAE.

Effects

Overview

The high rate of mobile phones use in UAE has been found to lead to various effects both positive and negative. This has seen the mobile technology viewed differently with various scientific researches showing evidence of such impacts. Use of mobile phones in UAE has been seen to lead to increased economic growth, environmental damage and health issues.

Effects on Economy

Through mobile phones, the economy of UAE has experienced positive impacts from such technology. Several studies in microeconomics have suggested economic growth to be linked to mobile phones (The Economist, 2009). According to Sridhar and Sridhar (2004), there has been a relationship between economic growth and telecommunications. Furthermore, there has been a positive significant impact of mobile telephony on economic growth (Waverman et al. 2005). Also, the investigation by Lee et al. (2009) has shown that the expansion of mobile cellular phone is significant in the determination of growth in economy. UAE has experienced economic growth through mobile cellular phone expansion. Read More