Advanced Technology: Acquiring Unique Culture of Cell Phones - Research Paper Example

due: Advanced Technology: Acquiring Unique Culture of Cell phones Abstract The paper is a research based where there is an insight in cell phone culture. There is a detailed analysis of this culture vividly expressed in events occurring in the author’s life. The paper compares the culture under discussion to formal English and gives a conclusion on cell phone culture future perspectives from the research. Introduction Since the year 1983, cell phones have evolved with a very high rate. It has happened in the functions and designs as well. During that period, a cell phone could only be used for communication purposes only. However, in the recent days, they are used for very many functions, for example playing videos and running very many applications among many other functions. Very many cell phone models have been produced since 1983. By that time, the mobile phones had a very large size thus they were used in cars since they could not fit in pockets. However, the cell phones that are being produced of late have a small size thus they can fit in the pockets. By the year 1983, very few people had cell phones. This is because they were very expensive and they could be afforded by only the people who were financially well off. However, of late, very high percentage of the people have mobile phones. Cell Phone are very essential and they have become very cheap thus, many people can afford them. This has led me to wonder: Are the cell phones advancing with time? The question leads to the thesis statement that is on a cell phone culture. Thesis statement Cell phone culture is a literacy that is through experience and love for technology among interactions with friends. Cell phone Culture. When I bought my first cell phone, all I could use is for is calling, receiving calls and sending text messages. During that time, it was the best phone that one could acquire. However, today I cannot buy a cell phone that is not internet enabled. This is because I get to use the phone to access my mails, keep contact with my friends on the social sites, and carry out researches (Easter Marilyn 295). My phone also has a camera and by that, I can take photos anytime I feel like since I always have my cell. I was able to come across this cell phone from a friend. One of my friends in school had this phone and he could show us of how awesome it was. At time, he did not have to use his laptop to research for his assignments since he could use his cell to research. He was able to download great applications from the internet thus he could never get bored since there were many things that he could do use his cell among them being playing games, listening to music, and chatting with his friends through the internet as well. It motivated me to buy the exact model since it turned out to be a cell phone that has good features. I no longer require using my laptop to carry out researches since I can use this phone for that purpose. I can chat with my friends from all over the world using applications, for example, Whatsapp that do not have any charges required when communicating with people that are outside my country. It is now very easy to receive pictures, and videos from people no matter where they are in the world. This has helped a lot in building my social life since I can now interact with people who are of various races and cultures as well. By that, I am able to understand people according to their cultures and races as well. That is crucial since people will not have to discriminate others since they get to interact thus getting to understand each other. Interaction with the Phone Culture To understand all the functionality of the phone and the choice of my phone was inspired by the trend that was in the generation. At an early age, I was a reserved person and did not interact with the world. Technology evolved and phones were the new trend in the world (Ozcan 1753). There are 7 billion mobile phone Users where half of this number are the youth. The youth is as generation X, Ozcan in his journal state the preference of generation x phone is the smart phones. The trend was popular in my college and I got to interact with phone culture in detail at the campus. The culture was a popular trend and other instruction offers the choice of a smart phone or a laptop. Acquiring Cell phone culture Just like any other culture phone culture is spread through the senses and literacy. The culture is dependent on other cultures of reading but, also require love to technology. My peers at school and a newly found love of technology spearheaded the encounter with a more detailed and advanced phone culture. The new culture, made me buy a Samsung galaxy S5 a state of the art phone. Just like any other literacy learning the culture, has its own words and synonyms. However, the phone culture is unique in a way that it utilizes short form of words (Benard 210). My initiation process started with admiring my friends phones phone and I decided to buy a much better phone. I read the manual and got acquainted with the basic features of the phone. My friends were very inspirational in initiating me into the culture by showing me shortcuts and must have softwares. The process involved the consultation and few insults but, I still persevered the mockery and wanted to be fully initiated into the digital world. During lunch time and weekends was my tuition time. The lessons are unlike the formal academic literacy courses as they were so practical and full of adventures. This fact makes the entire process interesting and easy to learn. The process of reading and writing The process of reading and writing in the phone culture purely involved SMS and emails. New up programs like whassup and instogram were my tools of practice. It was difficult to comprehend the new terms as lol, bff and lol. The meaning of this new terminologies was different as discussed in the subsequent subheadings. My friends were very instrumental in bringing up top date with new slang in cell phone culture. Most of the words and terminologies made texting easy and exciting. However, to observe the culture was a bit of a challenge as I was used to writing full words when expressing my emotions. The certain change in the way of writing made my reply chatts online slower but, I improved with time. Important texts in acquiring phone literacy culture. The phone literacy culture has unique texts that are age dependent and the forum that they are being used. Most of the time the texts are in the social context. This text had a big impact in my acquisition of the phone culture. They are easy to write and speaks volumes. They are mainly emotional words that assist the targeted audience to understand the composers emotions clearly at the time. The acquiring literacy on the slang was important as it empowered me to participate clearly in conversation, in chat rooms and text my friends. The most common terms include LOL the slang implies an emotional feeling that is of happy and joyful emotions the full meaning is lots of love or may also referee to laughing out loud. ASAP this is a slang for as soon as possible. It is when one is in a haste or want something with urgency. BFF the slung represents best friends forever. It is a common slang among the feminine gender. It is mostly used to comfort each other and affirm strong platonic love. OMG, the slang is used to show astonishment. It is in describing the shock and its full meaning is oh my God. PLZ this slang is used in a different context to express different meaning. It needs a supporting statement that dictates its meaning. The words refer to please and they may be used to express discomfort with the chart and one needs a break from the conversation or an emotional plea for something or service. C%I the slang incorporates a mixture of letters and symbols. It has a simple meaning of cool. It is when one agrees with an idea or is okay with the events in the text. The slang is a symbol of satisfaction. BZ the two letters refer to busy. They are when one wants privacy or is no longer interested in the talk. ,!!! The use of pure symbols is the difficult ones to comprehend. This pair refers to "talk to the hand". It is most common among the ladies and it means that one is feed up with talk and no longer see it as important, but it is a waste of time. 121 Phone culture also uses pure numbers. This is not arithmetic but one to one. The slang is used to win the confidence of the audience (Goldblatt 156). Significance of gaining literacy on the phones Culture The literacy is important to be able to be at peer in a conversation. The new culture uses figures, symbols, letters, and a mixture of both to present meaning to words. It is relevant to acquire a new culture to fit in the digital community that uses phones precisely the x generation. Comparison of Formal English language and the Cell Phone culture English language is well organized and has a set of rules that govern its writing (Adams 45). Phone culture mostly is disorganized and has no rules to govern its writing. The culture is based on the current trend as new words are added daily. Formal English is widespread and requires time and dedication to learning. However, Phone culture is easy to comprehend and depends on prior knowledge on formal English. The culture is easy to learn, as it is more practical than Formal English. Difficulties in acquiring American English before and after the study Phone culture is a culture that corrupts formal English. It is easier to learn and understand formal English prior to acquiring phone culture. This is because phone culture uses English words but in a short form. However, a student that learns phone culture then starts to learn formal English will have difficulties in class. Phone culture incorporates some animations to communicate that is absent in formal English. Conclusion Phone culture is taking the world by storm. Its popularity is at the young generation and the innovation and invention in technology used in phones. The culture requires practice and some tutor so as to fast track once understanding. Phone culture is dependent on current trends and is new in the worlds but here to stay. Works Cited Adams, Michael. Slang: The Peoples Poetry. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Benard, Wei C. and Kolko. "Studying mobile phone use in context: cultural, political, and economic dimensions of mobile phone use." Professional Communication Conference. Sidney: IEEE International, 2005. 205-212. Easter Marilyn, Schommer-Aikins Marlene and Vitale Robert. "!Win2: Developing a Culture of Proffesional Use of Techonolgy in the on Ground-Classrooms." ASBBS Annual Confrence. Las Vegas: ASBBS, 2012. 291-299. Goldblatt, Liu Zhenyun and Howard. Cell Phone. Portland: University of Hawaii Press, 2011. Ozcan, Aydogan. "Mobile phones democratize and cultivate next-generation imaging, diagnostics and measurement tools." Lab Chip (2014): 1753-1766. Read More