Impacts of Smartphones on the Society - Literature review Example

Running Head: Impacts of Smartphones on the Society Impacts of Smartphones on the Society Name Course Institution Lecturer Date Introduction Convergence of computing and communication for portable consumer gadgets continues to evolve in order to bring interoperability, as well as influence the functions and services from all industries. In the process of convergence, smartphones form the top devices on the fore front taking on the role of collective mobile terminal. In the field of marketing, the term ‘Smartphone’ was launched in the market to refer to a new type of mobile phones, which provides incorporated services from computing, communication, and mobile services including messaging, voice communication, and wireless communication capacity (Zheng & Ni, 2006). According to Sarwar and Soomro (2013), a Smartphone refers to a mobile phone that has advanced functionality and features past traditional functionalities, such as making calls and sending messages. Smartphones have the capabilities of displaying photos, playing games and videos, video and audio playback, recording, as well as sending and receiving e-mail. They have a built-in camera, and incorporated apps for surfing the internet and accessing social web sites. Due to these features and functions, smartphones have now turned out to be a common preference for consumers together with business uses, since it was at first designed for exclusive business use. This essay will talk about the introduction and uses of smartphones. It will also cover ideologies surrounding smartphones, audiences aligned with them, and their impact on existing media and on the society at large. History of Smartphones Osman et al. (2012) assert that, the word “smartphone” first appeared in 1997 when Ericsson’s GS 88 Penelope was described as a Smartphone. The initial cellular phone incorporating PDA features was a prototype made by IBM in 1992, which was demonstrated in the COMDEX trade fair. In 1994, BellSouth marketed a refined edition of IBM’s prototype to consumers, which was named Simon Personal Communicator. The device was capable of making and receiving phone calls, and receiving and sending e-mails, pages and facsimiles. The Simon had a number of applications including a calculator, address book, electronic note pad, predictive and standard touch screen keyboards, handwritten annotations, and games. Nokia launched its Nokia 9000 in 1996, which led in the market. The device was a palmtop computer-design phone that incorporated a PDA made by HP (Osman et al. 2012). At the beginning of 2001, Kyocera 6035 was introduced by Palm Inc. The gadget combined a mobile phone and a PDA, operated using Verizon Wireless network, and supported minimal web browsing. Kyocera 6035 was used mainly in North America. From 2002 to 2004, HTC’s Falcon, Himalaya and Wallaby models, which ran the operating system for Windows Mobile, became popular in Europe. HP released iPaq h6315 in 2004, which combined its former PDA with cellular ability. In the recent years, more advanced types of smartphones have been introduced by various mobile device manufacturers, such as Samsung Galaxy and Apple’s iPhone series (Osman et al., 2012). The Initial and Current Use and Significance of Smartphones According to Sarwar and Soomro (2013), recent surveys demonstrate that, smartphones’ popularity is rising at a higher pace among the general public than in corporations. When smartphones were first introduced in the market, they were simply perceived to be used in carrying out business activities by commercial entities because of their applications and cost. However, at the present, the society is a frantic Smartphone society, which is flooded with smartphones from different mobile gadgets’ companies, which offer a variety of advanced services and functionalities. Sarwar and Soomro (2013) further maintain that, today, smartphones allow consumers, publishers, business organizations, and advertisers to better engage with others, and socialize using the ever-present experience provided by this advanced platform. In the business field, income statements revolve around the operating expenses and revenues. Due to the ever-present nature, as well as social acceptance, smartphones can now be found in educational institutions, public places, government offices, shopping malls and hospitals. Representation of Smartphones in the Media Sarwar and Soomro (2013) argue that, smartphones have introduced a great change in peoples’ lives. Individuals enjoy immense comfort in technology advancement. Currently, people find things easier and view them on the basis of technology. In this case, smartphones play an important role by providing users with a better platform for accessing a wide array of applications and communication. The main use of smartphones is entertainment and getting connected to other people across the globe. Smartphones offer learning alternatives to users, better ways of communication, simple ways of accessing applications, enhanced exposure to most recent things, and a platform for growing alongside technology (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). Disruption of Smartphones on Existing Media According to Evans (2013), the introduction of smartphones has affected existing media in a number of ways. To start with, due to the various functions and applications that smartphones are capable of, their introduction has seen an increased use of the internet. A growing number of people are using their smartphones to browse various websites, chat and share ideas, videos and photos on social networks, send and receive emails, as well as access news. On the other hand, Evans (2013) observes that, the introduction and development of smartphones has had a negative impact on other media. The main impact has been on the use of ordinary phones and on the PC market. The usability of smartphones far much outweighs that of ordinary phones. As a result, there has been a shift from the use of mobile phones to make calls, text, access emails and share photos. Evans (2013) further observes that, smartphones have affected the use of PCs and laptops. Unlike in the past when people used to use their PCs and laptops to access the internet, a big percentage of people are now using smartphones to post photos, read and send messages, post their status updates, as well as peruse news feed. Market results for 2011 showed that, shipments for smartphones are more than those of PCs (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). The current smartphones are highly powerful compared to the desktops that were being used a decade before. In addition, in the recent years, upgrades of PCs have become less significant with developer activity stagnating on the platform of PCs. The long dominating Intel and Microsoft alliance is going through a hard time because of the launching of tablets and smartphones, and demands to acquire market share in mobile gadgets’ market is leading to breaking of long-term partnership between manufacturers of mobile devices (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). Audiences that Realign with Smartphones Drill (2012) maintains that, whether an individual owns a Smartphone or not has a close relation with his or her age and level of income. While the overall penetration of smartphones remained at 48% in January, individuals aged between 25 and 34 years showed the highest share of Smartphone ownership, whereby 66 percent of them said they owned a Smartphone. In this age group, 80 percent of those who had acquired a new gadget in the previous three months bought a Smartphone. Moreover, generally, among individuals who purchased a mobile gadget in the previous three months, over 50 percent of individuals aged below 65 years selected a Smartphone (Drill, 2012). However, age does not form the only main factor in owning a Smartphone. Income plays an important role as well. Putting into consideration both income and age, older users with higher levels of incomes have a high likelihood of having a Smartphone. For instance, individuals aged between 55 and 64 years making more than 100K per year are nearly as likely to own a Smartphone as those aged between 35 and 44 years making between 35 and 75K a year (Drill, 2012). Uses and Effects of Smartphones on the Larger Culture and Society Drawing from Sarwar and Soomro (2013), smartphones are used differently by different people and have both positive and negative effects on different sectors of the society. On the positive side, the internet service providers and broadband business has experienced a momentous growth in previous few years. This growth is partly owed to the growing use of smartphones, along with the growth of mobile and smartphones’ applications. Within a short period, a large number of smartphones has been retailed, which has presented businesses with an opportunity to invest in the development of mobile devices and applications. In addition, in terms of education, the increasing demand of smartphones and easy access to high speed internet presents an alternative means of delivering educational services. The internet has turned to be a part of every student’s life. Accordingly, students use smartphones to access the internet to search for information for use in their studies, as well as for general knowledge. Moreover, smartphones facilitates distance learning, which is a growing mode of learning across the globe. Using their smartphones, students are able to follow up class activities and collaborate with their teachers irrespective of time and their geographical location (Kumar, 2011). Conversely, Kumar (2011) notes that, the growing use of smartphones by students forms a major source of distraction during classes. Accompanied by their fantastic features and applications, smartphones allow students to read and send text messages, chat on social networks, check e-mails, watch certain TV channels and play games during lectures. This may distract not only the student using the device, but also those around him or her. Moreover, smartphones can aid in exam cheating, where students can browse the internet for answers, access saved notes, or receive and send answers to fellow students in form of text messages (Kumar, 2011). According to Wyatt and Krauskopf (2012), smartphones are also helpful in the health sector. Users can use them when searching for health facilities and information. They also contain a range of mobile applications that can be used to promote alternative medication, manage prescriptions, and get price comparisons of healthcare services and drugs. Smartphones also help healthcare professionals to access certain information in heath areas, such as radiology, paediatrics, neonatology and neurology. On the contrary, Wyatt and Krauskopf (2012) observe that, despite the convenience caused by smartphones in relation to healthcare services, the convenience is dangerous where patients avoid personal interactions with health professional for compulsory therapies. Video games are addictive and thus, the behaviour of children who spend a lot of time playing online games on their smartphones may be affected, especially by violent games. Socially, smartphones play a crucial role in integrating individuals with special needs, such as the elderly and disabled, by enabling them to lead independent lives. Moreover, in the current busy world, smartphones enable people to stay connected with their families and friends (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). In contrast, Sarwar and Soomro (2013) argue that, people are getting addicted to smartphones, which in turn affect their family and social life, as well as disrupt their sleep. Cyber bullying has become rampant in the society and smartphones are major means that are being used by cyber bullies. Ethical Issues of Smartphones There are a number of ethical issues associated with the manufacture and use of smartphones. First, Young Fast Optoelectronics, a Smartphone manufacturer in Taiwan was reported to purportedly forcing workers to work overtime. Most of these employees are children, and operate in hazardous work environments (World Labour, 2010). Moreover, Foxconn, a manufacturer has also been reported for several suicides among employees due to the sufferings they underwent (WorldLabour, 2010). Lalji (2007) further maintains that, Coltan is a mineral that is used in smartphones to retain electric charge. This mineral is on high demand and is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to the high demand, conflicts arise often, which affects employees as well as civilians. Furthermore, Wintek is a smartphones’ supplier and has been alleged to use n-hexane in cleaning the screens of smartphones. This harmful chemical affects the health of the employees (Branigan, 2010). Conclusion Smartphones can perform a number of functions including displaying photos, playing games and videos, video and audio playback, recording, as well as sending and receiving e-mail. The many functions are becoming a ground for consumers’ preference of smartphones. The initial Smartphone was built and marketed by IBM in 1992. Since then, more refined and advanced smartphones have been introduced by different companies. Initially, smartphones were used for business purposes, but now they are being used by both businesses and individuals. The introduction of smartphones has seen a decrease in the use and development of PCs, laptops and ordinary mobile phones. Smartphones are common among people aged between 25 and 34 years, as well as those with high incomes. Moreover, the increasing use of smartphones has led to a considerable business growth. Other sectors affected by smartphones include health, education and individuals’ social life. References Branigan, T. (2010, May 7). Chinese workers link sickness to n-hexane and Apple iPhone screens. The Guardian. Drill, S. L. (2012). Reaching Extension Audiences through Mobile Computing. Journal of Extension, 50 (5), 11-28. Evans, B. (2013, March 15). Smartphones Are Eating the World. Technology Review. Kumar, M. (2011). Impact of the Evolution of Smart Phones in Education Technology and its Application in Technical and Professional Studies: Indian Perspective. International Journal of Managing Information Technology, 3 (3), 1109. Lalji, N. (2007). The Resource Curse Revised: Conflict and Coltan in the Congo. Harvard International Review. Osman, M. A., Talib, A. Z., Sanusi, Z. A., Shiang-Yen, T., & Sani, A. (2012). A Study of the Trend of Smartphone and its Usage Behaviour in Malaysia. International Journal on New Computer Architectures and Their Applications, 2 (1), 274-285. Sarwar, M., & Soomro, T. R. (2013). Impact of Smartphones on Society. European Journal of Scientific Research, 98 (2), 216-226. World Labour. (2010, April 13). Taiwan: Young Fast accepts fines for labour violation. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from http://www.worldlabour.org/eng/node/329 Wyatt, T. H., & Krauskopf, P. (2012). E-health and Nursing: Using Smartphones to Enhance Nursing Practice. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 16 (2), 1706. Zheng, P., & Ni, L. (2006). Smart Phone and Next Generation Mobile Computing. Oxford: Elsevier Inc. Read More