Debating Mobile Phones

While reading this week's chapters on Personal Computers and Mobile Computing, I couldn't help but to reflect upon the technological advances that we have made in modern day society. In my opinion, one of the most amazing advances in technology is the mobile phone. It is actually quite remarkable - in a matter of seconds, we can have any data, entertainment, or social media at our fingertips. We are able to store more data than ever in less space than ever, with "gigabytes of storage capacity in a space no larger than a fingernail" (Baldauf, 2013). We are able to save Apps, assignments, schedules, and dates on my smart phone with a breeze. According to the chapter, we are now equipped with "Touch screens, tiny keyboards, voice recognition, wireless headsets, and even head-mounted displays..." (Baldauf, 2013), all of which go into making mobile devices easier and more user-friendly than ever before. However, with such advances, we face several issues as well. One, mentioned by the reading, is that "people feel that they are always on call and on duty", which leads to "burnout" (Baldauf, 2013). Sometimes, I feel like I can never have time outside of work or school without receiving a phone call from my boss or an email about an upcoming assignment, which, at times can be stressful. Another caveat stated in the reading is that we face "issues of etiquette" and "issues of safety" (Baldauf, 2013). These are compelling arguments that I seem to experience every day. I often find myself questioning whether or not it is appropriate to text or use social media in a certain setting, which goes hand-in-hand with he issue of safety. Now more than ever, there are more people using mobile devices or other technologies while driving - causing dangerous situations on the road. The debate on technology and mobile phone usage is a very controversial one. Do the challenges that technology creates outweigh the benefits the technology provides? Though I am curious as to how life was prior to technology, I simply cannot imagine life without it.

Baldauf, Kenneth. "Digital Technology." Emerge With Computers V. 5.0 Cengage-hosted Printed Access Card. N/a: Cengage Learning, 2013. 1-2.2. Online Access Code.