Visual timeline of telephone transitions (Photos taken from Google)
-Enhances: Cell phones put the power of communication at one’s fingertips with a few taps of a button on the screen. Often many people conduct much of their business needs from their cell phones which may include sending emails, browsing the internet, having group conferences, sending pictures, finding a location with GPS, or even downloading and reading a book through the e-book format from their phone.
-Obsoletes: Cell phones have revolutionized the way people communicate and because of this cell phones have eliminated many people’s need for personal computers and laptops. Others have started downloading their textbooks to their phone, rather than purchasing the hard copy. Often people are satisfied with having only a cell phone and no longer see the need to have a house phone or land line phone because it would just be an extra expense (www.mainstreet.com).
-Retrieves: When people use their cell phones to retrieve emails and create messages it rekindles a time when people created or received written messages with telegrams. Although people are less likely to sit and write on paper like they once did back during the era of telegrams and correspondence, creating a message using a cell phone is the closest form of it using this type of technology.
-Reverses: To expand on my thoughts further about how cell phones or smart phones can be used in the future they may be able to complete dental scans for cavities, check for intoxication before someone drives their vehicle, scan for cancers or even just a simple sunburn scan. Monitor obesity and scan food for toxicity, as well as be a portion control gauge meter. Smart phones already have the capability to set various alarms which is occurring through ADT with the Pulse system for example (www.adtpulse.com), as well as start and unlock cars and check fluid levels in the car. It may be possible for these same smart phones to be the steering component or autopilot command center for cars in 2015, (as our classmate Sullus mentioned in this week’s discussion) when this capability does come to fruition.
-Brandy
ADT Security. (2011). It’s not just security, it’s peace of mind. Retrieved http://www.adtpulse.com/home/what-is-pulse/
Critchell, J. (2008). Cell Phones vs. Landlines: The Surprising Truths.Retrieved http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/budgeting/cell-phones-vs-landlines-surprising-truths.
Cellphones as we know it already do a lot of things. Do you think that the device that will be able to do all of the things you mentioned in your Reserve section will still be considered a cellphone?
ReplyDeleteI see the good and bad in having one technological device that can control and store so much of our life. Security and ethics is something that we battle with now using our cellphones. How do you foresee these categories adjusting to the technology changes?
The cell phone is such an exciting current technology that I think has become an engaged technology not just in the United States, but also around the world. Even common people in third world countries rely on this technology to communicate with those around them as easily as we do here. The technology that I chose was Smart Phones and was very similar to yours. I liked your reverse description where you presented that our mobile phones can be used for medical purposes in which teeth can be scanned for cavities, a function could interface with security systems, and even the ability to unlock and control our cars. What do you think the next progression in this technology will show?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous tetrad. There are so many comments I want to make from personal experience working in the cellphone industry. When I worked for the cellphone company in the late 80's early 90's, cellphones were primarily a device used in emergency situations when your car was broken down, today cellphones are a main means of communication. At the time of the early 90's, cellphones were just starting to use technology that would allow communication between computers on a cellular level, which changed the cellular industry immensely. I think the most important industry was the decrease in cost of equipment and of minutes on the device. This opens up the communication to a new level of population. The cellular industry has come a long way since my days of using the phone for emergencies only.
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