Cellphones

Lives Before Cellphones vs. Now: An Incredible Transformation

            Within technology advances cellphones are one of the most important inventions in the last years. Most of people including kids, teenagers, young adults, adults and older adults own a cellphone. Indeed, according to Smith (2012), “Some 85% of American adults now own a cell phone of some kind (…)”. What is curious is that it is not common to meet a person who do not have a mobile. A cellphone can be an extraordinary tool with several advantages for people in order to make their lives easier. Incredible applications are one of the reasons why people is constantly at their cellphone. For example, some apps that call for people’s attention are related to pills reminder, water reminder, receipts, alarms, and exercises. But is there a cost for it? Since cellphones are an extension of people’s arms a lot of factors have changed and not specifically for good. Comparing people's lives before and after cellphones exist there are three main aspects where the differences are notable. 

            The first aspect is the interpersonal communication. Communication around people have changed since people own a cellphone and cannot stop using it. However, most of the cellphone users have lose the capacity to think where it is or it is not appropriated to use a phone. Because people cannot stop using a mobile, their relationships have suffer as a result. According to Rian (2014), “In 2006 face to face communication was 81%. While in 2010 it decreased to 72%”. People nowadays prefer to send a message rather than meeting in person. On the contrary, before cellphones exist people sat at dinner and talked to each other instead of updating Facebook’s timeline. Some of the actual couples expect quick responses or they will believe that the person is not interesting on the conversation or something worst. On the contrary, none of this problems happened before because people have more face to face communication and the only way to interact with others was by meetings. People used to talk about how their days were at the table and prepare meetings to catch up while people now choose to send pictures or messages instead of dating.

            Besides personal relationships, health is another aspect where the difference is remarkable. Now people is using their cellphone while driving which is really dangerous. On the other hand, people before prefer to concentrate on the road and the number of distractions was less. Another point related to health is the known phantom vibration syndrome which means that people feel that the cellphone rings or vibrates but it is not. However, according to CBS News (2016), “But some believe it's a warning sign that too much technology may be hazardous to human interaction”. This may not be consider as an illness but it shows how the excess use of a cellphone can provoke that the brain activates a kind of hallucination. Of course, this could not have happened before. The final point is the uncomfortable and inadequate postures that people usually take for using a phone and this is more obvious when someone is walking without looking up. This common positions cannot be safe neither healthy to the body while in the past this was not something to worry about. 

            In addition to personal relationships and health, the addiction is the final aspect to compare. The use of cellphone have become an addiction just as the same addiction for an alcoholic or a drug user. According to Frenkel (2014), “For example, when a smoker can’t get his cigarettes he feels stressful and anxious. It is the same when we can’t get our phone or when our battery is about to die”. It is shocked to think that a cellphone can have the same effects than nicotine or cocaine have. In the past people got stress or anxious for normal situations at job for example; however, people now get constantly concerned by a simply device just because he did not receive an expected email or it is not working fast. Also is clear the amount of the addiction when students do not leave their cellphone in class; in consequence they get distracted. Another example is that people can forget their wallet at home, but never their cellphones. A long time ago did not exist something as a cellphone to depend on, so this characteristics were not present by a technology device.

            In sum, personal communication, health and addiction are some of the aspects where cellphones have influenced human beings’ lives. People need to focus on what is happening around them because they are missing little things. It is necessary that people notice that also exist a life besides the virtual one. Even though cellphones are a great tool with a lot of benefits it is necessary to have a balance between its uses and to establish priorities. Now that you know that an incorrect use can lead relationship problems it will be better to think twice if you want to get out your cellphone at dinner. Even more important, if you want to be safe and sound better keep your phone away while driving. In the past they did not have a device as a mobile so better take advantage of its benefits before it take advantage of you.

References

CBS News (2016, January 12). Phantom Vibration Syndrome common in cellphone users. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/phantom-vibration-syndrome-common-in-cellphone-users/ on May 24, 2017.

Frenkel, L. (2014, October 20). Why we should rethink our relationship with the smartphone. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgo65s1R6TM on May 24, 2017.

Rian. (2014, April 02). The impact of mobile phones on us! Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKXhnnzLNH4 on May 24, 2017.

Smith, A. (2012, November 30). The Best (and Worst) of Mobile Connectivity. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/30/the-best-and-worst-of-mobile-connectivity/ on May 24, 2017.