Considering the general increase, both in number and demands by the worldwide public. And due to the fact that you might have one, used or probably have seen one in use somewhere who knows where and at what particular time. Possibly wondering, What are mobile phones about? Let’s get a detailed glimpse of these so called mobile phones and how do they impact our lives?
What are mobile phones about?
The first question we mostly would be asking ourselves is what are mobile phones. By definition, mobile simply means that which is moving. So, from the definition stated a mobile phone is a telephone device with access to radio frequency system and can be used over a wide area. As it does not need a physical connection to the network or service providers. But rather requires wireless connection. The first mobile phone was introduced in 1973 weighing about 2 pounds and 10inches long. Ever since then the sizes of mobile phones has been seen to reduce in weight, width, length and thickness inclusive. From the earlier generation of mobile phones. There are mainly three types of mobile phones that have transpired over the past decades.
- Feature phones: sometimes called dumb phones are one of the earlier phones that led to the development of smartphone. Due to their lack in handling of intensive application development found in most of today’s smartphones that allows third party application development like Android and IOS as they where not developed to handle such. Retaining the form factor of earlier generations, they are the middle range devices between low end phones and smartphones. Low end phones could only allow dialing and text messages with no feature beyond that while smartphone went beyond that of feature phones. Even though they have an added advantage over basic mobile phones developed during earlier generations of just voice calling and texting messaging. You can’t download applications as they use a proprietary custom-designed software and user interface. But still offer web browsing, basic multimedia and emailing. Built with a button based input, a small display, possibly with a digital camera, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband they still don’t exceed the functionality of smartphones.
- Smartphones: with the desire to produce more advanced mobile phone better than some desktops and laptop computers, this desire grow more and more with the introduction of GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) which was introduced in 1991. Distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems. Which facilitate wider software, internet such as web browsing over mobile broadband, and multimedia functionality like music, video, cameras, and gaming, alongside core phone functions such as voice/video calls and text messaging. Making them the most advanced of all mobile phones.
- Kosher phones: these are some smartphones that are programmed with internet filters, that are limited or restricted in some ways. The access to various app and website is considered prohibited or disabled. Due to the Jewish standard orthodox of religious restrictions that phones with messaging functionality should not be used by children. Observant Jewish orthodox who use these devices to save lives and reduce the risk of death. Due to the fact that during sabbath the use of these mobile phones or electronic devices is prohibited. This natural restriction of text messages and internet has spurned the whole industry in phone news and information.
The ideal concept behind mobile phones.
The idea behind mobile phone is to introduce a whole new concept, on how we do our daily things. By enhancing and enriching our day to day experience though the advancement of mobile technology. Built and advanced from the daily challenges we face, mobile phones are the ideal life experience that every user would want to experience with faster and easy communication with friends, families and loved ones. Or for communication during business or academic activities. It enables the sending of document from your file selection and may also have advanced apps that can scan documents, that might be important without the use of a scanner. From the introduction of the first handheld mobile phone in 1973, we can see that as time goes by, mobile phones are advancing with each day that goes by. Others say sooner or later mobile phones will take over the computer world, where people stop moving about with their laptop computers and prefer to carry around their mobile phone. If you have observed and taken note. You will find that there are some mobile phones that have more processing power than some laptop computer. Making the earlier assumption maybe true. Most today’s smartphone hardware consist of mainly large RAM, a high end CPU, a high definition display screen, 3D camera, large battery and a large storage space.
Structural composition of most mobile phones.
- RAM: an increase in RAM size will allow you to run more applications simultaneously without experiencing lag compared to a smaller RAM. When you run an application or game, it consumes a specific amount of RAM until you close it, that’s the reason why today’s smartphones have RAM’s ranging from 2GB to 10GB or even more, for better experience.
- Display Screen: When it comes to the display sharpness, you must consider the combination of the display size and display resolution because both affect the pixel density. Pixel density is measured in Pixels Per Inch(PPI). The higher the PPI, the sharper the screen display. Thereby giving you a better experience.
- CPU: The central Processing Unit also affects the performance of the smartphone measured in gigahertz (GHz) and the number of cores. The overall speed and performance of the smartphone are generally determined by the combination of RAM size, CPU specs, and the Operating System. (For more information on CPU’s feel free to read “How to compare CPU – Getting the best of it” )
- Camera: the smartphone camera helps you capture good quality photos, with the introduction of dual-camera which allows you to capture wide-lens photos. Making you to never miss any moment in life.
- Battery: the length of battery life is affected by many factors such as display size, type, and brightness, CPU efficiency, Operating System, background running applications and your own usage. You can still have a clue by looking at the battery capacity of the smartphone battery which is measured in mAh. The more milliampere hour (mAh) the more durable your battery is.
- Storage Space: the storage size of today’s mobile phones, is already big enough for users to store music, photos, videos and large files, mostly all of these smartphones allow the use of a micro SD card which can double your storage. Making it even more adequate for users to store more things on there phone.
The smartphone OS is the main operating system within most of smartphones. With features that allow the use of mobile devices for app development such as those of IOS and Android operating system. They are many operating systems with only a few to mention. This advancement has also led to the development of track systems within mobile phone that use the GPS(Global Positioning System). This enables you to track it if stolen or lost, it can also help you find your way back home if you get lost too.
How do they impact our lives?
One of the most obvious impact of mobile phones is the improved communication feature that fulfills man’s basic needs of being connected to their loved ones and friends, anywhere and at anytime. Our traveling is also enhanced as you can book a hotel reservation, flight or bus ticket using a mobile phone. It reduces us from carrying a lot of gadgets by just allowing us to only carry our smartphone. Unlike feature phones and some kosher phones that are restricted in some way. Smartphones have advanced applications such as google maps which helps you in finding directions and preventing you from getting lost. Some features like google translator help you in communicating with the locals as you travel around the globe. The inbuilt cameras of some smartphones are way advanced that they help you in capturing high dense resolution photos and videos of every moment as you travel or maybe not traveling. With many more apps that help easy our life as students, workers or coworkers, friends and with family.
During cases of emergency one can easily call for help, using their mobile such as healthy personnel or the police depending on which type of emergency. It also helps parents be in touch with their kids during business or social travel as communication is made way easier. The advancement of mobile apps has also eased the way we conduct business or school programs. As we can share, edit, copy, cut-and-paste on any document and pass it on to next person that requires the documents. This has also improved the interaction and participation of both workers students all across the globe
Disadvantages of mobile phones
The core disadvantage of mobile phones is battery lifetime as it needs charging from time to time. It maybe a useful device after all but once the battery runs out it may become a useless device at that point shattering all your programs and leaving you look a little stupid. And Can even cause you to lose out on clients. We all mostly have this genius idea of carrying our personal or important information in our Mobile phones. As this is a disadvantage because of cyber crime out there. Once your mobile phone is lost with all the important documents in it, you become a subject to cyber crime as you don’t know who has your information and what they can do with it(also feel free to read more about the pros and cons of digitalization ). Looking at the network coverage area, even though your mobile device is subject to mobility. Not all areas are covered by network or cell towers, which means despite it being mobile you can’t communicate.
Apart from there usefulness, mobile phones are also a healthy hazard to human kind. Due to there emission of radio frequency energy, in a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation which are absorbed by tissues close to the phone. The microwaves range from 900 to 1800MHz. As this can promote or induces cancer, causing symptoms like sleep disturbance, memory problems, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Problems also arise from their general dependence on our day to day life, which causes stress sometimes.
Conclusion
Although, they are of great help on our day to day life, mobile phones also have there cons. Having proven to be useful in our personal lives either business, work, social or academic life. Mobile phones manufactures are busy improving on their product each and every day for the betterment of man kind. Feel free to leave a comment about mobile phone and what you think.
It’s amazing how we have become addicted to our cell phones. I panic when I can’t find my phone, LOL. I love how technology continues to improve and a downside is you’re always connected. I normally travel for my job so I always have my cell phone for my family to get in touch when needed. They are definitely convenient to have the web at your finger tips!
They are truly addictive and also a good gadget to keep as the help in keeping loved ones closer. when we travel for business or on vacation.
Hi Volkert. Thank you, mobile phones are really changing how we go about our daily lives. For me personally, I have to remember sometimes that i have a family to take care of and have to put my phone down or switch my laptop off. This is not always easy as i have a single goal to improve my current situation.
Hello Donna106, i think they are also addictive as they tend to draw most of our attention. Forgetting most of the important things we are supposed to do too.
Interesting Question. Made me check it out. I don’t remember the first mobile phone I purchased. it was pretty basic. I think I have gone through at least 7 smart phones since my first android. I had a Blackberry when they first came out. I have never owned an apple iphone. My family has not convinced me to switch.
Hello Gilbert, mobile phones keep advancing each and every day that goes by. And every time you purchase a new device, an advanced model is being showcased on the market. Overall its barely hard to keep up with technology all the time.
Good day, I’m pleased to come across this important information. Knowing what mobile phones are all about is so crucial. It can help one to purchase the kind of mobile phone which will suit the intended purpose which may space, graphics, display and many more. This is very helpful, thank you so much for providing this crucial information.
Hello Kokontala, am glad you found this article useful and the importance of mobile phones. You will also find some other articles useful too if you stick around, like “Prons and Cons of digitalization“.
Well this has definitely hit the top of the list in terms of most interesting articles that I have read in the entire week. I know it’s only Monday but I don’t think anything else this week will top of this. The reason why is because I have never stop to think about my mobile device the way you have presented it here. I really appreciate this food for thought and I am actually going to stick around and surf around your site more
Feel free to stick around and learn some more. A glad that it hit top of your articles this week.
First of all, I never heard of a Kosher phone. Thank you for broadening my world! The technology that has come into being in just a few short years is amazing. 20 years ago we could never imagine the world we hold now in the palm of our hands but now we take it for granted (and get mad at our phone when we have to charge it!!) Thank you for a rundown on this great tool.
You are most welcome Cynthia and am happy for broadening your world, please do stick around you will learn one or more things to add to your knowledge base.
I can still remember when as a child my dad brought home a mobile telephone and how we crowded around him to see what he was showing us. We could not believe that one could have a telephone without wires! Nowadays anybody and everybody has a mobile phone and don’t even think about it.
It has certainly made it so much easier to connect with people around the world. Even if they do have some disadvantages, I cannot see myself operating without my mobile phone.
Not surprising cause i also still do remember in the late 90’s when i first saw one, and we were like okay that’s something new we are seeing here and this was the time when the mobile industry was expanding rapidly.
It is hard to imagine a world without the convenience of our modern mobile phones. I think we have all become so accustomed to having access to connections with friends, family, and business associates at any time, from anywhere. It’s been amazing to watch the fast progression from the first cell phones from the 1990’s to the smartphones we love today! Thanks for the fun lesson about these modern marvels!
It has been a truly fast advancement with mobile technology and to some point, we are becoming addicts to them. Cause I can barely sleep without touching my phone.
This is the first that I have read about Kosher phones. I think that they would be good to use for children.
As a child, there was only one phone in our house connected to the wall. Now, every child always seems to have a smartphone with them. The camera feature is one of my favorite parts of a mobile phone.
Once you own a smartphone your life changes, I believe for the better.
From the camera feature I can tell you like selfies, and the advancement of smartphones has also made learning easier for children to with parental guidance always in check. With more exposure to e-books and tutorial videos.
Thank you for this article, I have to say that humans have become addicted to mobile phones and the market for them has totally skyrocketed, phones are now so advanced that I am sure they will surpass computers in the future as the high-end phones of today surpass that of computers in price, I am definitely very dependent on my phone. The world is all about socializing and communication today, what better way than to do so on our phones.
The best way of communication is by phone, although it can’t breach the gap between the affection we get from face to face interaction. And the advancement of mobile phones has been remarkable over the pass few years hope we get to see some more advancement with technology.