University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Linguistics

Assignment Done in Partial Fulfilment of the Course: Introduction to writing skills

II
Course Code: ENGL 112
Topic: Mobile Technology
N.D: The mobile phone
T.Q: Has the development of the mobile phone influenced the world for the good
or bad?
T.S: The development of the mobile phone has brought both good and bad
contributions to the world.

Instructor: Machogu. O

Student: Nyasha Dhliwayo (SDHLNY1431)

Standard Outline
1.0 Introduction
1.1 History of the mobile phone
1.2 Growth and Evolution of the with time
2.0 The good/positive contributions of the mobile phone.
2.1 The ability to multitask.
2.2 Increased efficiency and convenience
2.3 The mobile in the business world.
2.4 The global social contributions of the smartphone
2.5 Open Data Access
2.6 The smartphone a personal assistant.
3.0 The negative attributes associated with the mobile phone.
3.1 Addiction
3.2 Laziness
3.3 Information overload.
3.4 Health Challenges
3.5 Insecurity and loss of confidentiality
3.6 Anti-socialism
4.0 Conclusion
4.1 Overall effectiveness and Influence of the mobile phone.
4.2 The future of mobile technology

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1.0 Introduction.
1.1 History of the phone
Since the dawn of man, man has been trying to find ways to communicate more effectively and
faster since he lost his one-dial connection with God. We see human beings down the ages
inventing different way of communicating to each other. From the early times to the 1600s we
see human beings using drums, trumpets and horns to signal, inform and communicate messages.
As effective as these methods were they were not as efficient and reliable enough as men wanted
them to be. Henceforth pushing man to find some better ways to establish communication.
The later centuries came with their amazing discoveries, such as man discovering electricity. The
discovery of electricity and the determination of man to communicate led to the invention of
electronic communication methods and the phone being one of the inventions that later gained
the communication industry and market because of its effectiveness compared to the other
systems.
1.2 Growth and evolution of the mobile phone
The first electronic methods of communication included the telegraph and telefax amongst many
others. With these methods the population was surprised by how fast we could send messages
using electrical wires and they thought that this was the best technology of all-time. However,
this was just the beginning of the information age that later was going to be led by the phone
now known to us as the smartphone. It was not long after the telegraph when the first landline
phone was born. It was a very good tool and much more effective than the telegram. However,

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the only problem was that it was stationary so you could not move around with it. Nevertheless it
was a big step to the always connected or constantly online world we now live.
The development of micro-chips and solid-state devices helped make this device smaller. With
the ability to even compress all the wiring and circuitry into a smaller space came the idea of
inventing an even smaller phone that was not limited to the house like the landline, a phone one
could move around with and be able to stay in touch. It would be more efficient as you could
now communicate with someone in a different geographical location instantly by dialling their
number on your phone and communicate in real-time wherever you were. Thus the mobile phone
came into existence.
As people saw how more productive we could be with the aid of the mobile phone. Engineers
and technologists decided to make further improvements to this device and make it even smarter
thus the name smartphone came into place. Back then this was nothing but a concept in
engineers minds, and to the ordinary population this was nothing but sheer nonsense and
insanity from mentally disturbed minds of technologists and engineers. As we found ourselves in
the 21st century we found this technology a fact no longer a joke or dreams of engineers.
The invention of the mobile phone has brought very good contributions to the world and the fact
that it has played and is still playing a big role in the way we live is a fact that cannot be denied
by any individual, because we all feel and experience the domino effects of the mobile phone in
our lives daily whether they be for good or for bad we are still impacted.
2.0 The good/positive contributions of the mobile phone.
2.1 The ability to multitask

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One of the advantages that the smartphone has brought is the ability to multitask. For example
one can be calling and at the same time using that same device at the same moment in time to
play games, surf the web or as a map/ mapping assistant. Our phones have gotten so smart to the
extent that you can use it to monitor certain things while you do other demanding duties, an
example could be a case where you are in your office and you left the dinner on the stove ready
to cook when you come back, but you cannot make it back home in time. As long as your stove
is connected to your home network or the internet you can actually start cooking by controlling it
with your smartphone. You can be physically absent but still be as effective as if you are there in
person carrying out the duty.
2.2 Increased efficiency and convenience
With the ability to multitask, the smartphone has also enabled us to be more efficient and has
brought with it convenience. Instead of us taking our time to monitor each and every event of the
day, we can assign our phones to undertake several of the processes whilst we give our priority
to the most demanding thus enabling us to be more efficient. In all of this efficiency and ability
to multitask we realize that the phone has made life convenient and easy for us. Some years back
one would move around with a briefcase or handbag full of their day to day necessities such as
debit and credit cards, ID, documents they would use in the course of the day and a list
reminding them of the appointments and commitments of the day, but now all of these loose
stuff can be located on one device that can be able to work as your debit/credit card, reminder,
computer, ebook reader, game station etc.
2.3 The mobile in the business world.

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Furthermore the business world also receives its piece of the pie from this technology by us
being able to make transactions in the comfort of our offices and being able to have mobility in
our businesses, where one can be able to access his documents from anywhere anytime and be
able to work even if you are not in the office. As they say in business mobility can enhance
productivity, as workers are not constrained to their desk in order to perform everyday business
tasks and duties thus businesses are empowered.
2.4 The global social contributions of the smartphone
Socially mobile technology has played and is continuing to play an important role. It has made
people become much closer with each other through texting, social networking apps, video or
voice phone calling and many other ways. It provides users various contact ways to satisfy
different needs. People can choose the most comfortable and suitable way for themselves to
contact friends and families as they wish to. People are now able to share and quickly tweet with
their friends instantly and share those most cherished moments with loved ones thus increasing
the bonds between loved ones by constant connectivity.
2.5 Open Data Access
Mobile technology has allowed the world to have information on its fingertips and at the blink of
an eye. The moment something transpires the world has it at the click of a button or at the touch
of the screen. This ability to have information at our fingertips has enabled us to be powerful and
well informed in terms of whats going on or trending in our community. No more trouble in
finding solutions to problems that might give us fits, just go on the internet and Mr. Google will
have the answers already.

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2.6 The smartphone a personal assistant.

One of the greatest capabilities of the modern phone is its ability to be a personal device that can
be customized to suit our needs and specifications. The modern mobile phone has the ability to
be personal and specified which enables people with different disabilities and views to be suited
in their state. There are options for the blind to dictate to the device and it performs the command
for them, the dumb can type their way through and still get the same results as those who are
physically fit. One can also choose how complex they want their user experience to be according
to their experience with the device.
3.0 The negative attributes associated with the mobile phone.
As much as the mobile phone has brought a lot of good contributions it has also brought some
negative contributions that are worth taking into consideration.
3.1 Addiction
The invention of the mobile phone has made us serious slaves to it and very dependent to the
technology. In other words we have become serious addicts to technology. According to R.
Coyne as of 2011 when different people of different age groups were asked how addicted were
they to their mobiles phones, 37% of adult smartphone users admitted high levels of addiction
to their phone, while 60% of the teens admitted their high addiction to their smartphones. As of
2014 according to a survey carried out two of three people couldnt do without their devices,
meaning that only one in three could at least survive without their smartphone the other 66%
could not afford such a loss.

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3.2 Laziness
Since the smartphone made its way on the market a lot of people have become lazy and lazier to
the extent that when given a problem to solve people quickly turn to their smartphone to search
for answers on google and many other internet sites thus encouraging people to become more
and more lazy. Tardiness has creeped, instead of people undertaking issues quickly so that they
can start on the next pending issue. Tasks are performed sluggishly because individuals know
that the phone can do the rest of the tasks for them and if they do not do it in the office they still
can do it on their way home, at home or wherever they are going. Issues dealing with
procrastination have also increased as people count on their phone as a back-up to accomplish
their office work and to just google everything rather than take their time to think and formulate
something. With laziness has come the loss of brain power and the ability to think critically in
citizens and particularly the young upcoming generation as they no longer want to think of ways
of solving problems in their area of study, community and day to day tasks. The world has
become a victim of brain drain.
3.3 Information overload.
With our phones with us everywhere we go, we are constantly updated of all information coming
in and we are constantly connected to the world through our live tweets, Facebook updates, text
messages, voice calls and other social updates that keep on flowing non-stop depriving us of
some time to rest and take a break from daily cares. Information overload is not good for anyone
as it can cause stress levels to rise.
3.4 Health Challenges

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Amongst all the disadvantages we face from the extensive use of the mobile phone, there are
some serious issues that tend to be a threat to our health and well-being. These include
radioactivity from the mobile phone. The radiation from the phone is said to be quite harmful
with prolonged use and contact with the body. Some scientists have proved that the radiation
might be contributing to the rise in brain cancer and cancers of the head as these are the body
parts that are mostly close to the device when making calls. Other health hazards that have been
linked to the phone include arthritis although the risk has been slightly reduced by the use of
touch sensitive devices. Eyesight problems have also been linked to the phone with opticians
claiming that too much exposure to the screen of the phone will affect your eyes as the screen
emits some radiant light that might lead to obscure vision and finally loss of eyesight.
3.5 Insecurity and loss of confidentiality
Most people value their privacy so much and research has shown that information is very hard to
secure on our devices as people can hack the system and use or distort the information. When a
person is calling or texting a friend somewhere service providers can be able to tap into the
conversations and use them against an individual. People can be able to determine where you are
by tracking your device and thus your steps and all your activities can be determined to the dot.
Your information can be automatically saved on sites you visit and can be seen by your service
providers or network administrators, so to a greater technical extent there is no confidentiality as
your info can be dissipated all over the internet and is at the mercy of all internet users.
3.6 Anti-socialism

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The invention of the phone was meant to increase the family ties, friendly bonds and to basically
increase or influence communication for the better, but as time has progressed it seems like the
smartphone has made us antisocial beings who are always magnetized to our devices and fake
communication on our devices rather than our neighbours we cross on the street each and
every day. Surveys have shown that people in our days are quick to know and interact with
someone far away whom they have never seen than their neighbour who stays next to them or
across the street.
4.0 Conclusion
4.1 Overall effectiveness and Influence of the mobile phone.
As much as phones have brought bad contributions to the world they equally have brought some
good contributions. The phone is only as effective as is the users self-control, and know how. In
the final analysis the disadvantages we face from the invention of the phone are basically due to
us lacking self-control. Generally mobile devices have brought very good contributions that we
need to consider and appreciate. The graph below summarizes results obtained from
questionnaires answered by different individuals in a research carried out by Pew Research
Centres Internet and American Life Project, (2012)

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We do greatly agree that life would never be the same if we were to take this device away from
our lives. The evolution of information technology along with mobile technology shows how
humans lives have been changed through the assistants of our digital devices. When we speak of
the advanced information technology today, mobile technology which is basically the mobile
phone or smartphone cannot be ignored. According to the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU)s report of the world in 2010, 90% of the world population had access to mobile
networks meaning that they had some sort of mobile phone. To add on to that it was estimated
that mobile devices were going to replace PCs in a variety of ways and in many fields when
people are surfing the webs, communicating, getting entertained and conducting business.

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4.2 The future of mobile technology

The future of the mobile phone looks promising and filled with new discoveries that are going to
make the phone even more powerful. This is a fact that cannot be denied as we have seen the
mobile phone grow and evolve in the past decades years it has found itself in existence. In fact
we will see more advanced mobile devices a couple years from now. With the continuous
improvement and growth of technology the future is far from imaginable to the general human
being with a short spectrum of imagination. We moved from the big hefty block phones to the
slim button phones and from there to the full touch screen mobile and to the ultra-thin
touchscreens and probably the next will possibly be as slim as paper or a virtual phone you will
simply touch or project in open air.

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