I chose to explore the term "smart phone" because it is so ubiquitous in today's society. I started reading one article from June of 1996 and began to learn about the smart phone before it was in everybody's pockets. They described the phone as something that would make reaching the internet easier and more affordable for people. I also read an advertisement from the Chicago Tribune. It was using the term smart phone as a new operating system that would help making calls easier and putting people on hold more efficient. This advertisement said that it will make phone calls more efficient and businesses could be more profitable. At this time this use of the term was very different from what it is used today. I believe that is because this technology is so much ahead of the time today when compared to 1988. People couldn't even imagine that a phone could also help you explore the internet. At this time a lot of people didn't even know about the internet and its wonders. An article in the Los Angeles Times called, "Those New Private Pay Phones: Some Won't Get the Messages: CONSUMERS" discussed the idea of these new "smart phones" that were private pay phones. It was actually funny to read this article and hear them talking about a private pay phone as if it is something so crazy. They said that these phones are smart because of a processing chip they use to make the phones have callback options that don't use a centralized network. After reading some articles from today's scholarly sources it became clear of some of the stark differences. It makes sense that the term "smart phone" is used so differently today. In the past, phones were called smart because of hardware updates that seemed revolutionary. Today that is also why they are called smart, but the affect of these technological advances on our society is staggering compared to the past. Some might even say these "smart" phones are making us dumber. Only time will tell where phone technology will go and what affect it will have on our consumers.
I find it very interesting that you not only compared the physical differences of the "smart phone" from the 1990s and today, but also what the term 'smart' means to people in society. It certainly does raise the question of what 'smart' will look and be like in the next five years or so. Do you think it is making us dumber?
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely thought provoking and intriguing to realize that the original intentions of the smart phone may be very different from what the smart phone has evolved to in 2014. It appears that it was mainly meant for business people, but now many young children in society have smart phones as well.
ReplyDeleteI found this very interesting, especially in the way you compared the public's perception of the "smart phone". I loved the comment on how these phones are called smart phones, but they may make us dumber. It is interesting to think of what is to come in the future? What new technology will be considered smart?
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