Mobile Phones
Enhance: It is hard to imagine our world without a cell phone in our pocket or purse, but at one time, we were all connected by some type of cord leading from our telephone to the wall of our home. By cutting this “umbilical” cord, we are able to go wireless for a variety of reasons, and by going wireless, we have also enhanced our lifestyle.
Obsolete: Because of the mobile phones, pagers and CB radios became obsolete. The use of phones connected to homes in a traditional landline format is also becoming obsolete. The landline telephone has decreased considerably, and it is due to the increase use of mobile devices (McGlaun, 2008). Mobile devices continue to become easier, better, and offer services landlines could not match or even compete. One service that has increased the use of mobile devices is the access of the Internet. When users can access the internet and communicate with others on their mobiles, the landline telephone cannot keep up.
Retrieves/Rekindles: I remember my father and uncle using CB Radios in their rigs moving across country delivering petroleum. It was amazing to talk to someone we didn’t know and get information about the roadway or potentially hazardous conditions from people who cared simply because we shared the same profession. This type of relationship connection either on the road or in the basement of someone’s home was delivered through wireless devices.
Reverses: Mobile phones have opened the door to more than communicating with others across the world. It has opened the door to multimedia messages including written and visual modes of communication. Through the use of smartphones videoconferencing has also been a possibility. Downloaded applications have increased its importance in business and in the future will be a tool used for a complete list of business operations. As Internet commerce increase, mobile devices will also play a significant role in how people buy and sell merchandise.
S McGlaun. (2008, April 4). Cell Phone Usage Increases as Landline Usage Decreases. Retrieved from http://cellphones.about.com/b/2008/04/04/cell-phone-usage-increaes-as-landline-usage-decreases.htm.
Hello Wanda,
ReplyDeleteYour blog has an abundance of information. You took me back in time with CB radios. The point you make about communicating on the road with cell phones reminds me of an important factor that contributed to Kentucky not banning talking on cell phones while driving. Officials stated that some personnel such as Real Estate agents often use their car as their office. Cell phones provide the agents access to communication at most locations where communication signals are available.
The ability to communicate with being restricted to a cord is convenient. Cell phones have gotten cheaper. Even the high end smartphones are cheaper with promotional incentives. McGlaun (2008) stated 9 of 10 adults own a cell phone in 2008 (para. 2). The statistics indicates that cell phones are a normal means of communication. Although the number will never be 100 percent with cell phones ownership, what is your opinion about the statistics of smartphone ownership with adult users in future?
References
McGlaun, S. (2008, April 4). Cell phone usage increases as landline usage decreases. Retrieved from http://cellphones.about.com/b/2008/04/04/cell-phone-usage-increaes-as-landline-usage-decreases.htm.
Hi Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the increased use of videoconferencing on smart phones. I think that is something I neglected to consider when working the tetrad. Right now there are still some issues that need to be worked out with that technology on smart phones, not so much the programming piece but proprietary apps (Facetime, Skype, etc) on various cell phone platforms and billing for usage. I honestly can't wait to see if videoconferencing for mobile devices really takes off, as I expect it will.
Thanks for the input guys. I added the actual picture of the tetrad to the post because I realized you two could only see it in text format with Google docs.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are upgrades that can be made, and I am sure many corporations are back to the "drawing board". I believe the tip of the ice berg has just been reached when it comes to the potential of cell phones impacting our interaction with others on personal and professional levels.
~Wanda