Introduction
In our modern contemporary society, we humans have adapted to new technological developments created to suit our changing world. The most popular form of technology created was a mobile cell phone, a device that allows individuals to freely communicate instantly through signals. This includes the ability to send and receive voice calls, as well as voicemails. The history behind the cellphone dates back to a more simplistic society in 1973, where the first cell phone device was invented by a man named Martin Cooper (Dyroff, 2018). During this time period, the invented cell phone didn’t come with cool and complex features like the cellphones made in our 21st-century era. Instead, these cellphones weighed more than 2 pounds and were limited to the basic features of just two- way calling. On top of that, these mobile cell phones were very expensive seeing as not everybody owned this new invention. (Dyroff, 2018). Fast forwarding to our modern contemporary era, we have seen developments of the mobile cellphone with inventions such as the smartphone, that enabled even more methods of instant communication. Individuals are now able to communicate globally using methods such as voice chats, pictures, video calling, email, social media applications, text messaging, as well incorporate a wireless connection to use applications or surf the internet. The development of this technology drastically had an impact on modern society, and our cultural adaptation to these devices. This essay will further analyze the shift from the modern era specifically in North American societies, since the dawn of the mobile cell phone, onto the modern era of this 21st-century generation. It will also discuss how North Americans have adapted to various socio-cultural changes, as well as changes to our daily lives as a result of the developing cell phone.
Conceptual Framework
Communication
As a result of the changing cell phone, the one aspect that has been strongly impacted is the way people communicate with each other in North American societies. The new cell phone device, also known as a smartphone, carries endless amounts of storage space used to hold data in every application. For example, an application such as Facetime requires a certain amount of storage space in order for the user to have access to video chat via a wireless connection. Instant communication has improved over the years to ensure that people can get across a message faster no matter where the geographic location the user is at. Another addition to the cell phone is the incorporation of “emotes”, which are tiny images used to express the user’s emotions when communicating with another person. Sending a smiley face would indicate to the user that perhaps you are currently feeling happy. These are just everyday practices that enable fast communication between people predominantly in societies such as North America, expanding onto a global scale.
Lifestyle
Cell phones and mobile devices are used in our everyday lives. Since the origin of the first handheld cell phone, the device has shown a dramatic shrink in its former heavier size and now onto a much smaller, thinner, and convenient size. Cell phones enable us to perform everyday tasks such as calling in sick for work, reviewing emails, set up an alarm for early morning rise, use online banking, make reservation plans at a restaurant and many more. As the invention grew from one generation to the next, creators have taken notes on ways to improve and make our lifestyles very efficient to the point where we no longer have to struggle with our tasks. An important addition to the use of cell phones is the way it has impacted our education. Going beyond the ability of people to research ideas and information, the cellphone has helped students with what is known as distance learning. This consists of the ability to “liberate students from the limitations of time and location while offering flexible opportunities for education” (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). Education thus gains a positive impact through which students can communicate with fellow peers and the teacher in or out of the classroom setting. If for example, a student is struggling with health-related issues or personal reasons, they can use their cellphone to contact their teacher or school to inform their absence as well as catch up on missed school work (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). The developing cellphone has strongly improved our modern lifestyles to ensure that our tasks are performed efficiently.
Culture and Traditions
A key aspect the has been noticed especially in North American societies is the way in which people share different perspectives on culture and traditions. Similar to a television or a much larger form of technology, the cell phone can be used to access several news sources about what is currently happening around the world. While living in America, one can find out about a war or a political based event occurring in a place such as the Middle East. The days from a family gathering at a television has changed into a microculture in which cell phone users are more isolated from their surroundings, focusing on their device. Another key shift that is seen in our culture and traditions is that we are “living in a world where disruptive communication is acceptable…they are simply expected as part of the normal social activity” (Pinchot, Paullet, & Rota; 2010). An individual, for example, might pay for tickets to be at a sports event, but for the duration of the event, the individual is locked into his or her cell phone answering calls, texts, or simply using the internet. A study had indicated that we are in fact “shifting toward a mobile “always-on” world where everyone is digitally connected to their social group” (Pinchot, Paullet, & Rota; 2010). Our traditional practices without the need for the cellphone becomes combated by this new technology and it is changing the nature of human cultures and societies.
Discussions
It is clear to say that the mobile cellphone has greatly impacted North American societies. We have seen changes to the overall ways we incorporate the device into our daily lifestyle, how we are able to communicate faster between another individual, as well as how we think to feel about the way cell phones are changing our culture and traditional thinking. One impact that could be touched upon is that people have gotten addicted to the cell phone devices in a way that it has become the primary source of technology that we only want to use. Cell phones provide us with not only different methods of communication, but we can perform any activity such as watch shows/videos, read books, order food, do online shopping and more. As a result of this, people have distanced themselves from the original culture and traditions that we humans have grown up learning about in life. From having real verbal conversations with another individual, watching television and cooking meals consistently to simply doing everything on the cell phone, the development of such a device has caused our social and cultural behaviors to slowly progress in means of forgetting the roots to living a human life. Another shift that has been notified by the use of cell phones is how it has negatively affected our social behaviors. For example, students have used cell phone devices during class sessions in order to research information and in turn ‘cheat’ on an exam or test. People who are driving vehicles have spent time talking to somebody through the phone, which has caused drivers to become heavily distracted and alluded to their surroundings, unfortunately causing accidents and somebody else’s life lost. Adapting to new forms of technology like the growing cell phone is currently shifting our perspectives and meanings to life, and it is having a much larger impact on the growth of our younger generation.
Possible solutions can be used when thinking about the impact of the cell phone on our society and cultural adaptation. Firstly, we as a society should understand how the use of our mobile devices are having a negative effect on the ways we communicate to each other. For example, the cellphone is in fact weakening young students’ ability to concentrate on school work and lectures in the classroom. Therefore, an idea that can be put into place could include after school learning programs that are focused on student concentration without the use of a cellular device. Students can then be asked to complete work using only verbal communication with their classmates, and to complete all written work using their own thoughts and ideas. This type of strategy brings back an old school form of learning where students never relied on technology to advance their learning skills. By considering our youthful generation, we will be keeping a watchful eye on how cell phone addiction either increases or decreases as technology moves forward. At this current stage however, it appears that our future will continue to be heavily reliant based on the mobile cell phone usage as it has become the “norm of society” (Sarwar & Soomro, 2013). As we observe the cultural changes, we are noticing that cell phones are now a necessity for the lifestyle that we humans have adapted to as it has increases our ability to become globally connected and productive in the everyday tasks we perform. From the westernized societies of North America to the societies in developing countries, the cellphone has greatly changed the way we define and understand life as it is.