Introduction to the SmartPhone
Emily K. Yates
Smartphone sales have already begun to outpace the sales of personal computers (Goldman, 2010). They are more easily acquired simply cheaper and easier to carry and include most, if not all, the features consumers want. Technology that ranges from web browsing, cameras, email and messaging, consumers can have an all in one gadget that fits into the average pocket and it seems every day there are additional improvements.
Personal Lives
An example of personal use includes simply finding a meal. Available apps and website and widgets, tell where to find a restaurant and how to get there using compact and easy to navigate technology. Search engines advise of competitors pricing and menus where one can read reviews and post their own. Online mapping will guide us there and show other routes incase traffic is unfavorable. Evidence of the influence of Smartphones is in the numbers; our usage has gone up nearly 90% in the last year (It’s All Tech, 2011).
This is only one example but many of us have viewed the commercials or personal used our Smartphones to lock our cars or turn our house lights on or off remotely. Perhaps we use them for banking; to check our ledgers or to deposit a check. Social networks and email can be responded to quickly and minutely.
The socially accepted ‘dos and don’ts’ while using the Smartphone will continue to arouse argument such as the example of our movie screens long having to ask for the courtesy of silenced cell phone. Simple common courtesy ought to alleviate concerns and while some may feel that we are losing touch with personal lives through the accessibility information overload there are professions that have been benefiting greatly from smart phones. Smart phones can make life easier because of the amount of information available is easier to filter.
This is only one example but many of us have viewed the commercials or personal used our Smartphones to lock our cars or turn our house lights on or off remotely. Perhaps we use them for banking; to check our ledgers or to deposit a check. Social networks and email can be responded to quickly and minutely.
The socially accepted ‘dos and don’ts’ while using the Smartphone will continue to arouse argument such as the example of our movie screens long having to ask for the courtesy of silenced cell phone. Simple common courtesy ought to alleviate concerns and while some may feel that we are losing touch with personal lives through the accessibility information overload there are professions that have been benefiting greatly from smart phones. Smart phones can make life easier because of the amount of information available is easier to filter.
Travel; professional and personal
Travel is a great area to examine the many advantages of owning and using the Smartphone and it’s technology. Many business travelers and personal travelers are able to stream their plans by being able to check flights, arrivals and departures before heading to the airport. Email can be easily accessed, both for business and personal. A drawback can also be the inability to leave work at work, but that is an entirely different discussion. Congested security lines are eased by providing the latest online information through ‘apps’ or ‘widgets’, etc. Passengers are able check in online before arriving at the airport and can have their confirmation emailed to their Smartphone and then use the emailed bar code check in through security.
“In a survey of frequent business travelers conducted by PhoCusWright in 2008, 71% said they have used a Smartphone for business during their trips, while 62% used it for leisure purposes” (Yu, 2010).
Another survey reports the percentages found “Those travelers who downloaded travel-related applications to their smartphones:
• 47% used GPS functionality to find their way to a destination.
• 46% searched for flight updates.
• 29% compared airfares or hotel rates.
• 18% booked air travel or lodging.
• 15% viewed virtual visitor guides.
• 11% downloaded and/or redeemed coupons.” (Reed, 2010)
Another survey reports the percentages found “Those travelers who downloaded travel-related applications to their smartphones:
• 47% used GPS functionality to find their way to a destination.
• 46% searched for flight updates.
• 29% compared airfares or hotel rates.
• 18% booked air travel or lodging.
• 15% viewed virtual visitor guides.
• 11% downloaded and/or redeemed coupons.” (Reed, 2010)
Healthcare
The Healthcare profession is also seeing technological advances in care on a personal and professional level using the Smartphone. Health care professionals have long used pagers to communicate quickly. As more patient information is kept electronically, a Smartphone can serve to share information.
“… an explosion of health-related apps. Take the new app that turns an iPhone into a stethoscope. And now diabetics can test their blood with a Bluetooth-enabled device that sends the information straight to diabetic’s smart phone, which can then be transferred to the doctor.” Writes Matthews of Forbes (2011).
On an individual level, one can use their Smartphone and the applications on them, to test and monitor their glucose and blood pressures. Medical websites available on a Smartphone can guide an individual through symptoms and possible remedies’, including the remedy of seeing one’s doctor.
The Smartphone, and all the technology it has to offer, is here to stay and will continue to evolve into an even more powerful tool, or in some cases, nuisance in our lives.
“… an explosion of health-related apps. Take the new app that turns an iPhone into a stethoscope. And now diabetics can test their blood with a Bluetooth-enabled device that sends the information straight to diabetic’s smart phone, which can then be transferred to the doctor.” Writes Matthews of Forbes (2011).
On an individual level, one can use their Smartphone and the applications on them, to test and monitor their glucose and blood pressures. Medical websites available on a Smartphone can guide an individual through symptoms and possible remedies’, including the remedy of seeing one’s doctor.
The Smartphone, and all the technology it has to offer, is here to stay and will continue to evolve into an even more powerful tool, or in some cases, nuisance in our lives.
Works Cited
‘US Smartphone data usage up 89%, cost goes down’, (Ben, a Staff posting) It’s all Tech, 2011. Web. 20 June 2011. http://itsalltech.com/2011/06/18/u-s-smartphone-data-usage-up-89-cost-goes-down/
Goldman, D. ‘Your smartphone will run your life’, CNNMoney 2010. Web. 21 June 2011: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/19/technology/smartphones/index.htm
Kolesnikov-Jessop, S. ‘Do-It-Yourself Health Care with Smartphones’, New York Times, 2011. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/technology/01iht-srhealth01.html
Matthews, M., ‘Names You Need to Know in 2011: Mobile Phone Apps’, Forbes, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011 from: http://blogs.forbes.com/merrillmatthews/2010/10/28/dr-cell-phone-will-see-you-now/
Mobiledia ‘Doctors Can Now Check EKGs on Smartphones’, Forbes, 2011. Web. 21 June 2011 from: http://blogs.forbes.com/mobiledia/2011/06/16/doctors-can-now-check-ekgs-on-smartphones/
Overly, S., ‘USA Mobility jumping from pagers to smartphones, tablets with acquisition of Amcom’, Washington Post, 2011. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/13/AR2011031302936.html
Reed, Dan ‘Smartphone use grows among travelers’, USA Today, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011: http://travel.usatoday.com/news/2010-08-30-smartphone-travel_N.htm
Yu, R. ‘Smart phones have changed the way we travel’, USA Today, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-03-05-airphones05_CV_N.htm
Goldman, D. ‘Your smartphone will run your life’, CNNMoney 2010. Web. 21 June 2011: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/19/technology/smartphones/index.htm
Kolesnikov-Jessop, S. ‘Do-It-Yourself Health Care with Smartphones’, New York Times, 2011. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/technology/01iht-srhealth01.html
Matthews, M., ‘Names You Need to Know in 2011: Mobile Phone Apps’, Forbes, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011 from: http://blogs.forbes.com/merrillmatthews/2010/10/28/dr-cell-phone-will-see-you-now/
Mobiledia ‘Doctors Can Now Check EKGs on Smartphones’, Forbes, 2011. Web. 21 June 2011 from: http://blogs.forbes.com/mobiledia/2011/06/16/doctors-can-now-check-ekgs-on-smartphones/
Overly, S., ‘USA Mobility jumping from pagers to smartphones, tablets with acquisition of Amcom’, Washington Post, 2011. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/13/AR2011031302936.html
Reed, Dan ‘Smartphone use grows among travelers’, USA Today, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011: http://travel.usatoday.com/news/2010-08-30-smartphone-travel_N.htm
Yu, R. ‘Smart phones have changed the way we travel’, USA Today, 2010. Web. 20 June 2011: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-03-05-airphones05_CV_N.htm