The indispensability

              

iPhone, in the market in 2007.

                 Over time, technology has introduced many changes to make the world a better place. Technology is the key driver of change. The inventions and designs of products have altered people’s lives in both positive and negative ways.  With the invention of certain products comes convenience and a greater sense of safety; however, they may also cause problems.

                  In my first Design Culture Seminar class, the instructor asked: “What object do you must carry with you every day?” One person mentioned a ring he never took off; another person showed her bracelet, but the majority replied, “Cell phone!”

                   The cell phone, that indispensable item of daily life, has changed our lives with its technology. Before, people used telephones only to phone a specific place. But thanks to the cell phone, now people can reach someone immediately by voice or text, send mail, check the time, or listen to music. Since 2007, the iPhone has altered many people’s lives, and even the U.S. economy. Nowadays, six out of ten carry this Apple product. The U.S. economy has increased because of iPhone sales worldwide. Introducing the iPhone 5, Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Apple, said: “When you think about your iPhone, it’s probably the object that you use most in your life; it’s the product that you have with you all the time.” (http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone/#video)

         Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Apple

                 100 years ago, telephones were mounted securely on the wall.  Industrial technologies were only capable of developing a microphone, an earphone, and a keypad.

     

                 In the article “Telephone Technology in the Digital Age – A Tutorial for Broadcasters” by Rolf Taylor, it stated that Thomas Edison invented the carbon transmitter, “which became widely used for telephonic applications until the mid 1980’s”. (par. 2) However, it could not be used outside. Thankfully, Motorola presented the first mobile phone, developed by Martin Cooper, in 1973.
 

Thomas Edison

 

Carbon Transmitter

Martin Copper

                 Without technology, designs are just ideas. Even though telephone development was initially slow, with the emergence of new technologies, a range of telephones have been created, moving from a wall phone to our mobile “smart phones”.
 

Development of Cell Phones

                    However – there may be a need for reform. The cell phone keeps us connected, and yet it alienates us. There is less face- to-face contact now. Even when in the company of others, people spend time on their phones rather than in conversation. Are we victims of our own technology? Is it too late to change?

Different brands of Smart Phones