You can think the cell-phone is new devices. It is true that cell-phone is the revolution as a communication tool. They originated in the 1920's. Radios were used since 1921. Features were put into these radios in the 1940's and they were used by police. The concept of the cellular phone was developed in 1947 which originated from the mobile car phone. The first actual cell phone was invented in 1973 by Martin Cooper. He worked at Motorola at that time and other assisting inventors who used the idea of the car phone helped him. The first time people used cell-phone in the public place was in 1984. It was really large and expensive. In 1986, the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) decided to increase the frequencies to allow research for better connections and they they made it. This allowed calls to pass from tower to tower.
So, how people have developed and used the cell-phone these days and how the cell-phone affect in people's lives and education......
They are using the cell-phone in various way. It is not only for the communication. Of course, the most biggest part is to communicate with others. Besides, they can checks weather forecast, play games, updates the Internet blog, watch TV and online shop (Starbucks, Dunkin, Pizza, even Underwear). Also, they can checks whether a book has arrived at the library. In addition to the Internet connection, it has function of the digital camera, a music player (MP3), Alarm and texting massage. People compressed hundreds of function into the cell phone. Especially in Korea, they mark students attendance by the cell-phone instead the teachers call the students' name in the class for attendance. They are checked by their cell-phone. This is the function of ID. They don't need show or sweep their ID. More interestingly, they pay fare of bus, subways and even taxi. It is like credicard card. It is the novel of compressing multifunction.
However, there is not only advantage, but also disadvantage. If you leave your wallet at home, you can not notice for the whole day, but if you lost your cell-phone, your life will start crumbling
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed by your last entry. I can't believe how far we have gotten with cell phone use. I think in America we will go in the same direction than Korea, but I personally feel that American are so afraid of identity theft and other related issues.
I see many advantages and wonderful things that cell phones are doing in education. I am extremely impressed that Korea school system are using them to take attendance. wow. What's next?
One disadvantages that I see among students is how cell phones is an avoidance or shield device.
Let me explain. As much as the cell phone helps to keep people connected, it also allow avoidance among each other. Have you ever being in a situation in which you don't want to talk to a person and you pretend you are busy on the phone? Are you ever been online or waiting in the doctor's office and pretend you're making important phone calls?
A few years ago, we could "pretend" to make a phone call, now you don't have to. Cell phones like iphone have every single imaginable application that can keep a person "busy" while waiting online.
In my previous years as a student, I have see how many students avoid talking to one another or ignoring each other by "always" being answering their phone. IN general , I always think that technology and in this case cell phones are great tools. Yet it can become a blessings or curses in the life of a person.
A well known mantra says "tantum quantum." In other words, use it if it helps you or leave it. I wonder where is the balance.
~Ab
Hi Julie! Wow, they take attendance with cell phone?? that's pretty amazing! I dont know if this is true but I heard from someone or somewhere that in Japan, you don't even need credit card to pay things, all u have to do is just scan your finger (fingerprint) and they will take the money out of your account, in arcades, taxi...etc. I really have to go there and check it out myself. I agree with you on the disavantage of technology, we become so used to the level of access to the world that we become more and more dependent on them. We also are replacing primative activities such as readng books to surfing the web, watching videos online, and playing games, which inthe long run can have negative effects on us and the future generations.
ReplyDeleteWow, it seems like a very exciting time to have access to all the technological advances in Korea. Although I know there are disadvantages to every technology, I'm grateful that the explosion of social networking sites and cell phones happened while I could easily pick up those skills. In response to AB's comment above, I definitely have seen cell phones and other technology used as a means of avoidance, but for me social networks that they support helped me get over my shyness and be more confident in "real life" communication. Maybe if students get used to using the technologies available to them in a positive way, they will make that a habit outside of school too.
ReplyDeleteNicole