Abstract, Introduction and Conclusion

Abstract:

Mobile phones have been a part of our life for decades and have found uses that they were never intended for by the creators. They have found their way into many different aspects of life including home, social, work and education. Some say the mobile phone has a positive effect, some say otherwise. This report will look at the arguments for and against these theories, conduct research into the feelings of those around us, compare the results and finally state the findings and recommendations.

Introduction:

This essay will look into the effect that mobile phones have had on society and compare the positive and negative effects to get an understanding of whether they have pushed society in the right direction or if they are leading the new e-generation into a dark hole of despair. To get a better insight as to what extent the mobile phone has affected us, the effects that were brought about by the original introduction of the telephone will briefly be looked into.

Back in the seventeenth century if one wanted to contact another outside of travelling distance they would have relied on the postal service; a slow and possibly unreliable method where a handwritten letter would be put in an envelope and physically taken by hand to where ever the letter was addressed. If you were well off maybe a telegram, a slightly faster service but possibly too expensive for the working class. Now days this method of person to person, non commercial contact is all but going extinct (let alone the hand written bit). The option of sending a letter is not comparable to the convenience, cost, speed and reliability of other methods available in the world of today.

During the eighteenth century there was a lot of development in the communications industry, more specifically in the telecommunications industry. The telephone worked its way into society and a new method of mass communication was born. With one million four hundred thousand telephones around at the beginning of the eighteenth century people were able to pick up the ear piece, dial a number (most likely using a rotary dial system) and speak to another as though they were next to each other (Russell, 200?). Granted the quality was at first poor, and maybe the equipment was a little expensive but the business boomed. People could now telephone friends and loved ones, news would travel further and faster than ever before, business could now spread out, as quick reliable communication was achievable. Now, fast forward about seventy three years and a revolution is in the mist with the introduction of the first ‘mobile’ phone, the Motorola DynaTAC. The background of which was brought into reality and practicality by Joel Engel and Richard Frenkiel (Ament, 2006).

Heading now to the 1990’s the second generation mobile phones were introduced and now another method of communication was born, maybe one which has far more impact and relevance in society today than would have been imagined at its conception, the text message. At this point people can call or text anyone with a mobile phone, anywhere (as long as they were in a network covered area). So considering the mobile phone is just an extension of the telephone, a revolutionary communications device that made business and family life easier than ever, how would this new technology affect society in years to come?


Conclusion:

In conclusion mobile phones have had a big impact on society. Mobile phones have diffused into all age groups and cultures. These devices, originally designed as an extension of the telephone, have evolved to encompass new uses and now even have their own language which again is adopted by people of all age groups, not only youths. Mobile phones have found themselves useful in all walks of life, some would even say starting to encroach and have a negative impact on life. The findings of this report show that the opinion of many is very negative on the effect of mobile phones in education. The report also confirms that health warnings on mobile phones do little to change the way people use their mobile phone probably due to not enough research available to say mobile phones have a negative effect on health. The mobile phone does appear to be having a good impact on family and social life as people can keep in contact which surely is only a good thing.