Technology Impact

The impact of technology
in our social life
Instead of talking on their cellphones, people are making use of all the extra gadgets that iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones have such as browsing the Web, listening to music, watching television, playing games and sending e-mail and text messages. Cellphones have become irreplaceable tools to manage peoples’ lifes, disconnecting them fromsocializing and meeting people face to face. The use of cellphone technology nowadays is not responsible for causing associated illness but gadgets such as text messages have also bring negative effects in the way people communicate and interact with one another.
Today, even if people are already using email and instant messengers (IMs), text messaging still remained as the people’s primary meansof communication.
Text messaging started way back when GSM phones were first introduced in the market. GSM phones popularized Short Messaging Service (SMS) which allowed sending of text messages to anyone with a mobile phone. The technology was quickly adopted by the tech-savvy teenagers and almost overtook older means of communication such as pagers and telephones.
Though it may be easier todo voice calls than composing text messages, the reason why text messaging was preferred more than making voice calls is because of the cost. It only takes 1 minute to send a 160-character text message, while a 1-minute voice call costs more than sending one single text. If all a person needs to say for example is “I’ll be late”, then 1 text message is enough. There are also some instances whereit is more convenient to text than to call. Instead of making individual phone calls, all you need to do is just text one message and send them to all your friends at the same time.
Email is another useful means of communication that people have learned to use today. It allows anyone to send messages across the country and around the world. But before you can send a message, you still need tologin into a computer, connect to the internet and login to your email account. But with text messaging, all you need to do is just type the message and press send.
IM is another tool that helped made online communication better. Most people who spend most of their time on the computer probably have IMs opened while they’re online. IMs became more popular when they were combined into mobile phones.But the problem with using IMs on mobile phone is again, the cost. You are charged for every KB sent or received, that means, the longer you chat, the higher the bill. Still not cheap right? With text messaging, you can chat with friends for as long as you want without worrying about the bill. To do that, all you need is a mobile phone and an unlimited texting package.
The number of text messagessent per user increased by nearly 50 percent nationwide last year, according to the CTIA, the wireless industry association. And for the first time the amount of data in text, e-mail messages, streaming video, music and other services on mobile devices in 2009 the amount of voice data in cellphone calls, industry executives and analysts say.
Cellphones are increasingly popular and useful forpeople, especially for preteens and teens, but research shows a link between radiation and brain damage especially in developing brains. Low cost plans and inexpensive mobile devices make it easier for parents to provide this popular teen status symbol to their children. New cell phone applications also make it easier for parents to keep track of children both during and after school hours whileproviding a level of safety and security. While cell phone use among children is rising, so is the evidence of the potential harm these devices can do to the developing brain. As these devices become smaller and more powerful they must supply more power to the antenna, which then increases the electromagnetic radiation emitted. Research is showing that the radiation exposure to a young brain is...