Portable devices have affected modern day society in both positive and negative ways. With the increase in usage of mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, smart watches, and GPS, access to information and communication has never been more easily accessible. Mobile devices are everywhere and cannot be avoided. With the advancements in modern day technology, it seems as if it has taken control of our lives. Everything is now done online and having portable computing devices make our lives much more easy. These devices have already become the utmost importance to everyday life in the modern day world.
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Smartphones have revolutionized the world in how people communicate with each other. Smartphones are not only becoming a necessity in the modern day world, but many people cannot imagine a world without these devices. With the world's population of about seven billion people, there are over 2.5 billion smartphone users worldwide (1). These devices allow us to tell the time, take pictures, get directions, entertain ourselves, and communicate with people on the various social media platforms that smartphones offer. These small devices are everywhere and have an increasing role in the lives of everyone. Smartphones have undoubtedly had a major impact on our society within the last decade. Smartphones are seen in all areas of society whether it is used for business, education, or for day-to-day social life. Despite the small size of smartphones, they seem to have limitless potential! Although smartphones seem to have an unending list of how they can improve our lives, there are still some negative impacts of owning these devices. Many people are becoming addicted to their smartphone resulting in various health risk associated with smartphones. With these devices being highly accessible to the public, almost everyone in the first world countries owns a smartphone. Distracted driving is one of the main issues that come with owning a smartphone. Twenty two percent of fatal car accidents in Canada are related to distracted driving (2). This is a growing problem specifically in Canada with over thirty-two youth between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one die each year due to texting and driving (3). The positive effects of smartphones in our everyday lives still outweigh the negative effects although it is good to keep learning about how to use your device properly and responsibly.
Laptops are very common in the modern day society. Like smartphones, they are lightweight, portable, and can be used on the go. Laptops allow us to feel like we are working on a desktop but with the convenience of being able to do work wherever and whenever we want. They also consume eighty percent less electricity then desktop computers being particularly beneficial for business since they use hundreds of laptops in their offices (4). But having such a portable powerful piece of technology at our fingertips, they can be dropped just as easy as any other mobile device as well as lost and stolen. But what makes it different from the other portable computing devices on the market, laptops are not easy to replace as the cost of these devices are not exactly cheap. Laptops are expensive pieces of equipment and many people cannot afford to replace these devices let alone buy them in the first place. It is not uncommon to find people using laptops on a daily basis as they provide many advantages over desktops and smartphones.
Smart watches could potentially become the next big thing. With large companies like Apple and Samsung making their own smart watches, many people want to get their hands on these nifty devices. Smart watches allow for a discrete way to check social media and respond to texts without having to pull out a bulky noticeable smartphone. Although smart watches cannot replace smartphones, they still have many features that make them similar. Smart watches have many capabilities that smartphones have, but in a much more compact device. In some cases, smart watches can be better then smartphones because of the prominent fitness and health features. Athletic people as well as anyone trying to track their health will find smart watches be very useful because of all the fitness apps and features it provides. Because of smart watches being even more accessible then smartphones, users may pay more attention to their watch because of how easy it is to look at and use the device. This also could increase anxiety because of people feeling the need to check their messages or social media too often. The biggest things that is holding back the growth of smart watches is the hefty price that comes with it (5). These devices are not cheap and many people would benefit from buying a smartphone for a reduced price and have extra features that smart watches do not have. These products are still considered niche and are not yet considered a "necessity" gadget like other mobile devices (6).
Portable computing devices affect our lives whether we notice it or not. There are both positive and negative effects of owning mobile devices that have an impact on our everyday lives. They make life much easier in general and allow us to use our time more efficiently. They can be used anywhere at anytime whether it is at school, work, or during your casual time. With the rapid advancements in the technology industry, there are devices that will meet your needs and make life a whole lot easier. Mobile devices cannot be avoided and as long as they are used responsibly, they can improve everyday with minor disadvantages.