Portable Computing Devices

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Portable computing devices have become a crucial part of our daily routine. Without realizing it, our society has become attached to these pieces of technology that makes it hard to imagine life without them.

Starting even as young as newborns, our generation is completely emerged in technology. From educational research to video games, computing devices have all aspects of our lives covered. You can listen to music, call a friend, plan your calendar, research anything you want, and so much more. Specifically portable computing devices have taken over our world as they are small, lightweight, and easy to move around, making everything accessible from anywhere.

Types

Three of the main portable computing devices include the cell phone, the laptop, and the tablet. The cell phone is the largest of the portable computing devices industry. Originally created for calling, it has now expanded to a messenger, a music player, a gaming device, a camera, and so much more. As of 2014, there are at least 7.22 billion cell phones in the world, even though the world's population is only 7.2 billion. (1) The smartphone population is also growing five times faster than the human population, making them the most impactful piece of technology. (1) The original laptop was created in 1981 and weighed 23.6 pounds. (2) However, much like the cellphone, it has advanced very quickly. The technology company Apple has recently released a laptop weighing only 2 pounds. (3)
Users can research, work, and even be entertained through the laptop anywhere, as it is lightweight and extremely easy to transport. The tablet is a mix of the cell phone and laptop. Its large screen makes working easy, but it has a touch screen and the similar structure as a phone (for example, apps and device layout). Considered to be taking over the laptop industry, the tablet continues to grow and become even more productive.

Tables
Cell PhoneLaptopTablet
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Fast Facts


Pros

Chances are quite high that you own a cell phone in today's technological world. Majority of us have phones because of all their great uses. To begin, they are extremely beneficial in communication. They are easy to carry around and very efficient, so you can call friends and family instantly. In fact, 90% of 18-21 year old cell owners say that mobile phones have made it a lot easier to stay in touch with the people they care about. (7) To be able to call or message someone all the way around the world makes connecting and sharing with your friends much more attainable.

Portable phones are also crucial in emergency situations. In critical moments initially after the emergency, mobile users can quickly use their phone if they had it on them to notify emergency services. This is most useful in traffic incidents, accidents in rural or wild locations, and anywhere a landline is unavailable. A study by the Journal of Emergency Medicine found that 137 more lives were saved per 100,000 victims when emergency dispatches were called by mobile phone. (8)

Finally, cell phones are great for business, and planning. Business workers are able to quickly contact clients, and be notified with new deals and work updates through their phone. Most phones also come with apps, such as calendar and reminder, to help save time and organize all of the users' activities and schedule. For example, roughly 50% of cell phone owners say the phone has make it a lot easier to plan their routine, and 1/3 of cell owners say their phone saves them time. (7) They are also very practical. They can be music players, cameras, internet searchers, GPS systems, translators, and much more.

Cons

Although the portable phone has benefits, there are also many costs. The first is that they come at a high price. The average cost of a phone in North America in 2017 was $567, making them very expensive to purchase. (9) This varies between models and mobile plans, but overall they are very expensive items.

Portable phones also have poor impacts on studies and the environment. Students are able to cheat on exams much easier with a cell phone because of its portability. (10) They are small and easily unnoticed, and they have internet access, making cheating effortless. Cellphones in school also pose as distractions as many students are more interested in phones than studying. For the environment, cell phones take up a massive amount of energy to make and supply, and charge. Also, they are usually improperly disposed. In North American landfills, 70% of the toxic waste comes from electronics. (6)

In addition, phones can have harmful effects on our health. A major problem especially with younger generations is addiction. The constant urge to check your phone can be overpowering, and we lose our self-control. A study shows that 67% of mobile users often check their phone even if it doesn't ring. (11) Without realizing it, cell phones have become a part of our bodies that we can't live without. Another rising problem with cell phones is poor mental health. According to new studies, about 48% of those who spent 5 hours or more a day on their phones had thought about suicide or made plans for it. (12) Spending this much time on screens is extremely wasteful as well, as this time could be spent enjoying actual life, rather than the one on your screen. Finally, distracted driving is another risk of cell phones. About 80% of drivers admit to having had a cell phone conversation while driving, which poses many risks because when you are not focusing on the road, you are more likely to injure yourself or others. (13) The threat is not only to those in cars, but if you are on your phone while crossing the street, you have a 43% higher risk of being hit by a car. In order to stay safe, avoid using your phone completely when you are on the road.

Overall Impact of Portable Computing Devices

Portable computing devices have made major impacts to our everyday lifestyle. They make connecting to others much easier and more accessible, and can save lives in emergencies. They also have almost unlimited uses because of apps and programs, and can be very beneficial for work. However, they also have proven negative effects. They create a higher risk for mental health issues, stress, and addiction. They are also very distracting, which can lead to life threatening consequences.

Bibliography

1. Boren, Z. D. (2014, October 07). There are officially more mobile devices than people in the world. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/there-are-officially-more-mobile-devices-than-people-in-the-world-9780518.html
2. Blodget, H. (2011, June 12). Check Out This Picture Of The First Laptop. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from http://www.businessinsider.com/the-first-laptop-2011-6
3. Loyola, R. (2017, July 09). MacBook: Features, specifications, and prices for Apples lightest laptop. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from https://www.macworld.com/article/3200054/macbook/macbook-specs-release-faq-price-features-tips.html
4. Patel, A. (2012, September 27). Cell Phone Health: Your Favourite Phone May Be Harming Your Health. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/09/26/cell-phone-and-harmful-health-_n_1916290.html
5. Mobile Fact Sheet. (2017, January 12). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/
6. How does portable devices affect our daily lives? - Computers and Society 3. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from https://sites.google.com/a/danteacademy.ca/computers-and-society-3/home/how-does-portable-devices-affect-our-daily-lives
7. Smith, A. (2012, November 29). Part III: The Impact of Mobile Phones on People's Lives. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/30/part-iii-the-impact-of-mobile-phones-on-peoples-lives/
8. Mobile Phones Proven to Save Lives in Emergencies. (2012). Retrieved January 31, 2018, from http://www.amta.org.au/articles/Mobile.phones.proven.to.save.lives.in.emergencies
9. Average selling price for smartphones 2013-2017 | Statistic. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/283334/global-average-selling-price-smartphones/
10. Miners, Z. (2009, June 23). One Third of Teens Use Cellphones to Cheat in School. Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/on-education/2009/06/23/one-third-of-teens-use-cellphones-to-cheat-in-school
11. Impact Of Mobile Phones On Our Lives - Effects Of Mobile. (2013, September 11). Retrieved January 31, 2018, from http://mydailyalerts.com/impact-mobile-phones-lives
12. Walton, A. G. (2018, January 27). Phone Addiction Is Real -- And So Are Its Mental Health Risks. Retrieved February 02, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/12/11/phone-addiction-is-real-and-so-are-its-mental-health-risks/#329e928d13df
13. Childs, D., Praetorius, D., & Unit, A. N. (2009, July 14). Watch Out! Texting While Walking Lands Teen in Trouble. Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/GadgetGuide/story?id=8070915&page=1

Images

14. http://ecoshop.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2013/12/24/2013122201.jpg
15. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5126u6Mwp6L._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg
16. https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5723/5723427ld.jpg;maxHeight=460;maxWidth=460
17. http://images.samsung.com/is/image/samsung/in-galaxy-tab-s3-sm-t825nzkains-frontblack-thumb-64212691

Questions

1. What are the basic pros of portable computing devices in our world?

2. What are the cons of portable computing devices in our world?

3. Describe the most common forms of portable computing devices and their capabilities.

Answers