Ubiquitous Smartphones

Dixya Poudel 

As an electronic device that can be used for communication, management of work and study, delegation of tasks and provision of entertainment, smartphone is a far cry from landlines. From the alarm tunes in the morning to a ubiquitous scrolling in the social media during bedtime, smartphones have become an indelible part of human life. It is portable and can be carried in hand. It can connect to the internet and make use of countless apps. It is further a source of entertainment as one can watch videos and access social media which can be used to connect and communicate with the world. 

In the simplest terms, a smartphone is a mobile phone that also has many of the functions of a small computer. And what an intricate computer it is! From messaging networks to social media sites and transportation and travel apps, a smartphone can work efficiently to facilitate our lives. But smartphone is a relatively new creation in the span of human history. It first came into existence as a cell phone when it was initially invented in 1973 by Motorola. 

However, the very first prototype of a smartphone can be traced back to 1994 when IBM made its cell phone available for purchase. It had an ability to send and receive texts via emails along with features such as address book, calendar, note pad, input keyboards and appointment schedulers. People could then manage their emails and make calls through a nifty computer that could be held in the palm of the hands. 

It was further in the 2000s that cell phones came to be termed as a smartphone. But it is widely considered that the invention of the very first Apple iPhone marked the arrival of a fully functional smartphone. Today iPhone is running in its 13th generation with the 14th soon coming to the market. With the rise of the iPhones and androids, now there are mushrooming mobile phone manufacturers. 

Most of us today are bound to the mobile phone whether it is for work, education or home. When we leave home, we take it with us and when we are at home, we are constantly at its beck and call. We respond to its every chime and ring. From minor tasks such as timing exercise regime to watching how-to tutorials online and managing our schedules, mobile phones are convenient. Living without it seems like going back to the dark ages. And many will agree that the presence of mobile phones is a must requirement to run lives smoothly. 

However, it comes with a price. Users of smartphones are likely to watch too many shows online, read excessive negative news (doomscrolling) on the internet, fall prey to a cycle of competition and comparison that comes with the territory of the social media and as a result risk mental health problems. 

We thus ought to be aware of the pitfalls of computerised devices. To grow up in today’s world means to live in an age of smart computers but computerised world is a manmade creation and one that should be handled with caution. Advancement in science and technology must go hand in hand with human compatibility. As an ineffaceable part of human existence it is vital that smartphones facilitate and support healthy living.