mobile phones

With the integration of wireless Internet on such devices as the iPhone, Blackberry and Google’s Android phone, the past few years have seen an emerging phenomenon of 24/7 connectivity. However, research suggests those who choose to correspond via email, text messages or social networks are prone to health problems and diminished professionalism, as a rush to get a message across supersedes the need for human interaction. The key is to decipher in what circumstances technological advances are necessary and in which we’re better off without them.

Short Text, Long History:

Though the phrase ‘text me’ is now part of the lexicon of modern life, Short Message Service (SMS) actually languished in technological obscurity for more than a decade after the concept was initially developed in the early 1980’s. It was not until 1992 that the first SMS was sent over a UK network and only by the end of 2000 did SMS texts become a regular commercial feature for the majority of contracted users. As SMS quickly became an ever more relevant method of communication with the average Joe, entrepreneurs and professionals were presented with a toy of their own, the Blackberry. Combining the latest mobile phone with a hand held computer, the blackberry gave workaholics access to their emails, office networks and documents, and made it possible to conduct business from anywhere.

Health Risk:

A disturbing side effect of this increasing connectivity has been its effect on face-to-face interaction. It has now become possible to complete your commute without looking at another human being, or attend a dinner party having had fifteen simultaneous conversations with friends who were not actually there. Professor Gayle Porter of Rutgers University led research that signified the health risks of such behaviour, outlining that ‘addiction to technology can be as equally damaging [as chemical or substance addictions] to a worker’s mental health’.

Talkers vs. Texters:

Brand new mobile phones that include a plethora of socially interactive technologies may also be contributing to the higher levels of anxiety and depression amongst teenagers and young adults. In research conducted at the University of Plymouth, Reid & Reid (2004) split an experimental group into ‘talkers’ or ‘texters’ based on a qualitative analysis. They discovered that although the majority of both texters and talkers preferred face-to-face communication, over a quarter of the texters preferred texting – 4 times the number of talkers who preferred texting. Texters were also found to be more socially anxious and lonely than the talkers.

Embellish vs. Displace:

“Social networking sites should allow us to embellish our social lives, but what we find is very different. The tail is wagging the dog. These are not tools that enhance, they are tools that displace.” Dr. Aric Sigman, a biologist, has warned that a lack of human interaction paralleled with innovations in technology could result in a range of health problems, such as upset immune responses, altered hormone levels, malfunction of arteries and a decrease in mental performance.

In the BBC article, Dr. Sigman also cited research in which face-to-face interaction has fallen dramatically since 1987, signifying that modern technologies are hindering the way we interact with other human beings. Advancements in technology should enhance rather than diminish our social lives.

Ease of access vs. Professionalism:

The appeal of email and instant messaging still boasts an obvious answer – It’s free and it’s instant. To avoid busy signals and high phone bills, the internet provides a more cost-effective way to interact with workmates, clients and within a personal context. However, these mediums simply cannot replace real phone conversations or face-to-face meetings in the workplace. A poll on Edutopia has also expressed the concern of social media within an educational environment: “As more and more students immerse themselves in Textspeak over their cell phones and computers, educators worry that their writing skills are suffering. [...] There is concern that students who frequently express themselves in abbreviations and smiley faces may lose the capacity for more nuanced, grammatically correct writing.”

Put simply, a level of formality is needed to gain trust in all three businesses, educational establishments and in individuals. Where businesses cut corners on formal conversations, carelessness in quick correspondence could hinder progress in both our social and professional lives.

Along with popular Nokia mobile phones such as the N95 and E71, the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music has been hailed by consumers as the best handset launched by the Finnish phone giants. Here are three reasons why:

The 5800 became an instant icon, selling 1 million handsets across the globe in the first two months of going on sale.

Blog posts and tweets have also been plentiful, where approximately 11 million articles, reviews and photos have been indexed by Google in the past 3 months. This is almost a third of what the N95 produced in over 2 years, demonstrating just how much of a talking point this phone is.

Finally, a recent poll by the good folks at Nokia asking ‘which new Nokia music phone is your favourite?’ the 5800 captured 56% of the vote, more than double the vote of other new music phones in Nokia’s Xpress Music range, such as the 5730 Xpress Music.

So, is it the best? Have your say here…

1. best christmas commercial
a little american pie-esque, but fun none the less:

2. best mp3 source commercial
“dah dum dah… another one bites the dust…”

3. best tv commercial
…because Jose Gonzalez is just, awesome. and colours! they’re awesome too:

4. best mobile device provider commercial
omg, it’s like, totally funny:

5. best game console commercial
double dutch to a whole new level:

6. best online business commercial
the best cute-baby-older-guy-voice-combination so far:

7. best online jobsite commercial
because we’ve all felt like this guy at some point in our lives:

8. best mobile phone commercial
clever, and Nokia will forever be responsible for upcoming cheesy proposals:

9. best airline commercial
what it has to do with airline booking i have no idea, but it’s still really, really funny:

10: best computer commercial
because Macbook Air really is just… thin.

The Nokia N97 will be the first Nokia mobile phone to fully integrate Skype into a Nokia device. Current Skype users will find their address book to be fully integrated into their mobile phones’ address books, allowing users to see when contacts are online via 3G and WIFI and to make free Skype to Skype calls.

Skype will be pre-installed in the N97 phones launched in Q3 of this year, while owners of earlier versions will be able to upgrade their software to include the feature.

Skype’s COO, Scott Durchslag, said “Collaborating closely with Nokia to preload and integrate our software onto their devices will benefit the many Nokia customers who already use Skype, as it makes Skype easily accessible and simple to use on the go. It will also bring Skype new users who love Nokia’s Symbian Series 60 experience.”

Nokia N Series’ Vice President, Jose-Luis Martinez, said, “With more than 400 million Skype users worldwide, the integration of Skype on Nokia Nseries mobile computers is a significant step in bringing converged Internet experiences from the desktop to the world’s most advanced mobile computer.”

… Not to mention, challenging mobile phone companies to rethink how much of a ‘deal’ we are really getting on long distance calls and SMS!

5 Barack Obama gifts..

4 digital photo frames..

3 Flip video cameras..

2 Boston Acoustic Speakers..

and a Nokia N73.

4 digital photo frames..

3 Flip video cameras..

2 Boston Acoustic Speakers..

and a Nokia N73.

a Nokia N73..

No more Freudian dream interpretations from thin air – Japanese Scientists are discovering ways to interpret brain activity via computer systems.

Google tells us what we’re searching for the most with a list of the top 10 fastest growing queries.

2nd life comes to Playstation with their launch of a next-gen social networking site.

An application for the iPod Touch can turn this mp3 player into a virtual mobile phone.

Technology short-comings have been revealed as having a negative effect on Mumbai attack investigations.

Mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, digital cameras – we use them every day and some of us can barely stand to part with them for more than a few hours. So, when you stop and think about the millions of people without access to them, you may want to second guess throwing out last year’s mobile phone.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow access to rural healthcare, agriculture and education, as well as improving the lives of people in rural communities through easy monitoring and reporting. In the UK, organisations like Inveneo need support to provide affordable and sustainable ICTs to those who need it most. Visit their website at http://www.inveneo.org/ to find out how you can help.