How have cell phones changed the human race socially on a global scale Research Paper

How have cell phones changed the human race socially on a global scale - Research Paper Example It analyses the changes in communication, the society, technology and foreign relations as a result of the widespread technology, giving appropriate recommendations. Introduction Referred to as cell phones by Americans, mobile phones in Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe and in many other ways globally, cell phones have been commercially available for about two and a half decades, enjoying staggering adoption rate as noted by Goggin (1). This has led to the existence of about 5 billion cell phones in the world as at end of 2010 with developing countries having more cell phones than developed countries (Hakoama and Hakoyama 2). China has been noted to be the largest wireless network in the world followed by India and America respectively. According to Prasad (38), the cell phone market in Africa is the fastest in growth globally, perhaps due to the sunset in the industry in the European market as observed by O’Brien. Klemens (2) evaluates the components that make up a cell phon e. Of course, cell phones are basically telephones, but they also serve as transmitters and radio receivers, which brings into perspective the understanding of antennas, radio waves and history of radio. The functions of a cell phone would be undertaken by microscopic circuits; the user’s interface would be provided by the liquid crystal display and a battery would be needed to power it. Whereas the distribution of cell phones could reveal much concentration and variation, it would be safe to appreciate that in merely two and half decades since its commercialization, cell phones have grown to be more than mere voice call devices. According to Goggin (2), cell phones have become a central cultural technology in their own right. Pros of Cell Phone Usage Just like many other technologies, cell phones come with its pros and cons. They help people keep in touch without the barrier of location as its mobility allows people to communicate no matter their location. The extra features that come with cell phones such as radio, free communication applications and even TVs save the user money that would have otherwise been used to acquire or subscribe to such services (Eapen, Kumar, and Bhat 138). Cell phones increase the feeling of safety as with the gadget in whatever place, one would feel closer to emergency services in case need be (Prasad 42). Cons of Cell Phone Usage On the other hand, being reachable anytime anywhere could serve as a disadvantage. It could cause one the inconveniences of for example being called back to work when its vacation time with family. Owning this gadget increases one’s expenses due to the cost involved in not only its acquisition but also subscription to the accompanying services such as voice calls and text messages. On safety, Banjo, Hu, and Sundar (128) cite the National Safety Council which estimates car accidents resulting from cell phone distractions at 28% of the total accidents. The associated radiation emission has b een linked to health risks including cancer, depression and high blood pressure (Eapen, Kumar, and Bhat 139; Kaplan 3). In schools, cell phones have been noted to propagate cheating and lack of concentration and distractions in classes. The materials making up cell phone printed circuit boards, liquid crystal displays, batteries and plastic casings contain toxic substances which