Conclusion

        

     The cell phone is fundamentally the most convenient piece of technology up to date. It is constantly changing and evolving. Throughout time is has gone from a basic phone that you could carry with you to a modernized cell phone with a calendar, clock, Internet access and quick text messaging. During the history of the cell phone, I have watched it grow from a simple tool to a renowned popular gadget in which I feel lost without. Not only has it impacted my life it has changed the way most businesses run, the communication between families and social networking between friends.

            Since the cell phone was made, the business industry has been more and more successful. Because of this little piece of technology, people in the business world are more connected to each other, which helps with deals, transactions and personal business. All in all the mobile phone has ultimately changed the way large corporations run today because of the increasing connections that the phone has adopted throughout the years such as being able to check e-mail, text messages and make quick efficient calls on the go.

            Social networking has completely transformed throughout the years, and the mobile phone has evolved right along side. Since we now have Internet access on our wireless phones, we are now able to check our e-mails, connect to Facebook and My Space ultimately allowing us interact with friends whenever we want. This phenomenon produced when phones such as the Blackberry and iPhone came out because they have applications to these sites on their menus. The fact that phones now have Internet allowing students to check their Facebook status’ and friend requests from their My Space accounts brings issues into the classroom. Students who constantly check their social networking sites in class and not paying attention to what they are suppose to be learning which ultimately makes the professor angry. Therefore the cell phone is both a great addition to our lifestyle and a hinder. It helps us communicate and reach out to people, but its also a distraction. As much as the mobile phone is a distraction for our youth, it is also a great tool for anti-social people in this day and age. While walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant or even at a party, there is always going to be a certain percentage of citizens who are glued to their mobile phone for one reason or another.

            Basically the cell phone has kept our economic cycle going. Since many people own a cell phone (approximately four in each household) the economy is still up and going. Although our trade and industry stand point isn’t at its strongest right now, I believe that we are still up and going because of technologies such as the mobile phone, computer and television. We have done many things to advance technology, which has eventually increased our financial viability.

            In the future, our media technology will continue to grow just like it has been doing for the past fifteen years. When I look back to my tenth Christmas, our family got our first computer, which was basically the first family running computer. That was about 12 years ago, and the computer has completely transformed into a high-tech media device. As the mobile phone has been growing side by side with the computer (and other such technologies) it will definitely continue to grow and develop into a better more efficient technology in which we will keep on using each day and consider it to be a part of us such as an arm or a leg that we would feel deathly lost without.

FURTHER CITATIONS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology

http://cell-phones.suite101.com/article.cfm/cell_phone_history

http://ezinearticles.com/?Latest-Mobile-Phones—-New-Advancement-In-Technology&id=257203

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone

Technological Examination Essay

               The limitations of the cell phone consist of a few things. One is that cell phones are useless on airplanes and it is vital that you shut them off when in motion. When people travel on business, they are constantly talking on their handheld cellular device, and once they get on the plane they must turn it off and disconnect themselves from cellular technology. Aside from being on planes and not being able to use cell phones, there are other places which cell phones are frowned upon, yet they can still physically be used. This may be the case at several different locations such as restaurants, doctor offices and other public places.

            Cell phones have a few unique qualities such as being able to keep in touch with someone while moving from place to place. This is one reason why cell phones are super popular. They are also able to take pictures now with every new and updated phone, ultimately acting as a camera. They also have calendars in them to help us stay organized and on top of our everyday priorities. The mobile phone is an extraordinary piece of technology that allows us to multitask, document and stay on top of our lives. Some phones now have Internet, therefore the cell phone acts like a mini computer.

            Although cell phone supply us with many wonderful things while on the go, it has many tradeoffs as well. One consists of how it has taken over peoples’ lives. Cell phones have made many people anti social humans and in lively social areas this is considered to be a problem by many. It is rude when people are in a lively open and social setting and a few are glued to their mobile phones whether they are texting or calling somebody else. Just how machines in factories have turned some people into working zombies, cell phones have had a similar impact on some turning them into a technology zombie.

            The cell phone has completely transformed today’s society in many ways; some for the better and some for the worse. Either way this useful piece of technology has advanced us into a whole new level of living. Since the mobile phone was created it has also evolved with many other technologies such as the radio, television, aircraft, transportation and more. Some of these technologies have also acted as competition aside the mobile phone. The computer is one example that may act as somewhat of a competitor. Although most people have both, the cell phone is acting more and more as a miniature computer while the computer has nowhere else to evolve because it has pretty much everything it needs to be an efficient computer. Lately I have seen advertisements on my television sets of computers that have built in wireless so that they can travel with you. This feature implies that the computer is trying to act more like the cell phone making it a competitor to the mobile phone.

            As well as computers, cell phone have many competitors within the cellular phone market. Companies such as t-mobile, Verizon wireless and at&t are all cell phone companies competing against each other every single day to make the best sales and become the top distributor in America.

The Economic/Business Factors

            The emergence of the cell phone has brought many things to the American population. Before it was created there were a lot less communication between people. Communication has ultimately evolved between families, friends, large corporations, schools and more. Because of the rise in mobile phones, people are able to communicate on a much broader level. Since the age of cell phone use, it is clear that we are a much more technologically advanced. People are much more reliant on it since it is a readily available tool. People are able to talk while they travel instead of receiving calls only when they are home or at their business. I remember leaving my house before I had a cell phone and coming home to phone calls. Recently I have felt lost if I had left my cell phone at home because I knew that I couldn’t contact anyone whenever I felt like it. Now that the cell phone has transformed into a multitasking piece of technology, there are more possibilities that we didn’t have until now. The mobile phone now has Internet, text messaging as well as acting as an on-the-go phone. It is an essential gadget that accompanies our everyday life.

            Ultimately cell phones have become the main staple in our daily lives. We never go anywhere without them and feel lost if we do not have them. This may contribute towards the riding popularity of the mobile phone. Its convenience, style and mobility are just a few factors that have made the cell phone so profitable. Throughout the years, distributors have taken the initiative to take the phone that goes mobile and transform it into something better and better. Initially the cell phone was just a tool to make and receive calls on the go; now the Internet is added as well as games and E-Mail. There are varieties of these combinations such as the Blackberry, iPhone, Google Phone, and now the Droid, which is a form of the iPhone but distributed by Verizon. Another feature that has become popular among the cell phone craze is the touch screen and flip open keyboard; these features have all helped generate revenue. People are constantly trying to keep up with the latest gadgets; therefore when new devices come out with modern features it is appealing to buyers.

            Companies such as Verizon Wireless have come a long way since the emergence of this technology. According to Verizon Reports Revenue, Verizon Wireless delivered increasingly high margins and concrete net customer additions. In the second quarter of 2009, Verizon Wireless had 87.7 million customers at the end of the quarter, an increase of 27.7 percent year over year and 7.9 percent on a professional forma foundation.  Verizon Wireless is the leading wireless company in the United States in regards of total customers and revenues. The company also has the most retail customers of any United States wireless supplier and have sustained its premium foundation, adding a net of 1.1 million retail customers in the quarter, for a total of 85.2 million retail customers. Regarding their consolidated earnings, they are receiving 52 cents in EPS and 63 cent in adjusted EPT (non-GAAP), compared with 2Q 2008 EPS of 66 cents and 67 cents. They also lead the nation in cost efficiency making them the most desirable distributor for low-income families. In the economy today, there are many things that individuals are seeking to save money on.

            Other companies such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Alltel, Sprint and Nextel are competitive to Verizon. All companies team up with providers such as Motorola, Samsung and LG to assemble an eclectic quantity of cell phone. To generate the best profit, each company must advertise their products in the best way possible in order to attract their customers. Often time commercials show their product side-by-side competitors, shining the best light on themselves. This has become a popular tool for mobile phone providers in order to get themselves ahead. Since there are a group of distributors they must be super conscientious when advertising to lure in as many customers as they can. Many companies are seeking to appear to have a straight forward objective approach when advertising their product.

            Not only are competing companies affected by each other, it seems to me that the ‘at home’ telephone has become slightly ignored. For generations long before the mobile phone, it has been our means of communication. We never had a more efficient way to contact people because before the telephone, the telegraph was too complicated to figure out. Now that we have found a more advanced way to communicate with other- a more on-the-go communication gadget it has ultimately become our more preferred means of telecommunication thus far. Some people nowadays don’t even own a house phone “telephone” because their mobile phone has completely taken the place of it seeing that it can act as a telephone at home and as a handy phone when out and about. The mobile phone acts as a more handy piece of technology, all in all it is simply a miniature computer. A miniature on the go computer has completely replaced the telephone and why not?

            Since technology has seemingly become more advanced each year we are coming up with contemporary products that will replace the old. This has become a trend over the years in which I predict will not be subsiding any time soon. We are a very fast track society who is significantly interested in what is new and what is in. We are no longer interested in chunky brick car phones with antennas growing like a beanstalk over our heads. Sleek Blackberry’s with full keyboards and shiny iPhones with a touch screen front now turn our heads. We live in a fast pace society where communication is an innate thing. Talking our cell phones is like riding a bicicyle; it has come almost natural to us. At home, in restaurants, clothing stores, schools and at work, we are constantly on our mobile device and we aren’t stopping. Evidently, cell phones have made us somewhat anti-social individuals. Some of its major issues involve “too much mobile” whether it’s in a social environment or in a car- there could be too much which becomes a problem for our society. Whether it is detrimental to our health (talking or texting while driving) or to our social life; the cell phone is somewhat of interference in our lives today. Also in schooling settings, cell phones have become a major issue with teachers. Kids are constantly on their cell phones in the hallways, classrooms or during gym class and it is becoming extremely distracting. Teachers are banning them from their classrooms so that students are not tempted to take them out and use them in the middle of their class.

Clearly mobile phones have completely taken over society. Our world is a completely different fast-track society with new innovations each and every year. 

http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/advances/vol6/iss1/art9/

http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm

The Political/Legal Factors

Often times when an idea or concept is formed and released publicly, others may become fascinated by it and are likely to reproduce it and call it there own. Since media and technology has been advancing, it is important for creators to be extremely creative and out of the ordinary with their products. Since it is increasingly difficult to come up with original ideas, others are quick to steal. In turn the person who originally established this idea may not get the credit that they deserve. This is simply called copying. In order to protect your product, a copyright is used to block any unwanted “copying” from others.

            Another form of protecting your product is a “patent”. This refers to an innovation of development to a current progression that doesn’t let others from copying or repeating that innovation that you worked so hard to put together. In order to complete the patenting process, one must complete a form that indicates that you were the original creator of the product listed. The form belongs to the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. Although it is a time consuming process, it is worth it in the end to secure what hard work you have done. Unfortunately a patent does not last a lifetime, only up to twenty years or so.

            A trademark is important in the mobile phone business because many companies such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T and others have words that represent there company which shows the world who they are. They are placed on things that represent a company such as logos, trademark names or phrases in which they use to persuade individuals into buying their product. Catch phrases such as, “We Never Stop Working for You”; have been trademarked by Verizon Wireless because it is their slogan. Catch phrases as well as logos are trademarked. The check mark by Verizon Wireless, The M by Motorola, The T and squares by T Mobile and the bell by AT&T are all trademark symbols, which are owned by the technology companies stated above. People recognize their product because of their distinctive slogan. There must be specific proof that provides information that declares that you were the first person to come up with your specific idea. The idea of trademarks is convenient for those who want to put their name out there and become successful, especially in the world of media and technology.

            A copyright is somewhat similar to a trademark because they both protect and display and identity to the world. A copyright stats certain rights that the creator now has; It is the right of ownership of creative business enterprise. Written songs, films and materials with an original or new concept would be protected by a copyright in order to prevent others from claiming their originality. Music artists produce tons of songs each year, and many are popular enough to be used as a mobile phone ring tone. Since there are copyrights on these songs, the artists get credit from any of these applications in order for them to use them.

            While there are many laws protecting the rights of mobile phone distributors there are many other laws in which mobile phones have changed the way we live today. Back in the 1940s when there were no mobile phones available to individuals of society, I could imagine how there might have been a lot more accidents on the road. Due to the increase of accidents in America, we now have law prohibiting the use of cell phones when operating a motor vehicle. There are numerous incidents in the news about how teens especially are getting into severe accidents because they are texting while driving. In my opinion texting while driving is even more dangerous than talking on your mobile phone, because you must take your eyes off the road numerous times to see what you are doing, WHILE watching the road. It is near impossible to do so and that is why there are countless victims in this case. It is a good thing that the government has come up with laws against using your cell phone while driving because it has prompted distributors to dispense hands-free products that help drivers all over America travel more safely than before. This has allowed companies such as Best Buy to make more money on such items as well as Verizon, T-Mobile and other mobile phone companies to do so as well. Although the government regulation over cell phone use has become inconvenient for some, it has helped prevent reckless driving. Surprisingly, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association only six states have banned hand-held cell phone usage. It is important for this law to be issued to more states because it may help reduce the amount of accidents in its area.

            Among problems with the law, mobile phones have been known to affect the health of many individuals. Radio waves released above a certain level can cause unhealthy heating effects in the body. Therefore it is imperative not to stay on your mobile phone for too long and look for phones with lower SAR values, which are measures of how much radio wave activity your body receives from the phone. According to the Stewart Group, these things will help reduce your exposure to radio waves. As more and more people use mobile phones, they are exposing themselves to a form of radiation, which can lead to brain tumors and other health problems. Although researchers cannot decisively say this, there are more and more public officials with proof of such circumstances. The U.S Food and Drug Administration is inquiring the results of a Swedish study that claims new evidence of an increased risk of brain cancer amongst individuals who use cell phones.

            While Government Officials and Health and Hazard are questioning the health and safety of mobile phones, it is inevitable that they will continue to be one of the most popular pieces of technology. “In 2008, for the first time, Americans are expected to spend more on cell phones than on landlines,” according to the U.S. Labor Department. As mobile phone use persists to grow, so do the health risks such as getting into an accident while driving as well as damaging your body internally. Someone may wonder why this would not stop people from using their cell phones or at least less often, but citizens are usually more concerned about the here and now instead of their future health.

http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/environment/land/mobile-phone-masts.htm

http://www.patentoffice.com/

How It Works

              Many people have cell phones today. Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle and even Grandma and Grandpa are getting into the mix of the new age technology. While many people own a cell phone, they may not know what is in it or how it works. Often times as I’m admiring my cellular device I often contemplate what is inside of it that makes it run ever so efficient. In my mind I assume that there are little tiny particles that conform together that spark electrons and all other kinds of technologies. Whatever it may be I cannot quite figure out how they do it; how they make such a small piece of technology do so much!

            In the interior of your cellular device, there are many little things that make it work. Such things consist of a condensed speaker for you to hear from, a microphone to speak into, a keyboard to punch in numbers and text, a display screen and a mighty circuit board with a microprocessor that make each tiny phone a minuscule computer system. For all of these things to act as useful components, it must have a signal. All of these things sit in the palm of your hand, weigh only a few ounces and offer so much more than any other technology today for its size.

            Throughout the years the cell phone has developed into a very sophisticated piece of technology and has adapted many useful tools along the way such as internet access, full keyboard, color graphics and cool ring tones that sound as though they came straight from studio. All of these things have made the cell phone a hot commodity and now it seems like everyone owns one or has to have the latest model.

            The signal in your cellular device is extremely important. In reality, cell phones are actually radios; they broadcast signals on radio frequencies. The only difference between the two is that the radio operates on a simplex system, and the cell phone operates on a duplex system, which uses two frequencies instead of one. Radios have 40 channels connecting from each other in which is not as many as compared to cell phones. Cell phones have over 1,500 channels putting them in a much more sophisticated category above the radio. Although the radio has been upgraded since its initial development, the cell phone soared over it with its additional renowned quality.

            The transmission of a cell phones signal is performed over frequencies, which are strips formed from airwaves.  Ultimately cell phones have their own bandwidth, which are parts of frequencies, in which to transmit their signals. While this is a great process, it was causing a lot of problems because there was too many cell phones competing for signals. Therefore something had to be revolutionized and bandwidths were split. Over time, technologists have made it easier for us to use cell phones and for the signals to be delivered by changing the signal from analog to digital. For example, instead of using a cassette tape to watch a movie, we now use DVD in which are more technologically advanced in our society today. More data is able to be stored which means a lot more signals can be relayed through airwaves. By changing the signal from analog to digital makes it easier for cell phones to send more signals without any interference.

            Furthermore, cell phones are made up of biological areas, namely cells- hence the name cell phone. In these cells are many assigned channels, which can be used by different cells given that they are far enough apart. If two channels were to interfere, it means that the cells were too close together which is why they are carefully assigned. The assurance that many channels can be used all across America without interference is the result of a maximized bandwidth, which ultimately makes for a more efficient society.

            Recently we have stopped using channels and have converted to code signals, which can be spread all through the spectrum. The pieces that are now in the spectrum are translated back to its original message, which is your voice. Therefore during a conversation the signals you release into the mouthpiece are thrown into the air into little codes that must be decoded in order for the person on the other line to receive your communication. During the production of your cell phone there is an ESN (Electronic Serial Number) dispensed in it. This stays with this particular cell phone forever and is given in order for other cell phones to recognize the caller. Ultimately this is your signal, which is thrown into the spectrum when you need to place a call to retrieve a frequency.

            One fundamental part in the mobile phone communication is the formation of relay centers referred to as base stations. These stations are in fact smaller editions of transmitter towers that you will recognize as you travel from one place to another. These are located on highways, main roads and basically anywhere needed. The base station acts as the electronic connection between two cell phones. Now, as we travel we are automatically transferred from tower to tower to assure signal to our cell phone. This is how we maintain signal as we drive away from our usual signal at home. Each base station provides a single “cell” which was describes earlier. These are also known as radio signals and when these signals are combined they are referred to as cellular compartments. While changing location, you are going in and out of a single cell as you enter a new one. However, there may be a few areas around the country in which do not have proper signal. This may be a result of too great of distance between towers, and it makes it very difficult for proper signal to be given to each cell phone user. In some unfortunate circumstances you may enter a location with no available cell, this is when the infamous “NO SERVICE” signal is placed upon your cellular device, driving you mad with anger because you cannot connect until you are close enough to a tower of service signal.

            Ultimately, mobile phones are completely concrete forms of technology that bring a lot of power into a tiny device. As we go on through our lives we will never be completely aware of all of the signals and airwave frequencies that are traveling around us.

 

http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/electrical/articles/3885.aspx

 

http://peacecraft.tripod.com/infomining/cellphon.htm