My smart call to not buy a smartphone
After a few days of arguments in the family trying to convince me to go in for a smartphone, my response was: No. I’m not inclined to buy one. I am not ‘smart’ enough. I find withdrawing cash from the ATM and updating my passbook in the automated bank machine cumbersome. Heating food in the microwave and operating an elevator on my own are no mean tasks either. On hearing this, there was a smirk on some faces in the family.
Once the mini-storm over the smartphone blew over, I tried to rationalise the utility and futility of owning one. It brought me to the question: Are we using the smartphone smartly? A smartphone impacts many dimensions, including business, education, parenting, health, besides relations with friends. Mobile technology has invaded our cultural norms and affected individual behaviour. It has had a frenetic impact on society, given its easy availability, accessibility and affordability. The internet, Google and Apple applications have made its usage commonplace.
The ever-evolving information communication technology is changing the way the world works. This change is unstoppable. It induces addiction, subtly. It influences social media and the medium. A change may fade away or survive, out of necessity. Gadgets and gizmos attract us in multiple ways. Coupled with a slew of inventions and innovations, the change is pervading our lifestyle.
Social media is extensively used to converse and connect. It is also perceived to be a threat to inter-personal relationships. As if the smartphone was not enough, man has created artificial intelligence.
Anyone and everyone has a smartphone glued to the ear, running the index finger vertically and horizontally, typing out messages, reading texts, viewing videos, smiling to oneself, all the time, everywhere and anywhere! Look around at home, everyone’s on the phone in bed, in the washroom, at the dining table; look outside in the market, public spaces or even while driving.
A smartphone user is obsessed with the fear of missing out something. At the sound of a ping, the user looks at the screen as if some earthshaking news is expected. Such rapid reaction and intent staring at the screen, oblivious of surroundings, smacks of lack of humaneness and etiquette.
The negative effects of mobile phones outweigh its benefits. Some studies show that reading on screen is worse for learning. Reading the printed word is far more effective, registers deep and long on the mindscreen; pen vs iPad!
Smartphone groups have sprung up that share videos, photos; flaunt selfies; and forward unverified content. No wonder, smartphone users suffer from anxiety and sleep disorders.
My decision against buying a smartphone is not entirely wrong. I agree it is helpful in paying bills; convenient in booking cabs and cooking gas; useful in reserving travel tickets and sharing documents, and safe for internetbanking. But just think, how often do we sit together to eat, pray and enjoy, as a family nowadays? Of what use is it to engage with outsiders or get hyper over fake news or face trolls and forget what really matters? Pause to ponder.
IT’S HELPFUL IN PAYING BILLS AND BOOKING TICKETS NO DOUBT BUT HOWOFTENDOWESIT TOGETHER TO ENJOY AS A FAMILY NOW?