by Robin Lin
Apple, Samsung, HTC… well-known names that pop into your head when you think of smartphones. Small, light, wide-screen, cutting-edge phones with high pixel cameras and many useful apps have swept across the globe. It seems that none of us can live without them even for a moment. However, some people out there are still using old phones with keypads to dial, send text messages, and play music and games. Maybe the man next to you on the MRT is Facebooking with an iPhone, but the student on the other side of you might be playing a mini game on an old-fashioned phone. Is one better than the other? Smart phones are equipped with many apps and can be viewed as a combination of a phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA). High-resolution touchscreens and web browsers seem to be attracting most users. Recent data suggests that people use their smart phones only 54% of the time to make phone calls. This means that the other 46% involves text messaging, checking out the Internet, and playing games. Ken, a 17-year old high school student, said that a smartphone has brought him many benefits. “It’s hard to believe this gadget has totally changed my world, but it did! It’s a good navigator; it’s great when I need to search for information; and it’s the best entertainment when I need to kill time.” Obviously, people are enjoying all these extra functions, not just making phone calls. However, there are always two sides of a question. Yvonne, a 22-year-old college graduate, remarked that “my smart phone is quite good, but actually I don’t really enjoy it now. I found myself easily becoming distracted by so many texts and messages on Facebook. Besides, my doctor told me that I have a ‘texting thumb’ because I am spending too much time touching the screen.” And what about traditional phones? When it comes to functions, they definitely can’t catch up to their smart enemies. So why are people still using them? Brian, a 25-year-old office worker, told us: “First, it’s cheaper. I can’t afford a smart phone on my little salary. Even though they have some discounts, the expenses of making calls are really high. Also, my old phone is more durable; if I drop it it won’t become broken. With a smartphone, maybe the screen will crack or the whole thing will just break down. It will take lots of money to repair it. And I won’t be distracted by texting or having easy access to the Net.” “However, I have to confess,” he added, “I can’t get any information or know what my friends are doing. Nor can I shop online or play interesting games like Angry Birds. It doesn't really matter to me, though.” As I mentioned before, things always have two sides. Smartphones can give you a convenient, fast way of living your daily life, but they can also be a distraction or make you suffer in other ways. If you own a traditional phone, you probably cannot get the latest news or chat with your friends instantly; however, you can focus more on what you’re doing and protect your privacy. After all is said and done, it depends on you: how you use it. No matter which kind you choose, just to make sure it doesn’t get in the way. You are using them, not being used by them! a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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