In this blog post, we take a balanced look at the core functions of smartphones, their use in everyday life, and the convenience they offer, as well as the side effects that have emerged.
Smartphones are an essential part of modern life. When changing phones or signing up for a new contract, it is rare to choose a feature phone over a smartphone, especially among younger people. It has been over 10 years since smartphones first appeared, and smartphone-based infrastructure has been established in almost all areas of society, including banking, public transportation, and corporate promotion. One internet user parodied Descartes’ famous quote, saying, “I have a smartphone. Therefore, I exist.” This article briefly explains the features of smartphones that have brought about revolutionary changes in our lives, their impact on our lives, and their problems, in order to help people who are not familiar with smartphones understand them better.
First, let’s look at the meaning of the name “smartphone.” “Smart” is a word that means clever, and its meaning has expanded over time since it was first used in engineering. Initially, it referred to devices with innovative and advanced features, but it gradually came to refer to user-centric, interactive systems. The concept of “smart” is applied to various fields, such as smart grids that maximize the energy efficiency of power grids and smart work that allows people to work efficiently anytime, anywhere using mobile devices. In the case of smartphones, IBM’s “Simon,” often referred to as the first smartphone, supported touch screens, email, memos, and simple Internet functions, but by today’s standards, it is nothing more than a multifunctional feature phone. With the development of the mobile phone industry, smartphones became smaller and smaller, and were equipped with capacitive touch screens, CPUs, and operating systems. Although it is difficult to clearly define a smartphone, it is easy to think of current mobile phones with common features as smartphones.
The three main features of smartphones can be divided into three categories. First, there is the general-purpose operating system and the application functions that run on it. Feature phones before smartphones also had CPUs and operating systems, but their functions and interfaces were limited. In contrast, smartphones are equipped with high-performance CPUs and general-purpose operating systems, allowing them to install a wide variety of software. Smartphone software is called “applications,” which can be downloaded from “markets” or “app stores” where applications are distributed for each operating system. Even general users can program and install applications, and the number of one-person companies that develop and sell applications is increasing. Smartphones are small computers that can be changed in many ways.
Second, smartphones enable the free transmission of information via mobile communication networks. This allows for free internet access, and many applications operate on a network basis. For example, weather applications receive real-time information from the weather bureau and notify users, while messenger applications allow users to send messages without communication charges. Online games that require complex information transmission can also be played via smartphone networks.
Third, touchscreen functionality. All smartphones released recently support capacitive touchscreens, which enable a wide range of functions. Users can easily zoom in and out on internet pages and camera images with two fingers, and even control games dynamically. The method of scrolling through screens has also changed from the traditional button-pressing method to a finger-swiping method, making it more convenient and intuitive.
With the increase in smartphone users, our lives have become smartphone-centric. For example, you can check bus routes and arrival times using a bus app in Seoul. Messenger apps such as KakaoTalk and TikTok support group chats, providing an environment where you can hold meetings without time or place restrictions. Social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter are also easily accessible on smartphones, leading to a significant increase in their usage. Many tasks, such as banking, movie ticket reservations, train ticket reservations, and document confirmation and creation, can be done anytime, anywhere with a smartphone. Corporate promotion using smartphones has also increased, with QR codes being one example of how smartphones are used to provide various information. In addition, creative applications such as augmented reality functions that combine cameras, GPS, and networks have been developed, making the possibilities of what can be done with smartphones endless.
However, smartphones also have problems. First of all, there is the issue of telecommunications carriers setting unreasonable rates. When purchasing a smartphone, you must use a smartphone-specific rate plan, which is expensive compared to the amount of data used. Middle-aged and older users who are not familiar with the latest technology are often unaware of this unfairness. In addition, excessive use of smartphones has led to side effects known as “smartphone syndrome.” Typical symptoms include “turtle neck,” which is caused by prolonged use of smartphones with the head bent downward, and carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by strain on the fingers and wrists due to the small keyboard. In addition, prolonged viewing of smartphone screens often causes dry eyes and myopia. Measures are needed to prevent these side effects.
Technological advances bring about changes in lifestyles. Since the invention of the telephone, communication with people far away has become natural, and with the development of the Internet, most announcements and information from official organizations are now posted online. Currently, smartphone-centric lifestyles are becoming the norm. At this point in time, understanding the core functions and current status of smartphones is essential for keeping up with the times and can also be an opportunity to create new value. The performance of smartphones is rapidly advancing, and our lives are changing accordingly. It is up to us, the users, to use technology wisely without being overwhelmed by it.
