Have you ever forgotten your phone at your dorm or at home, and you feel uneasy all day without it? Misplacing my phone becomes equivalent in urgency to 8.4 earthquake. In our lab, we mentioned how our cellphones often feel like an extension of ourselves, and a majority (if not all of us) who own phones don't leave our rooms without them. But what kind of impact does this constant stream of cellular data have on us, and are there effects to toting our phones everywhere with us?
Some people believe that this technology is extremely useful, and can help further advances and communication. Alternatively, there are those who believe that computer mediated communication is harmful, and destroying our ability to communicate face to face. We discussed this theory in class as one of our many sides of technology: the Utopian vs. Dystopian visions of CMC. This goes hand in hand with the perspective of hype and hysteria, saying that when new technology is released, some will fear it (saying it's dumbing us down, or soon robots will take over everything, but perhaps not so dramatic) and some will be excited for it, praising it as the greatest new innovation. But perhaps there's more to this utopian and dystopian perspective than meets the eye - do our cellphones have useful benefits and overwhelming gratifications, or more negative effects than we may realize?
Researchers have actually been looking into and studying separation and attachment to cellphones. This article discusses a study published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Researchers conducted a series of tests that had iPhone users performing tasks, and had some of them unable to answer their cellphones. Results show that those who were unable to answer their phones performed poorly on cognitive tests when compared to others. During tasks if their phone began to ring and they couldn't answer it, they found an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, along with anxiety and uneasiness. Researchers theorize that our attachment to our phones may be because of the gratifications they occur us: the ability to give us information, social connections and even personal safety. Our anxiety may be due to us feeling like we might be missing out on something.
The researchers offer some very interesting theories, which make quite a lot of sense if you mull over their ideas a bit. As humans are a very social species, it is understandable that we want to feel connected to our social links. The researchers go further to suggest that our anxiety could become a distraction, and lower our work performance, and even our ability to engage with others and the media. It's interesting that these researchers take a somewhat (but not terribly dramatic) dystopian perspective to this form of technology - giving evidence that it might actually be a hindrance more than helpful. I think most of us hate to admit it, but our phones can be quite a severe distraction. You figure you're just going to hit up Yik Yak and then suddenly you've also checked Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and zoned out for ten minutes of class. (This has happened to me more than once)
This brings up the discussion of gratification vs. hindrance - it's true that we get a great sense of gratification out of using our cellphones, as we touched on in our lectures. They keep us connected, offer us information, time passers, entertainment and more - but does the gratification outweigh the hindrances and distractions that cellphones also bring to the table? This question is one that is probably best answered on a case to case basis, as almost everyone has a different opinion on the subject.
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