How smartphones have changed the way we live

It’s only been a few weeks since the newest iPhones were released upon the world, and already they’ve been generating controversy. Whether it’s a scarf-wearing Dutch man or the dubious claims that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus bend in the owner’s pocket, there’s no doubting the monumental effect the phone has had and indeed the impact of smartphones of the modern day Zeitgeist.

The world of technology has grown exponentially over the last 10 years, and whether or not we are willing to admit it, smartphones have undoubtedly changed the way we live. As more than just devices for communication, they’ve changed the way we connect, play and shape our memories.

Keeping in touch

It seems a million years ago now that we used to pick up a home telephone and arrange a time to meet somebody. In little more than a decade, telephone boxes are only relevant in time travel dramas and we’re keeping connected 24/7. It’s had positive and negative impacts – for one, we can keep in touch via messaging programs like Skype or Whatsapp that allow us to talk to people on the other side of the world. On the flip side however, with our emails constantly pinging at us, it can be hard to distance ourselves from work, so it’s important to find the balance.

Smartphone

Smartphone

Playing the game

Gone are the days when Atari and Sega would rule the roost in the gaming world. While consoles still remain popular, today’s offering is far more advanced. What models like the XBox and PlayStation cannot offer however is mobile gaming – something afforded to us by smartphones. In fact, smartphones have helped to take some industries off the ground, including the online gambling industry. Many affiliate sites are now promoting online gambling, all of which can be found via people’s smartphones.

Capturing the memory

Smartphone sceptics have long been saying that today’s gadget culture has turned us into a nation of selfie obsessives. Indeed, with the photographic technology available on most of today’s mobiles rivalling modern day digital cameras, it’s no wonder that we’re all a little more partial to a cheeky selfie. However, long before the term was even implemented into the dictionary, smartphones were instrumental in helping us to capture our favourite memories and share them with the world. Yesterday’s photo album is today’s Facebook post, and this is undoubtedly one of the best things to come out of the smartphone industry.