Few things have changed modern-day life as we know it more than the internet, personal computers, and cellphones. At the dawn of the cellphone era were devices that were-and still are-humorously known as “bricks”. These phones had no apps available, internet surfing was nonexistent, and they were the size of, well, a brick. Phones have changed our life and the way we run our businesses, personal life, and more.
Technology
Back in the early days, cell phones had one main purpose: talking. Voicemail was not a common feature, or even existent in phones at one point. Over time, technology developed and companies began to integrate various technology and capabilities into cellphones, creating what is now known as “the smart phone”. The smart phone, at its birth, was able to allow its user to check email, send faxes, and access an address book-still a far cry from what it is today.
As technology developed, so did consumer preferences. What was once used primarily as a talking device is now hardly used for talking at all. We use our smartphones to complete various tasks-from web surfing to checking emails to playing games and reading books. Smartphones are now a convenient replacement for many different technologies like cameras or video cameras. In fact, it’s quite uncommon these days to even see solo cameras. What’s the use, when there is a high quality camera conveniently wrapped into our smart phone? Smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge have features that appeal to any smart phone user. With 4GB of RAM, 12MP camera with auto-focus, and a 5.5-inch Quad-HD display it encompasses aspects of a computer, cell phone, and camera all in one.
Appearances
With so much added capability, it would be a shame to forget to mention how much the cell phone has physically changed during its evolution into the smart phone of today. Believe it or not, the original cell phone-sometimes called a car phone-could be as large as modern-day computers! Over time, smartphones became smaller and smaller, with a sleek design and convenient touch screen capabilities.
Luckily for us, companies have whittled down the size of the cell phone and it now fits conveniently into the palm of our hand or pocket. Today’s consumer requires a large, clear screen with sleek features for attractiveness and ease of use. It seems that with each new model the smart phone becomes sleeker, slimmer, and more convenient and user-friendly.
The Future
What does the future hold for smartphones? While it may seem that the limits have been reached on mobile capability with internet browsing, games, cameras, and more all being conveniently located within our phone, it is very likely that smart phones will continue to develop and improve. Many expect all smartphones to convert over to smart phones, and software being transferred to a cloud storage. In addition, it is believed that future devices will be even more ergonomically and custom designed to user preferences. Regardless of what the future holds for smartphones, if it follows the rapid development of the last ten years or so it is likely that the smart phone will become a mandatory device in each consumer’s life.
The past, present, and future of the smart phone is important to understand to know how we have current day technology. Just as with computers, smartphones have shrunk in size, increased in capabilities, and have endless room for technological growth and development. It’s only a matter of time before the next best thing is developed with greater capabilities, sleeker features, and more efficient use for each consumer out there.
