Almost everything that we can possibly imagine can now be done with the help of smartphones. But the device itself isn’t enough to do all the magical things that make a cell phone a ‘smart’phone. The reason smartphone have become such an indispensable part of our lives is because of the amazing apps that we can use them. Apps form the very core of the working of any smartphone. Whether it’s an Android based system, a Windows-based system, or whether it works on the iOS, your smartphone truly comes to life when you download and use the myriad apps that enable you to do the things you want to do.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a way to get fit or if you’re looking for a place to treat yourself to a gluttonous dinner, you can find apps to help you do both these things, right from where you are. However, some people say that human beings all over the world are getting increasingly dependent on their phones. In fact, a recently coined term, ‘smartphone generation’, refers directly to an entire generation of millennials who can’t imagine going a day without their phones.
Author Adora Svitak says, “As we grow up in more technology-enriched environments filled with laptops and smartphones, technology is not just becoming a part of our daily lives – it’s becoming a part of each and every one of us”.
So are smartphones here to help or are they unnecessarily taking the human factor out of our lives?
What The Cynics Say?
Most people who are against the idea of incorporating smartphones into daily life argue that these devices make us lazy and unproductive.
According to them, a smartphone is only a means of distraction and ruins the whole experience of going out and doing things on your own. Many of the people believe that since smartphones offer services at the touch of a button, you end up becoming lethargic and unimaginative.
Parents feel that mobile devices like the iPad steal the joy of being a child and exploring the world like they did in their time. This belief is taken to the point where they are reluctant to even try out new methods of teaching that rely on computers and smart devices.
So how exactly are these gadgets good for us?
The Flipside
Contrary to popular belief, smartphones weren’t invented to increase your dependency on something. They became so popular because they made us independent. When you use a lifestyle app, you get to let go of the dependency you have on other people to get things done for you.
You don’t have to call someone and ask them for phone numbers of other people to get something like a leaking tap fixed. You don’t have to pin your hopes on untruthful classified ads. You can just open the app and directly get in touch with someone who has years of experience and is trusted by the other users as well.
Owning a smartphone doesn’t make you lazy.
To the contrary, with the right apps, your smartphone can be the perfect training partner that you always wanted.
You can download apps that can literally tell you how fit or unfit you are and how you can improve your health. People with diabetes and blood pressure issues need not purchase an expensive device separately to monitor their health. They can do it with the right accessory and a few taps on their smartphones.
That’s not all. People have developed apps and devices which can track your physical activity and give you personalised fitness reports without ever having to rely on a personal trainer. And if you do need a personal trainer, Lifestyle apps like UrbanClap give you access to the best trainers in town, who you can contact whenever you want to.
In fact, in many modern schools, heavy textbooks have been replaced by iPads, where each and every student can access lessons and rich, interactive educational content on their personal devices. This would be impossible with a book.
Subjects like anatomy can be taught much more easily and without the need to hurt any animals! Without smart devices and apps, none of this would ever be possible.
So which side are you on? Will you embrace technology? Or will you hide behind a wall and watch as people attain a greater degree of control over their lives?
