In this blog post, we will look at the convenience brought about by the development of smartphones, as well as the negative effects such as addiction and health issues, and consider how to achieve a smart lifestyle.
The recent development of various digital devices, led by smartphones, has made our lives more convenient. With the development of social network services (SNS), e-books, and various applications, it is no exaggeration to say that we can now do everything from the palm of our hands.
Smartphones are a new dimension of mobile devices that combine the existing second-generation mobile phones with computers. With their dedicated operating systems, they can perform various functions that were not possible with conventional mobile phones, such as web browsing, cameras, shopping, and financial services. The key point here is that the various functions that were previously performed by computers have been perfectly integrated with the mobility and ease of use of mobile phones. Smartphones were first introduced in 1992 with the release of IBM’s Simon. However, at that time, even the second generation of mobile phones, which only offered basic functions such as voice calls and text messaging, had not yet been fully adopted worldwide. Due to their shallow interfaces and exorbitant prices, the third generation of mobile phones, known as smartphones, did not attract much public attention. Under these circumstances, the emergence and application of touch screen technology triggered the full-scale revival of smartphones. With the emergence of operating systems such as Google Android and Apple iOS, which provide various interfaces based on touch screens, it became possible to incorporate the functions of cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, and notebook computers into smartphones, leading to rapid growth in the mobile phone market.
During this process, iOS-based Apple iPhones and Android OS-based Samsung, LG, Google, and other companies began to compete in earnest by releasing devices with different features, and the market size gradually increased. As of 2016, smartphones have a market share of over 90% and have become the absolute leader in the mobile phone market. The biggest advantage of smartphones is that users can freely customize the interface according to their preferences from a wide range of options.
The smartphone interface is configured based on applications (hereinafter referred to as “apps”) downloaded by users, regardless of the OS, and apps are shared through open markets. Therefore, depending on which apps are installed and used, even the same device can be configured differently, allowing for a wide range of uses according to individual preferences. The greatest appeal of smartphones is that they allow users to create a world that reflects their individuality within a single fixed framework and communicate with other worlds based on that world.
The advent of smartphones has completely changed the way we communicate and live our daily lives. Many tasks that were only possible on computers in the past can now be done anytime, anywhere with smartphones. For example, people can now connect to social networks in real time, shop online, conduct banking transactions, and even monitor their health through their smartphones. The multifunctionality of smartphones has maximized the convenience of our daily lives and revolutionized the way we live.
The emergence and development of smartphones has been an innovation that has changed many aspects of our lives. However, not all changes are positive. It is important to recognize that as much as we have gained, we have also lost many things that are not immediately apparent. The characteristics of smartphones, which combine the features of computers and mobile phones, have made it easier for users to fall into addiction. The biggest advantage of smartphones, which can be used “anytime, anywhere,” has become a powerful dysfunction that makes it impossible to escape “anytime, anywhere.” In 2012, when smartphones began to spread in earnest, the Korea Information Society Agency released a report on smartphone addiction, which found that the smartphone addiction rate was 8.4%, with the addiction rate among people in their teens and twenties, who are highly dependent on smartphones and have relatively weak self-control, significantly higher than that of people in their thirties and older. In addition, since 2011, when smartphones began to be introduced in earnest, there has been a rapid increase in various diseases, including neck and lumbar disc herniation, and many statistical data show that the poor posture that naturally occurs when using these devices puts strain on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, causing health problems such as various disc diseases. Among them, the cervical vertebrae, which connect the skull and spine to support the head and act as a neural pathway and protective barrier for the nerve bundles extending from the brain to the rest of the body, have a curved structure that absorbs physical shocks. Discs between the cervical vertebrae protect the entire central nervous system, so if the cervical vertebrae are subjected to severe impact or pressure, abnormalities can occur, causing serious disorders throughout the body.
and pressure increases, it can cause serious disorders throughout the body. As we have seen above, smartphone addiction is not a trivial problem, and it can cause mental and physical disorders in modern people. Therefore, users must use their judgment wisely to avoid experiencing various negative effects.
To use smartphones correctly, it is important to develop habits to control usage time and to exercise regularly and maintain good posture to prevent health problems that can arise from smartphone use. In addition, it is a good idea to refrain from excessive smartphone use, increase face-to-face communication with family and friends, and take a break from digital devices through reading and hobbies.
Smartphones have become a part of our lives, and their influence is growing. The great scientist Albert Einstein expressed his concern about the coexistence of science and technology and humanity, saying, “I fear the day when technology will surpass the ability of human communication. The world will be ruled by a generation of idiots.” The most urgent task for modern people is to break away from passive adaptation to convenience and become independent users of smartphones through active exploration and effort, rather than becoming “smart idiots.”
