Technology as an Essential Componen
Technology can be seen as an essential component of people's daily activities because it has made most complicated jobs that people perform simpler. ICT has undergone significant advancements, and communication procedures have been streamlined and made more practical. These days, it is simpler for individuals in various regions to communicate within seconds without having to move. The rapid transmission of information has aided advancement in societal, political, and economic institutions (Hooi Ting 193).
The History of the Smartphone
The smartphone is the primary focus of the ethnographic investigation. Before highlighting the history of the smartphone, it is worth noting that all phones emanated from the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and was the first person to make the first call in the year 1878 (Sarwar 216). From then, telephones have undergone several evolutions, from immobile to mobile phones, resulting in what is being used today. Advanced processes are still taking place and, therefore, it is expected for more changes to be held in the various modes of communication that people use. It is worth noting that the first cellphones began to be used in the 80s and were mostly from the Motorola Company. The cellphones were a bit heavy with some weighing more than two pounds (Sarwar 216).
The Rise of the Smartphone
The first smartphone, which was produced by BellSouth and IBM, came into public in 1993 (Suckling and Lee 1181). The phone had basic features when compared to the current smartphone whereby it had a touch screen and had the ability to send faxes and emails (Suckling & Lee 1181). Smartphones can be perceived to be advanced versions of cell phones, and, apart from the standard features of making calls and sending videos, smartphones incorporate the use of GPS and other necessary applications. From an analytical perspective, young people make part of the large population that uses smartphones, especially when texting. Aside from gaining access to the Internet, smartphones also employ features found in computers (Suckling & Lee 1181).
The Versatility of Smartphones
An individual can easily edit, save, and share the documents between the phone and the computer using a USB interface. Also, they are capable of interpreting and decoding messages, and hence convenient when it comes to business processes such as the packaging of products (Suckling & Lee 1181). Smartphones allow access to various sites in addition to enabling the download of applications. They enable individuals to read books online and are useful tools for accessing information. Furthermore, one can easily obtain QR code scanners and quickly access coupons or websites of interest. From a general perspective, the technology associated with smartphones keeps on advancing. Currently, one can control the machines in his or her house by using a smartphone as a remote control. Smartphones are quite popular in our households and hence are a significant form of technology to be included in the ethnographic study (Stieglitz & Brockmann 76).
The Effects of Smartphone Use
Plenty of studies have been done on the effects of using smartphones in regards to individual behavior, interpersonal relations, and cognitive development in addition to the physical impacts (mostly body posture). Therefore, by studying the behavior of smartphone users, it becomes easier to note down such effects when exhibited by the users. The analysis focuses on getting a visual perspective of the behavior of people when using smartphones and how they make use of the services provided by the smartphones. In a more practical point of view, if people are using the smartphones in banking activities, what are their experiences? How much time do they spend on the phones? When do they use the phones? What activities are in most cases performed when using smartphones? What are the activities taking place in people’s surroundings when they are engaged in their phones? How does the use of smartphones affect the interaction of individuals? Are there physical changes associated with the use of the phones? Is there any change in the intellectual ability of a person who is consistently suing his or her smartphone? What is the behavior of an individual when not using the smartphone? What is the reaction of youth when his or her smartphone is confiscated from her as a form of punishment?
Focusing on Smartphone Usage in Daily Activities
The study focuses on how individuals apply the use of smartphones in their daily activities. To obtain a more critical analysis of the study, the analysis is directed toward various segments that include making observations and recording the behavior of people using smartphones when moving, analyzing the attitudes of individuals and trends in specific users of phones such as in banking or shopping. The factors included were; the methods in which the users are engaged in establishing the use of the smartphone in regards to how it has been modified to suit their needs; the places where people mostly use the smartphones; the population that mostly use the phones; the conjunction of the smartphone with other forms of technology; the associated skills required in making use of the smartphones; if the smartphone is gender specific; in addition to the impact of the smartphone on the lives of the users.
Making Observations and Recording Behavior
The basic assumption at this stage is that people carry their mobile devices everywhere they go and therefore it wouldn’t be difficult analyzing their behavior. Mobile devices tend to be quite useful when it comes to contexts that require flexibility. It is important to note noting that it is hectic to detect the changes of situations when a device is being used in regards to the actions of people and the goals of engaging in particular contexts. Observing the behavior of individuals when they are using their devices on the move requires keenness and proper analysis.
We put up our observational study to analyze the behavior of individuals engaged in their smartphones during traveling. The first location of our analysis was at the train station. The leading assumption was that people commonly use buses and trains on a daily basis when moving to their respective areas. The chances are that most of them spend the time on their phones or reading magazines or newspapers, or engage in conversation with others as strategies of passing the time. Also, for the young people, a majority of them spend such moments on their phones even when interacting with others.
For the purpose of obtaining a critical analysis of the situation in addition to receiving insights on new experiences, we found it wise to eliminate ourselves from our usual traveling activities and focus on the study such that the purpose of commuting was to analyze the behavior of individuals using smartphones. The preferred methods for the collection of data included strategic observation and an ethnographic analysis of the practices. The reason for employing the two strategies is that they are efficient for naturalistic studies and allow the analysis of assumptions that take place on a daily basis.
We included several insights when conducting the study such that no aspect is left out when presenting the findings. We reflected on some of the possible behaviors of individuals on the move when using their phones. One of the insights is that people are motivated to use their smartphones as a result of public inattention whereby they tend to keep themselves busy with their phones in the presence of other people; a situation that is forced by circumstances. Another insight is that most of the activities that people on the move engage in occurring in short spans and that they are done when somebody is doing something else. The other insights are that the time involved in several steps tends to be subjective in regards to the time spent by a commuter in a train and the duration of attention that a commuter uses when using his or her phone. With such insights, it was easier for us to make interpretations of the expected behavior and the causes of the behavior. We saw it wise for each person in the group to take notes such that we compare them after the task and highlight any notable differences in the observations. The idea was to eliminate any form of bias present in the analysis and include any feature that might have been noted by one and missed by the other.
The ideal time for the analysis was during the morning and evening hours when the trains were busy with people going to their respective workplaces and traveling back respectively. The aspects highlighted when noting down the observations include; the methods in which the users are engaged in establishing the use of the smartphone in regards to how it has been modified to suit their needs, the places where people mostly use the smartphones, the population that mostly use the phones, the conjunction of the smartphone with other forms of technology, the associated skills required in making use of the smartphones, if the smartphone is gender specific and in addition the impact of the smartphone on the lives of the users.
Some of the entries made in the forms were telegraphic as the passengers were on the move. Also, it was a bit difficult maintaining being discreet especially for passengers who noticed our focus being on them. Also, there was a lot of movement and hence maintaining focus on one passenger was quite challenging.
Key Findings from the Participants
Most of the participants spent the time on the train looking at their phones and engaged in small talk with people sitting next to them. Individuals that engaged in one-to-one conversation appeared to be familiar with each other and often checked their smartphones while conversing. A majority of people busy on their smartphones in the train were young people whereby they were busily engaged in chatting. Also, when they engaged in a conversation, their eyes were focused on their phones while others took “selfies”; both individually and in groups. The users appeared comfortable engaged in their smartphones throughout an entire trip. Some were even laughing and making tiny smiles while engaged on their phones. In regards to gender, girls appeared to be the majority of people spending their time on their smartphones when compared to boys. For adults, most of them checked their phones for the time while others made calls while some preferred not answering calls by telling their callers that they would communicate with them once they got out of the train.
Analyzing the Attitudes of Individuals and Trends in Specific Users of Phones such as in Banking and Shopping
Then the next step for the purpose of having a comprehensive analysis was to assess the behavior of individuals when it comes to the aspects of shopping and banking. The basic assumption was that most people have switched to transacting their businesses online through the applications present in smartphones. The study entailed an empirical analysis whereby we provided a form to some of the individuals in our homes and friends whereby they were expected to fill them every time they engaged in online banking or shopping. The view was to assess how individuals take part in banking and shopping engagements by using their smartphones. We gave them a period of two weeks for the purpose of having substantive data for generating our conclusions. In the forms, the participants had to indicate their gender with the particular focus being on shopping and banking activities and the impact that the smartphones had on their lives. We restricted the participants to five members of our families who had smartphones.
Some of the entries made in the forms were telegraphic as some of them were on the move when filling them while some sent us the forms through their smartphones. Shopping and banking being regular activities in households such that it may take a short time to obtain some things and conduct some transactions, some participants forgot to record some of the events or rather did not include some of the activities that they engaged in during the given period. Another challenge was the aspect of bias whereby chances were that some of them might have exceeded normal theory transactions because of participating in the study.
Key Findings from the Participants
Most of them stated that they bought items online after seeing them in a store while some explained that the urge for buying goods took place after viewing them on screen or the stores. Most of the participants stated that they preferred to use smartphones to engage in browsing especially when feeling lazy to use their computers and hence used their phones mostly in purchasing items online. Most of them frequently engaged in banking activities using their smartphones because of convenience unless when they had the necessity to go to the bank. Also, most of them used the apps on their smartphones for their convenience whereby some had specific applications for buying clothing and expensive items such as vehicles. Some of them explained that they had to organize their applications in a particular manner to easily find them.
Empirical Findings
The analysis of data took place after the combination of reports from each person and carefully eliminating any information that appeared to be biased. We considered every form of limitation and highlighted some of the factors that were quite common among us. We employed the use of statistical analysis to investigate the methods in which the users are engaged in establishing the use of the smartphone in regards to how it has been modified to suit their needs, the places where people mostly use the smartphones, the population that mostly use the phones, the conjunction of the smartphone with other forms of technology, the associated skills required in making use of the smartphones, if the smartphone is gender specific and in addition the impact of the smartphone on the lives of the users. From the analysis, 85% of the population used their smartphones as ways of passing the time in the presence of strangers (a situation caused by unavoidable circumstances).
When it comes to the use of phones, 90% of the population uses smartphones are young people. 70% of the young people that busied themselves with their smartphones were female. An approximate number of 95% of the individuals used their smartphones while on transit. 90% of the people used both their laptops and smartphones when conducting shopping and banking activities while 90% of them had various applications intended for individual reasons. 99% of the population used smartphones for various reasons, communicating, downloading specific applications, conducting business transactions, and as escape routes when present in public.
65% of the participants in the home studies stated that they bought items online after seeing them in a store while the remaining 35% explained that the urge for buying goods took place after viewing them on screen or the stores. 80% of the participants stated that they preferred to use smartphones to engage in browsing especially when feeling lazy to use their computers and hence used their phones mostly in purchasing items online. 90% of them frequently engaged in banking activities using their smartphones because of convenience unless when they had the necessity to go to the bank. Also, 65% of them used the apps on their smartphones for their convenience whereby some had specific applications for buying clothing and expensive items such as vehicles while 50% of them explained that they had to organize their applications in a particular manner to easily find them (mostly the adults).
Reflection
To obtain substantive results, it is advisable to conduct the study of the behavior employed when using smartphones in close context to the device. The combination of interviews through an individual gathering of data, and observation and making records, it was easier to demonstrate the impact of smartphones on our day-to-day activities. The combination allowed the triangulation of data and hence enabling us to present the results adequately.
Preliminary Conclusion
The smartphone has become part of our lives such that it has made life easier by making activities such as communication, shopping, and banking easier. From our studies on people on transit, most of the people using smartphones while traveling used them to avoid the public; the majority of people busy on their smartphones on the train were young people whereby they were busily engaged in chatting; the users appeared comfortable engaged in their smartphones throughout an entire trip, girls appeared to be the majority of people spending their time on their smartphones when compared to boys. From the individual home studies, the key findings include; a majority of them bought items online after seeing them in a store; the participants stated that they preferred to use smartphones to engage in browsing especially when feeling lazy to use their computers and hence used their phones mostly in purchasing items online; most of them frequently engaged in banking activities using their smartphones because of convenience unless when they had the necessity to go to the bank; most of them used the apps in their smartphones for their convenience whereby some had specific applications for buying clothing and expensive items such as vehicles and some of them explained that they had to organize their applications in a particular manner in order to easily find them. From the above analysis, it is evident that smartphones have had a huge impact on our lives.
Works Cited
Hooi Ting, Ding. Dependency on Smartphone and the Impact on Purchase Behavior. Young Consumers 12.3 (2011): 193-203.
Sarwar, Muhammad, & Tariq Rahim Soomro. Impact of Smartphone’s on Society. European journal of scientific research 98.2 (2013): 216-226.
Stieglitz, Stefan, & Tobias Brockmann. The Impact of Smartphones on E-participation. System Sciences (HICSS), 2013 46th Hawaii International Conference on. IEEE, 2013.
Suckling, James, & Jacquetta Lee. Redefining Scope: The True Environmental Impact of Smartphones?.” The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 20.8 (2015): 1181-1196.
