Convenience Convergence or Catastrophic

The cell phone currently does it all, even the before the complete G3 network we had camera, video, and even the internet. But the Generations are truly starting to call for much more than what ever was known could be possible. Back in 1973 when Martin Cooper created the cell phone he only imagined it being a device for talking, I'm sure he never thought it would be what it has grown to be in the 21st century. It’s said that Japan has practiced some of the later to come features of the cell phone. Talk about having your phone being the only thing you need. They have ideas of advertising sending messages due to location of where you live and where you go. This seems like a great idea helps you to get all the sales and hear of all the great places to go and even makes advertising a breeze for companies. But some of the controversy with it is that it destroys privacy. It tells not only your cell phone company (who already knows) but also other companies and databases that have access where you are at any point in time. It gives a person no privacy at all. Another things Japan attempts to look at is the ultimate convergence device, having all info, Id, and credit card numbers stored to your phone. From what I get it’s not so much as for viewing purposes but more so to be able to scan these things easily for maybe shopping or other quick convinces. One of the issues here is that people lose their phones daily; when phones are lost people can easily pick it up and use it, will it be the same for your information? Although the system sounds convenient is it safe? Off course for this to be possible it's going to take much more than the 3G network, but if all the planning is done to make this happen will be go for it, or use it? The capabilities of the 3G network are impressive to use. It seems like total convergence is the only obvious way to go with the network upgrade. Only time and planning will tell. This convergence is making people that use cell phones need nothings else, destroying the market for other products in some cases. In the article titled The Promise of Cell Phones, Sergio Rizzo gives an idea of the cell phone becoming a nannying device. By this he means a technological nanny, which I got the he meant that it was apart of everything in everyday life, and it appeals more now to a demographic that it earlier one didn’t (children). His article talks about how a mother brought her child cell phone because a major event happened and the mother couldn’t contact her daughter so the cell phone has become this device for many things, even the first go to in instances of emergency. The cell phone truly means a lot to the society of America. What will it become in the 4th generation? Of course better, much more convenient for us, making it easier by the phone to handle simple needs of the day, truly a convergence item, aiding us into needed nothing else but it for many of our needs, but will it be catastrophic, destroying our privacy, and our ability to do simple things such as write a check or even face to face communication?

Rizzo, S. (2008, May) The Promise of Cell Phones. London, Los Angeles, New Delhi and Singapore Vol 14(2): 135–143. Retrieved November 24, 2008, from Ohiolink Electronic Journals Center.