Brunk Page 1

David Brunk
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
4/2/2015
Disconnected: Have Cell Phones Hindered Modern Day Society?
If you were born before the invention of the cell phone, you probably remember what
society was like before communication was immediate. If you wanted to talk to someone, you
would have to mail a letter, call from home or a pay phone, or even go see them in person. You
wouldnt have constant access to someones whereabouts; what they are doing, who they are
with, and even what they are eating. The cell phone has revolutionized our way of life. We can
now know all of this information in an instant. All of this technology seems to be a fantastic
improvement on the surface, but a more profound analysis might raise up issues that have
been overlooked through this rapid technological growth. Does our ability to communicate
instantly through cell phones diminish the quality and value of face-to-face interaction? What
are some of the positive and negative effects of cell phones on society? Are there potential
health risks from cell phones? These questions have yet to be answered as we are moving
forward with technology but forgetting to observe the possibly detrimental effects of our
progress.

Brunk Page 2
As humans, one of the things we desire most is that deep connection with other people.
Whether it is with a family member, a significant other, a friend, or even co-workers, it is
something that we need. In modern day society, cell phones seem to have taken away from our
face-to-face interaction. If you need to get in touch with someone, you can simply send a text
and contact them instantly. But is this really the same as talking to them in person? You cannot
hear their tone of voice or see their body language through a text message . In other words,
some of the emotional aspect of human interaction has been stripped away . Furthermore,
using a cell phone while you are with other people rather than by yourself can put a damper on
those relationships.
According to CNN, researchers from the University of Essex found that people who
engaged in personal discussions when a cell phone was nearby- even if neither was actually
using it- reported lower relationship quality and less trust for their partner (Kerner) .Trust has
become a big issue with cell phones. The cell phone enables one to reconnect with people from
the past, whether it is an old friend from high school or a distant relative . But this easy access
poses a threat to relationships because of the ability to reconnect with a past romantic partner.
According to a study by Huffington Post, 25% of people confessed to using their cell phone to
discreetly flirt with another individual who was not their partner (Gray). So what does this
mean? Does this mean that everyone who purchases a cell phone for themselves is going to be
incapable of communicating effectively with another person face-to-face? Certainly not. It is,

Brunk Page 3
however, something important to think about if a cell phone becomes a replacement for social
interaction rather than an enhancement.
Cell phone use has not only posed a social issue in society, but also a safety issue. The
temptation to pull out your cell phone often causes people to send text messages when
walking across the street or even driving. Distracted driving has become a large issue ever since
the invention of the cell phone. Every day in the United States, 9 people are killed and more
than 1153 people are injured in a car crash that reported having involved a distracted driver
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). State and federal laws have been drawn up in
response to these high rates of distracted driving accidents. Currently, 45 out of the 50 states
have laws that ban texting while driving (Governors Highway Safety Association).
On the other hand, there is an abundance of benefits that have stemmed from the
invention of the cell phone. Global communication has gone from a distant possibility of the
future to reality in a shockingly short amount of time. This means that communication between
nations can be instant, speeding up diplomatic decisions. News of what is happening on
another continent can become common knowledge to the everyday citizen of a completely
different country. There are also numerous benefits to the individual. People who have physical
impairments can use voice control on their cell phone to communicate efficiently. Businesses
can increase productivity with the ability to intercommunicate with its employees faster. Since
texting and driving has become a controversial topic in America, cell phone companies have

Brunk Page 4
implemented hands free options onto cell phones, enabling one to send a text or play music
while still focusing on the road. There are endless ways that cell phones have positively affected
our society.
Some people have been concerned about possible health risks of using a cell phone .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cell phones do emit
radiofrequency radiation to send signals. This type of radiation is different than X-rays, which
have been confirmed to be harmful to humans. But there is no scientific evidence available that
suggests that cell phones cause cancer. Studies are currently being conducted to determine
whether or not there are health risks from using a cell phone. If there are health risks, however,
they are assumed to be minimal. Certainly the benefits of having a cell phone outweigh these
miniscule risks. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, you will be glad that you took the
possible risk and had a cell phone available to call for help.
So why are cell phones so addicting? Why do we feel the need to pull the device out of
our pocket every time there is dead air in the room? Is our digital profile more important than
our actual physical reality? If you look around on a college campus you will find that the
majority of students walking by you are looking down, scrolling through on their phones. A
recent study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions found that female college
students spend an average of ten hours a day on their cell phones while male college students
spend an average of eight hours (Almendrala, ). This study reveals something about our nature.
Some people attribute their cell phone addiction to the ability to make your image better than

Brunk Page 5
it actually is. People use their cell phones to escape the physical reality, which is very
demanding. People also dont like to feel disconnected from the world. If a person isnt
receiving the latest updates from their favorite celebrities or sports team, they feel
uninformed. Some researchers suggest that this desire to feel connected to other people
constantly is simply human nature, while others say that it is an addiction . In a 2013 blog post
for Psychology Today, psychology professor Ira Hyman, Ph.D., writes that researchers may just
be observing the rise of a new norm in social interaction: immediate, hyper-connected, and
here to stay. (Almendrala, Huffingtonpost.com) In other words, being constantly updated and
talking to your friends via text messages throughout the day may just be our new way of life . Is
this a good thing or a bad thing? Certainly staying in touch with loved ones and relatives and
friends who live farther away seems like a good idea. Being able to see breaking news about
what is happening near you and getting weather updates instantly can save you a lot of time.
With all of this information readily available, your time can be spent doing more important
things like getting some work done or spending time with friends and family . But constantly
checking your phone can become an addictive behavior. It can put a strain on your relationships
and even cause you to miss important things in a class lecture. I know this from experience.
With all of this new technology emerging, one might ask, what else could they possibly
do next? We can already send instant messages wirelessly, pay for things at the store with our
cell phones, and even lock our cell phone with our fingerprint. Although the question may seem
to some as a bit premature, scientists are always working on the next best thing. So what is on

Brunk Page 6
the horizon for cell phones? Well, since cell phones require trace amounts of rare earth
elements such as gallium, indium, and arsenic. These elements are scarce and can be very
expensive. Because of this, scientists are attempting to develop ways to replace these elements
with carbon, which is a more common element. At the Technical University of Denmark, Jakob
Wagner and colleagues have found a better way to build carbon nanotubes that could lead to
their use as a semiconductor, a key component of all electronic circuit parts found in both cell
phones and laptops (Niiler). So for us as the average, everyday citizen, this means cheaper
phones. No more paying $700 for the top of the line cell phone. People with lower financial
stability could afford these cheaper devices, thus increasing their ability to communicate with
people. Companies could afford faster cell phone models for their employees, increasing
productivity.
One very new technology that is emerging is a smartphone with a curved display. We
have seen this recently with LGs release of its G Flex phone. This technology could evolve to
the point where the displays are 100% flexible. Large tablet devices could be folded to fit into
your pocket. If you are hiking or cycling, you could wrap the device around your wrist to
eliminate the possibility of it falling out of your pocket and shattering the screen . Curved
screens also have more structural integrity that their flat-screened counterparts. Flexible
screens would allow the screen to bend rather than snap if necessary (Rogerson).

Brunk Page 7
As seen with devices such as the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S5, developers have
implemented fingerprint scanners. Talks of other biometric security such as optical or voice
security will soon replacing entering in your password or pin or swipe patterns to unlock your
mobile phone.
Everything in the modern world is going wireless. Wireless computers, wireless printers,
and wireless gaming controllers. Developers are soon introducing wireless charging for mobile
phones. If you go to the mall you will see charging stations for people who need to get a little
extra power for their cell phone. In the future, you might not even have to plug your cell phone
in. You could simply turn on the option on your device to charge and youre good to go.
Weve all seen the movies where instead of an actual device being held, someone turns
on a projector that emits a holographic display emerges that can be manipulated in thin air. Up
until recently one might laugh at the thought of these sci-fi technologies might come about.
According to news.com.au, this will become a reality 10-15 years down the line. A company
called Ostendo Technologies is already developing a Quantum Photonic Imager. This device is a
pill sized projector unit that can beam a high-resolution image out into the open. In about a
decades time, we will have tweaked this new technology to where we can fully interact with
the floating screen. Watching television will be revolutionized. You can get right in the middle
of the action when watching a play-by-play for a sports broadcast. The way we play videogames
will be completely transformed. Virtual gaming will become a reality, rather than sitting in one

Brunk Page 8
spot with your eyes glued to the television screen. You can get inside a map when getting
directions to someplace new. Hospitals could use this technology to perform more precise
procedures. The possibilities are endless.
To conclude, as we are ever progressing as a race; continuing to develop newer
technologies, there is sometimes a disconnection between the rate at which we are progressing
and the rate that we analyze how this progression affects our society. When cell phones were
invented, it set wheels into motion for an exponential growth in the next few years. We were
able to develop futuristic technology that we never thought possible. The cell phone can
decrease the quality of our interpersonal relationships and sometimes even ruin them. There
are endless positive effects that they have had on our society including: improvement on
communication, helping everyday life, and helping us stay in touch with people. There are also
some negative effects. They have become a safety issue. People become distracted and cause
accidents on the road. There are also numerous possibilities when moving forward.
Opportunities to create even more sophisticated technology for mobile phones are on the
horizon. Opportunities that will make our lives easier and more efficient. I think that when
observing these effects, the positive effects certainly outweigh the bad and the invention and
implementation of cell phones into society is a step forward.

Brunk Page 9
Works Cited
Almendrala, Emma. Our Creepy Attachment to Cell Phones Could be an Addiction .
Huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. Web. 1 April, 2015.
Distracted Driving. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC. Web. 29 March, 2015
Distracted Driving Laws. Governors Highway Safety Association. Web. 1 April, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions About Cell Phones and Your Health. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. CDC. Web. 28 March, 2015.
Gray, Emma. Relationships and Technology: Is Texting Ruining Romance?
Huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. Web. 27 March, 2015.
Kerner, Ian. Your Smartphone May be Powering Down Your Relationship. CNN.com. Web. 29
March, 2015.
Niiler, Eric. Carbon-Based Cell Phones on the Horizon. News.discovery.com. Discovery News.
Web. 24 April, 2015.
Rogerson, James. Its Time to Stop Making Jokes and Accept the Curved Smartphone is a Good
Idea. Techradar.com. Tech Radar. Web. 24 April, 2015.