Juette Essay 1

Rochelle Juette
DTC 375
Dr. Farman
January 17, 2009
Word Count: 934

Cell Phones Keeping People Connected No Matter How Far

Over the years there have been several new inventions to keep people connected. One of those inventions is a cell phone. A cell phone acquires good qualities which is why to some people it is considered one of the best uses of communication technology. With a cell phone, it doesn’t matter how far away you are; you will always stay connected as long as there is service available and money to pay the bill. You can count on a cell phone in case of an emergency, if money is what you are worried about cell phones are now more affordable, you can talk to anyone anywhere at any time, and they now come in all sizes to allow you to carry them with you at all times.

The quality that makes a cell phone unique from the other communication technologies is that a phone call is personal. For example, my brother Gavin and I are very close; he’s my best friend. Last year he spent seven months in Iraq in the navy. There were several ways we could keep in contact. There were e-mails, letters, texting, but more importantly there were phone calls. With phone calls I was able to hear his voice and it was a lot quicker than waiting for a letter or an e-mail. What was even more amazing was how clear his voice was even though he was 9,000 miles away. Being able to talk to him and hear his voice made the phone call a lot more personable and enjoyable.

Cell phones affect the way people communicate because it helps them feel connected. Even though my brother was in another country I felt as though he was in the room with me. Without the use of phone calls you would have to resort to the old fashion way; which of course is writing a letter. This in itself takes days to send and then receive the letters. With the ability to talk instantly it helps you stay connected with family and friends a lot quicker.

Personally, having a cell phone has been a life saver on several different occasions. I carry my cell phone with me everywhere I go, so I constantly have my phone book on hand. This comes in handy when I need someone’s phone number and don’t have access to a regular phone book. Not only that, but with a cell phone you always have it in case of an emergency. Even when you are out of phone service range you can still make an emergency 911 call and call someone for help. For other people, a cell phone is a great thing to have in case they need to contact someone right away and don’t have access to a pay phone or home phone.

The older forms of media, such as a house phone, have certain boundaries you can’t suppress. You can’t take them with you when you go on trips, some are built into the walls so you can’t even walk more than two feet away, some home phones are expensive when it comes to long distance calling, if the power lines go out then so does your use of a phone and the list goes on. Cell phones have advanced since the everyday house phone not only because they are portable but also because they are very affordable and come with great phone plans. This is very important to many people who need to call others on a regular basis. Being able to take your phone with you wherever you go and not having to pay a fortune for those phone calls are key aspects that make a cell phone more desirable. Even though a letter or e-mail may be cheaper it still comes back to time and having a personal connection which are some of the greatest features in a cell phone.

Cell phones, however, are not always people’s favorite technology. They can also be quite annoying if you use them out of context and stop respecting those around you. Many people zone out the world when they are talking on their cell phones and just tune into their conversations. This could of course be distracting to others around them when their phones are going off in public places or when people are talking really loud on their phones in places where others want peace and quiet. There have been many occasions where people use their cell phones inappropriately such as; in a classroom when a teacher is trying to teach, in a library where people are trying to read, in a movie theater where people are trying to watch a movie without being disturbed, in a grocery store line where people are hearing everything you say, etcetera.

Aside from the people who chose not to use their cell phone appropriately, there are ways to use a cell phone that doesn’t disturb others. You could step outside if you are inside a building, you could call them back at a more convenient time, or you could talk quietly so you don’t disturb others. As long as you are respecting the people around you there is no reason why you can’t use your cell phone unless you were told not to do so.

Since a cell phone can help you stay connected in a more personal way, help you when there is an emergency, are not too expensive when the bills arrive, and can be easily accessible and manageable, the best form of communication technology throughout our time would definitely be a cell phone.