Date: 01/11/2011 Module Tutor: Bo Li Module code: CC3006N

LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Current Development:CW2 MOBILE

TELEPHONY

Social, environmental and ethical concerns | Abdul Mannan 06037871

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

Contents
Contents..............................................................................................2 1 Introduction ......................................................................................3 2 Literature review ..............................................................................3 2.1 What is Mobile Telephony?............................................................................3 2.2 Historical developments ...............................................................................3 3 Social Impact of mobile phone ...........................................................4 4 Environmental effects .......................................................................6 5 Ethical concerns.................................................................................6 6 Health hazard ...................................................................................7 7 Commentaries ...................................................................................7 8 Analysis ............................................................................................8 8.1 Advantages................................................................................................... 8 8.2 Disadvantages ..............................................................................................8 9 Conclusion ........................................................................................9 10 Bibliography....................................................................................9

Mobile Telephony
2| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

Abstract

1 Introduction
In this report my main aim is to focus on social, environmental and ethical concerns on the mobile telephony system, I will cover health issues relating to mobile technology. In addition I am going to briefly explain what mobile telephony is, the advantages and disadvantages that the system carries and its historical development. When mobile technology was introduced and distributed for marketing in the shops around 15yrs ago it gave us the ability to talk to people at any time and place, but this changed our social behaviour and made a huge cultural impact. A whole new network of socialization and communicating through mobile telephony had formed instantly. Messages in bottles were now know longer needed. Technology is on the increase than ever before.

2 Literature review
2.1 What is Mobile Telephony? Mobile phone is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator. Web ref (2) 2.2 Historical developments Radio communication started in the late 1800s and Marconi became central in the development of radio based communication. During the 1890s Marconi sent radio signal over long distance ranging from several hundreds and eventually to transoceanic communication.web ref (1) The first mobile device was confirmed by Dr Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973, using a handset weighing 2 1/2 lbs (about 1 kg).[1] In 1983 the DynaTAC 8000x was the first to be commercially available. In the twenty years from 1990 to 2010, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew from 12.4 million to over 4.6 billion, penetrating the developing economies and even reaching the bottom of the economic pyramid. Mobile telephony is without a doubt one of the most explosive developments ever to have taken place in the telecommunications industry. Web ref (2)

3| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

The generation of mobile phone users in modern society not only use it for communicating but the mobile device is used as a source of entertainment. The options allow access to camera, games, music player and internet. Some mobiles such as apple iPhones have a built in GPS that allows navigation facilities. The mobile invention is a wonderful technology and has to be the most important development in the communication field. But it can be seen as a cause for decline in social behaviour and the stunt in human development. Mobile telephony can cause a lot of problems for youngsters and parents, including authority. Web ref (3)

3 Social Impact of mobile phone

Mobile technology can offer huge amount of advantages greater personal security and the added ability to take advantages of doing business on the move. Many people now wont remember how it was when there was no mobile communication because they feel that the need of having a communication device is far more important in their life. Mobile telephony can be known as lifesavers as they can help people in emergencies. For e.g. if you get lost you could easily use the mobile phone to help find your destination. Some say having a mobile phone makes them feel safe. The device makes it a comfortable way of communication on the go with quick access to help in emergencies small or big. Mobile phones can be both economical and essential for travellers trying to stay connected. In Japan mobile phone companies provide instant alert of earthquakes and other natural disasters to their customers free of charge. In the event of an emergency, disaster response crews can locate trapped or injured people using the signals from their mobile phones or the small detonator of flare in the battery of every cell phone. An interactive menu accessible through the phone's Internet browser notifies the company if the user is safe or in distress. In the UK network provider T-Mobile allows customers to send a free text when they are out of credit this is a great help in an emergency or when out of credit and need to contact someone. Along with all these advantages there are many disadvantages for mobile phone usage. Mobile phones play a huge role in a persons life as it stores away memories such as pictures, videos and voice recordings this also includes diaries and messages. This is a great advantage until someone comes along and steals your phone, this advantage can turn ugly immediately. Those pictures and recordings could mean the world to you; they might be pictures of your loved ones that no longer exist in your life or private and personal things.
4| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

Losing the mobile could mean losing all that above and leave a person sad, depressed and so on.

Mobile-phone use while driving is common. It is generally agreed that using a hand-held mobile phone while driving can be dangerous and also brings risk of road traffic accidents. So we need to avoid using this device totally while driving or use hands free kit to avoid such hazards. Web ref (4) Mobile phones have become the ultimate designer fashion accessory with costly price tags. There is both marketing and peer pressure, particularly on the young, mugging or theft of mobile devices has become a huge problem in our society continually to update their phones in order to keep up with trends is the cause for crime, This is socially divisive. Web ref (5) There is increasing pressure for people to remain in mobile contact when away from the office. The electronically-enabled culture of instantaneous response to the demands of employers and clients has become the norm. People can no longer leave work at the office, it has become a social crisis.web ref (5)

Betty Ford Centre in Southern California reported that the growing use of cell phones has become a major social problem for tens of thousands of Americans not much different than other harmful addictions: an obstacle to one-on-one personal contact, and an escape from reality. Sounds extreme, but we've all witnessed the evidence: The guy at a restaurant who talks on the phone through an entire meal, ignoring his kids around the table. Has shown clear example of what this device can do. Web ref (6)

Technology is a serious social problem it only speeds it all up, forcing you to wave at them as they pass by, without getting a chance to try doing it with your own two hands, and accomplishing something without the use of technology we are becoming very dependent and sacrificing the necessity of life for e.g. Good healths, exercise, sleep time, education, and even things such as family or friends. There are other problems we are facing with mobile technology such as tracing mobile conversation of partner leading to lack of trust and relationship problems. Web ref (8)

5| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

4 Environmental effects
The average shelf life for a cell phone is currently 18 months. By 2005 it is estimated that 130 million cell phones will be thrown away annually representing 65,000 tons of waste a year. Web ref (5) Mobile phones are made of dangerous substances some of which are toxic, including PVC, phthalates, zinc, lead, flame retardants and arsenic .When a cell phone ends up in a landfill it sits there sometimes even for hundreds of years, giving those toxic substances lots of time to leach into the ground and water supply. Web ref (7) There are cities around the world that are being destroyed by a crowd of ugly mobile antennae, which does spoil once-pleasant views, or even detract from the authenticity of historical areas, and exacerbate the often already overwhelming presence of intrusive urban infrastructure such as electricity poles, telephone lines, traffic management equipment and signage. Web ref (3)

5 Ethical concerns
Cell phones may have revolutionized the way we communicate, but in Central Africa their biggest legacy is war. Nearly 3 million people have died in Congo in a four-year war over coltan, a heat-resistant mineral are widely used in cell phones, laptops and playstations. Eighty percent of the world's coltan reserves are in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountainous jungle area where the coltan is mined is the battleground of what has been grimly dubbed "Africa's first World War", According to the United Nations, smuggling and exportation of coltan has helped fuel the war in Congo, a crisis that has resulted in millions of deaths since 1998. The solution to this massive problem is finding or having an independent company monitoring these supply chains and establishing a fair trade policy, mobile phone users can also play a part to solve this issue by recycling their mobile phones. Web ref (5), (9) There are several ethical concerns, Mobile phones can also enable illegal activities such as drug dealing and even assist terrorist to coordinate there target. Book ref (1)
6| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

6 Health hazard
Accumulating evidence indicate that microwave radiation from mobile phones may cause serious diseases and disturbances in the physiology. This includes an increased cancer risk and genetic damage, disturbed brain function and other effects. Mobile phone radiation and health concerns have been raised, especially following the enormous increase in the use of wireless mobile telephony throughout the world. Prolonged use of mobile phone should be avoided. The head set should be kept at reasonable distance from our head.web ref (4) There are other health issues that need to be addressed concerning mobile telephony. Small keypads is causing problem for those who with limited dexterity. There have been other claims of repetitive strain injury for those who frequently send text messages. Web ref (5) In the last generation when people where bored they use to do different activities such as playing football or meet up with friends to keep them selves busy technology has made people lazy and less active leading to health issues such as obesity. An Australian study published in 1997 suggested that transgenic mice exposed to signals similar to those emitted by a cellular phone were up to twice as likely to develop lymphomas. Meanwhile a UK study found that mobile phone use could affect the nerve cells responsible for short-term memory, while a study carried out in the Nordic region linked excessive use of mobile phones with headaches and fatigue theses symptoms generally disappeared as soon as cell phone use was stopped. Web ref (3)

7 Commentaries
In conclusion to this report, after thorough research I believe that mobile telephony has its greatness and negativity. Some outweigh the other but overall people and I myself cannot live without being constantly connected to my loved ones. There are many factors resulting in why people carry mobile phones, some say its for entertainment others say for safety some say for business and the list can go on. I believe mobile telephony should have a restriction age limit, 18year olds and onwards can have one. As a child until the age of 18 I wasnt allowed a mobile phone and that I believe
7| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

kept me out of trouble at home and outside. I would be doing my homework while my friends would be connected to girls via mobile device and there whole attitude to studying changes. For youngsters its become a dangerous weapon for meeting elder guys they dont know and then becoming a victim of rape. Mobile phone could become an addiction leading to minimal social interaction finally leading to stress, I believe that technology has brought us fruitful gadgets and makes our daily life easier and enjoyable. In my opinion I feel that it is not a good thing but a great destruction to those that are more important in life such as family & friends.

8 Analysis
8.1 Advantages

Mobility Freedom Independence Safety Tools Connected

img ref (3)

8.2 Disadvantages

Health Effects. Theft. Security Spam. Environmental effect. Less Active Danger

Img ref (2)

8| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

9 Conclusion
The advancement of technology such as cell phones needs to be monitored for potential risks and benefits. The identification of risks then requires effective solution which might include development or modification. Overall we must always strive to take a balanced view of technological advances and potential of these amazing human endeavours. As we increase the use of our mobiles we become more vulnerable to spam junk text message, email. We have also seen this device becoming the target for viruses to steal confidential files; it has become an increasing problem. Web ref (5)

10 Bibliography
Web ref: Ref 1: http://www.zimbio.com/Cell+Phone+Review+and+News/articles/326/mobil e+telephony+freed+people Ref 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone Ref 3: http://www.itu.int/telecomwt99/press_service/information_for_the_press/press_kit/backgrounders/back grounders/social_impact_mobile.html Ref 4: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/34358/phones/impact_of_mobil e_phones_in_daily_life.html Ref 5: http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/resources/general/ethicol/Ecv13no5.html Ref 6: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/SuperModels/CellPhonesAre TheNewCigarettes.aspx Ref 7: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/5green-mobile-phones.htm
9| Page

Abdul Mannan

Student ID 06037871

Ref 8: http://socyberty.com/society/the-social-effects-oftechnology/#ixzz1f7XqVUFR Ref 9: http://www.ecowise.co.uk/news/219-being-green-is-about-providing-socialand-environmental-justice-at-the-same-time.html

Ref 10: http://www.controlyourimpact.com/2008/03/disadvantages-of-mobilephones/ Book ref:

The mobile connection: the cell phone's impact on society

By Richard Seyler Ling Images ref: Ref 1: http://rsrc.psychologytoday.com/files/imagecache/article-inlinehalf/blogs/56377/2011/07/68947-59943.jpg Ref 2: http://nghechhor.blogspot.com/2011/05/advantages-anddisadvantages-of-mobile.html Ref 3: http://www.internetretailing.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mobileinternet.gif

10 | P a g e