This is part one of a two-part series, where we will explore some uses of the cell phone and follow as well a brief history of communications as it evolved, from ancient times until the 19th century.
Today, everywhere you look people are talking into a mobile device, also known as their cell phone. Even in places where they are not allowed, people always manage to find a way to use the sometimes annoying communication tool. Cell phones have become an essential communications tool, too. They are utilized by all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, genders, educational and economic levels. For someone who is being abused and stalked, in a moment of danger, the cell phone can save his or her life, but there are new challenges as well as problems that are associated with this advanced mobile device. The cell phone serves several purposes, and no, it's not just a mobile video game device or a device to store catchy ring tones. Not only has it become so vital to our communication needs through speaking and text messaging, it can also capture and hold an image from the moment and can alert you to news, help you find better traffic routes and so on.
However, the actuality is that there are moments when it becomes so irritating and uncomfortable to hear cell phone users and their loud, laughing, raucous, annoying conversations as they control public places. Do you care what someone you don't know will have for dinner tonight with stinky Aunt Emma, what clothes they are going to wear, or whether their employer is a pain in the butt? I know I don't care if they have a bad hair day or that they are suffering from hemorrhoids, and I don't want to hear the details of how they'll be implanting that suppository. Does it matter if Jennifer's mother-in-law (who she apparently hates) is coming to visit, or whether Sue was unfaithful to Joe, and is now pregnant and needs to get an abortion immediately? If I want to hear that stuff, I'll turn on Jerry Springer. I certainly don't want to hear about it while I'm standing in line at the bank.
This behavior places those within listening reach in an awkward position. Plus, cell phones are terribly distracting, especially when driving. It is the primary cause of accidents. "Intexticated " is a new term for people who text on a cell phone while driving. It's not only a word made up by the police, but a dangerous habit that kills people. I just can't imagine how people are able to type text messages while driving. Statistics show it's like having a few drinks before getting behind the wheel but can be more dangerous than drunken driving. Also, people rely so much on their cell phones that they forget all about the minutes and expenses that are associated with its use. Yikes! They hit the roof when they found out what their monthly bill was. Even though they are the ones who seem to have ignored the terms of service. Oh well, the joy of small sacrifices. Have you noticed that there are now signs at the receptionist desk when you go to the Doctor's office, to please turn off the cell phones? There are too many people totally addicted to cell phone use, even 30 minutes of having to shut it off is pure torture to them, inducing enormous stress and anxiety. I watch them as they twitch nervously in their seats, running outside now and then to the hall for their quick fix, drool sliding down their twitching mouths as you hear the buzz... vibrating in their pockets. Unable to respond, they march off to the bathroom. Even through the walls you can still hear "Hey Cindy what's happening? These individuals are continuously checking their phones for voice mails and text messages, and if there aren't any, their self-esteem takes a nose dive.
In today's modern age of advanced technology and mobile phone use, 2011, I can't help but wonder how man used to communicate his thoughts.
The cave dwellers would shout warnings to all the tribe within earshot. Others would use hand signs or devices such as a horn, bells, a signal fire, a flag made of cloth or a hollow tree drum. Evidence of communication would be seen through paintings of animals and animal hunts found on cave walls, possibly serving as a hunting lesson for younger members of the tribe. Symbols representing pictures of people, places, animals and things have also been found, recorded for posterity thousands of years ago. The oral tradition of storytelling was the most effective use of communication to be passed from one generation to the next. For instance, let's use the example of Uncle Louie who was a frail old man coughing and gasping for air on his death-bed. Naturally, as it is today with human communications, distortions and embellishments would be added along the way as the narrative is retold a few times. The final version of the narrative was that Louis became a beautiful, strapping young hunter who tragically died an untimely death, leaving behind a legacy of a record-breaking number of slain bison. Geeez...what a way to go Uncle Louie!
The early American Indians were also highly tuned to body language and nonverbal communication. It was the most effective way to communicate because it made expressive use of their hands, arms, legs, and feet. For example, when it was the hunting season for the bison, which was their main food source, they would head out to the large grasslands where the bison grazed and lived off the land. As long as there was a herd nearby, the hunters knew that they would be able to keep their tribe and families well fed. After scouting the area and finding a suitable location near a water-course, which would also put the tribe in view of the wild bison that frequented there, the hunters and their families would break ground, setting up tents and kindling fires. The hunter's robe was their way of communicating to the tribe with respect to the bison. If a group, of bison were noticed in the proximity of the camp, one of them would throw up their robe in a certain way to suggest that others should stop. Displaying the robe a different way would reveal the immediacy of an approaching enemy. However, if one of the three hunters had died in an attempt at killing a bison, in order to convey this message to the tribe, the two survivors would run towards each other, and upon passing, one of them would throw themselves on the ground, communicating death in the midst of bravery.
Transportation was a means of communication between people. The early settlers in America depended particularly on its use for social and economic development.
Traveling in the wilderness was extremely difficult because the only roads that existed back then were the narrow paths that the Indians made. Eventually, with years of communication, these paths were widened to allow horse and wagons to cross over them. Human carriers, whether they traveled by foot or horse were used to transmit lengthy and complex messages, verbally or by letters. Since transportation was limited primarily to water, the early settlers would gravitate toward the Atlantic Coast because of the advantage of receiving their supplies consisting of farming implements, heads of cattle, horses, seed, families and letters from their homeland, which usually arrived by sea.
Most humans have a need to communicate.
For the woman of Early America who lived on farms and in other rural communities, the quilting bees were the only form of interacting socially. This gave them a break after working all week on the farm, to exchange gossip and learn practical tips. Nothing like taking a break from a week's worth of laundry, cooking and agriculture with some nice, relaxing hard labor! Needless to say, all we have are arcades, sporting events and coffee shops.
With the coming of the Railroads, people were brought together from East to West and vice-versa, thus increasing the communication between all inhabitants.
Cultures of the past were preserved by scholars who painstakingly reproduced data by hand. Thus, the relatively slow speed hand-operated printing press made its appearance, followed by the motor-driven presses which were more effective and accessible. Subsequently, books, publications and newspapers became available to many more people, stimulating literacy. As a consequence of the international trade and domestic, commercial and agricultural development, the need for improvement in mass communications was in considerable demand.
In 1824, Louis Braille, invented the Braille method, which was a tactile writing and reading system used by blind people. The first practical, mechanical, typewriter machine was invented by Christopher Sholes, Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule in 1867. However, as you can see, communications technology truly began to grow. In the next part of this series, we'll observe how that technology continued to evolve in modern times, resulting in that compact, portable device that most people keep attached to their ear at all times, the mobile phone.
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