It’s More Than Just Talk! Phones through the Ages

Phones of the Future What will they do? What will they look like? What technology will they replace? New technology is always surprising. Today’s engineers are hard at work building new devices to increase our ability to communicate productively. What do you think phones will be able to do? What will they look like? What will they replace?

Topics History of phones How we use phones Phones of the future

Heading Toward Enlightenment Cell Phones Freedom Modern cell phones are lightweight and small enough to fit in our pocket so we can carry them easily. In addition to talking on them, we can use cell phones to send text messages to one another. Each person with a cell phone has an individual phone number. The portability of cell phones gives us freedom to answer calls and texts wherever we are. If each person has his or her own phone number and carries a phone at all times, are land lines still necessary? Some households have opted to disconnect their land lines.

Dark Ages of Phones Land lines One shared phone in hallway Party line One number per household Additional phone lines

Current Age of Phones Smartphones Communication Connectivity Applications Today, more individuals are moving to smartphones. These phones can do much more than let us talk and text. The data plan for our phones includes access to the Web and social networking sites. We can email, message, or contact our friends using social networks. Applications are available that can increase the usefulness of the phone. Battery life is still way too short, but it is nice to have extended electronic capability.

Dark Ages Start to Recede First Mobile Phones Big Bulky Expensive Not accessible in all areas Our first mobile phones were large and bulky. Carrying a mobile phone meant walking around with an extra tote bag or briefcase. Purchase was restricted to individuals with cash to spare as these phones were pricey to buy and use. However, if you had a need for regular contact and were in an area where the phone received reasonable reception, it may have been worthwhile to buy one.