Beyond the 'Call'

"What are you searching for so frantically?" I asked my mom. "My mobile phone," mom answered. "I'm sure I left it on this table, but it seems to have vanished" she mumbled. "Maybe it went out for a walk and a breath of fresh air", I said straight faced. She looked at me to check if I was serious. "Anyway, what's so important that you need your phone so urgently?" I asked. "I missed yesterday's episode of the new serial on Asianet. I have to ask Geetha what transpired before I watch today's", she said. " Of course you must, Geetha might think less of you if you are not up to date" I said much to her chagrin. She knew I was pulling her leg.

Jokes apart, such is the attachment to this device across age groups. No one can bear to be separated from their phones, even for a few seconds. There is even a name for it. "Nomophobia," fear of being without a mobile phone. Look at the youngsters; the thing is always stuck to their ears as they whisper away into it for hours and hours. What I'm wondering is, where was all this talk before mobile phones were invented? It's as though people are making up for all the lost time and pouring out their pent-up words and thoughts to whoever cares to listen.

Quite some time ago, when all we had were the humble land telephones, people would call whoever they wanted to, say whatever they had to, and hang up at once. To contact folks living far away, one had to make a trunk call, or the later version, the STD. All this cost good money depending on the duration of the call, and thus the reluctance to prolong the call time. Now, one can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world at unbelievably low call rates, and hence the temptation to prolong the call time.

In the earlier days of their invention, mobile phones were like a status symbol to many. If you owned one (the fancier the better), you were among the lucky few. Many of you must've seen people like these, pull out their flashy phones at the Airport or at a restaurant and loudly say things like "Hello dear I'm just getting off the plane," or " Hi dude I'm almost done ordering the first course," as if they needed to keep everyone constantly updated. Times have changed, and today you cannot find a single person who does not have a phone. Technology has grown by leaps and bounds, and unlike the earlier land phones, these mobile phones have evolved beyond simply making voice calls and now allow users to video chat, watch movies, listen to music, browse the net, send messages, take photos etc. They help in booking tickets for travel, checking out weather conditions, checking traffic situations before venturing out of the house and so on. Young mothers are using the phones to help keep their babies quiet. My three-year-old grand daughter is adept at using the phone to find her favourite entertainment on it.

Mobile phone manufacturers are bringing out trendier versions year after year to keep the competition at bay. The result is that the market is flooded, and the consumer is spoilt for choice. These phones however, have their negative side too, the biggest obviously being the damage to health. Eyes, ears, brain, and hands are all impacted severely on constant use of the phones. Addiction to the usage of the phone is a dangerous trend today. As the phones are getting smarter, people are getting dumber by getting hooked to their phones. Yet another drawback in using these phones is the threat to privacy due to their ability to collect and store vast amounts of personal data. This data, which includes location, communications, and browsing history, can be accessed by all kinds of players, malicious or otherwise.

Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in modern life, offering unparalleled connectivity and access to information. They are poised to play an even more significant role in our lives. Whether it is the rise of artificial Intelligence or the development of more efficient devices, the future is bright. As we adapt to these changes, it is important that we prioritize responsible use to ensure that mobile phones continue to serve as a tool for progress.

-PR

20/04/2025