Blog

by Kyra Haakman

Smartphones, tablets or laptops. Nowadays it is hard not to come into contact with these modern devices. Regardless whether it is from Apple, Samsung or a less popular brand, almost everyone has at least one. We are using them for almost everything, from keeping in touch with your friends till making a grocery list in your notes. Possessing such a device is an enjoyable pastime; for example when you’re waiting or when you’re on your way. But as the exams come closer and you have to study a bit more, you would preferably not check your smartphone every minute to see if you have a new message. Unfortunately that is exactly what we do... Are we this much dependent on these devices and the internet? And is this transformation only negative, or are their some positive sides to it?
There isn’t any scientific evidence for the dependency on smartphones yet, but with questionnaires some statistics came above; we are quite committed to our smartphones. 5 out of 10 Dutchies check their smartphones 10 times an hour, which equals once every six minutes. In one day this can sum up to two hours! Where do we get this time from? Sometimes it is said that we don’t have enough time to exercise or that we don’t sleep enough, which is rather strange if we consider we have the time to spend two hours each day only checking our smartphones.
However, the self-awareness of people regarding their use of smartphones or tablets is quite positive; people are largely aware of their dependency on their devices. For example look at students; when they have to study, devices are switched-off, left home or sometimes swapped with another student. In this way they won’t be distracted. Besides, it is not that strange that we are obsessed with this innovation; we never had such considerable large amounts of information before in such a tiny portable device. It is pretty logical that it takes some time before you know how to deal with it.
Maybe our vision regarding the use has changed; we did become dependent on it. For instance with the modern youth, they tend to stray off when they don’t have internet. Our memory is no longer required to inform us where we have to go, so when we are forced to rely on our memory instead of technology, we get lost. What are we going to do when we lose our smartphone? If that happens then all the information we need is suddenly gone, which means you can’t search for a solution on the web anymore.
Nevertheless there are some uses for which modern devices are adequate or possibly even beneficial. For example in primary schools, where tablets are used more and more. Interactive and digital media do not only show things, but give students the opportunity to digest the information in their own tempo. In addition, a tablet never becomes tired, provides direct feedback whether something is good or wrong, and remembers correctly where the student ended last time. Maybe the only problem with modern technology is that we use it for the wrong purpose.
To conclude, we might have become be a bit dependent on our smartphone or tablet throughout the years, but this transformation is not only negative. If we learn how we have to deal with it, technology can make our lives a lot easier. But until then, we will just have to try to resist all the distractions each and every day.