DEATH BY SMARTPHONES

The earliest smartphones in the market revolutionised the world. They were suddenly everywhere. One could click a selfie, check out one’s nearest restaurant, chat with a friend on an online messenger, research news and at the same time listen to oner favourite music. With the time and everything that it shortened, it also shortened something else…our life.

Death has always found a different medium to reach humans, but with such surge in cases of death by smartphones seems like it has found its new favourite. Earlier people died of cholera, plague, diarrhoea, and cow pox to name a few but as is published in the official website of centres for disease control and prevention, In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010. An additional, 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2011, compared to 416,000 people injured in 2010.

 

The risk factors associated with distracted driving

§  Some activities—such as texting—take the driver’s attention away from driving more frequently and for longer periods than other distractions.

§  Onenger, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20 may be at increased risk; they have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

·       Texting while driving is linked with drinking and driving or riding with someone who has been drinking among high school students in the United States, according to a CDC study that analyzed self-report data from the 2011 national Oneth Risk Behavior Survey. Students who reported engaging in risky driving behaviors said that they did so at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey.5 Key findings from the study revealed that:

§  Nearly half of all U.S. high school students aged 16 years or older text or email while driving.

§  Students who text while driving are nearly twice as likely to ride with a driver who has been drinking and five times as likely to drink and drive than students who don’t text while driving.

§  Students who frequently text while driving are more likely to ride with a drinking driver or drink and drive than students who text while driving less frequently.

 

Death due to brain cancers and malignant tumours

According to research findings from Brazil, the facts speak for themselves. The study established a direct link between cancer deaths in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third largest city, with the smartphones network.

Over 80 percent of those who succumbed to certain types of cancer resided approximately a third of a mile away from one of the hundreds of smartphones antennae that populate the city.
These cancers, primarily found in the prostate, breasts, lungs, kidneys, liver, are the ones associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
This is a real concern for smartphones users and even non- smartphones users. Those who shun mobile phone technology still suffer the consequences of smartphones tower radiation.
Smartphones tower studies which examined the relationship between radiation exposure and cancer rates were conducted in the city of San Francisco in addition to cities in Austria, Germany, and Israel, dating as far back as the 1970s. All the studies shared similar findings: living within a certain proximity to a smartphones tower increased the risk of cancer anywhere from two to 121 times depending on what type of cancer was detected.
AdilzaCondessaDode, PhD, one of the engineering researchers as well as the coordinator of the Brazilian study, addresses those who are concerned about smartphones tower radiation and explains the Brazil study does not stand alone. Dode elaborates, "these levels (EMFs), are already high and dangerous to human health. The closer onelive to an antenna, the greater the contact with the electromagnetic field."

Other associated diseases with smartphones and mobile phone technology

• Genetic mutations
• Memory disruptions
• Hindered learning
• ADD
• Insomnia
• Brain disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Infertility
• Dementia 

• Heart complications

Smart phones are not to blame

The discussion took a sharp about turn when Bharat phullera and Rohit Chaudhary defended smartphones. According to them smartphones are the new way of life, very much like electricity is. Smartphones have made it possible for us to stay safe and connected with our people. They come in handy when one is lost as they can be easily traced. Also they have following advantages :

·         One can carry a mobile phone with one so one don't miss important calls

·         If oneare lost, one can call for directions.

·         If oneare in an accident, one can call the police or ambulance - and if the phone has a camera, one can take pictures of the accident.

·         One can listen to music, text, play games when one is bored.

·         Most smartphones have a calculator and a phone book.

·         One can use a mobile phone to call one’s customers or boss if oneare running late to a meeting.

·         One can surf Internet & Connect with the whole world by Mobile.

·         One can chat & video conference.

·         Keep in touch with friends and family

·         Good for emergencies

·         Employees can keep in touch at all times.

·         Customers can contact staff 24x7

·         Phones have internet connection

·         More work available

·         They have cameras

·         One can check one’s emails

·         Can be used worldwide

·         It can fit in one’s pocket.

·         one can connect even from other country to another by using roaming service

Teaching and tutorials

What used to just be a guy teaching math on YouTube became a huge collection of over 3000 educational videos on math, physics, chemistry, finance, and a lot more, with millions of people learning from it. Khan Academy utilizes lots of game mechanics such as “skill-growth trees” to unlock new classes and learn new skills. Many have said that they couldn’t imagine themselves ever enjoying or being good at math, but now their world has changed, thanks to some great teaching skills by Khan, and a little bit of Gamification. 

Saving on energy resources

Energy is a serious issue in the world. It powers a nation’s efficiency to produce and transport, but also leads to war in some cases. OPower works to solve these problems by utilizing smartphone applications to encourage people to use less energy. OPower works with utility companies to provide households with data on how much energy they are consuming, how they match up with neighbours, and if they are close to any new milestones.

Reportedly, people are consuming on average 2% less energy, which in 2012 led to over 1 Terawatt of energy savings in the world. This equates to $120,000,000 in utility bill savings, and decreased pollutions equivalent of keeping 100,000 cars off the road.

In the end I would say that Smartphones have undoubtedly shaped human lives for better and sometimes worse but definitely more advanced. There have been associated risks of using them and as was concluded from the discussion user discretion is very much required. Smartphones may be the talk of the town but the user definitely has to be smart enough to be using them.

Smart, cautious and limited use extracts from any innovation its most beneficial juices which serve the purpose of its invention. Therefore Smartphones or any other device for that matter, which has been developed for advancement of human race, should serve its purpose of benefitting mankind.

And as for the health risks associated with smartphones; they can be overcome by smart, cautious and limited use.

By:- Sourav Singh Parihar (A2325312017)