Effects of Cell Phone Use on Vision, Attention, Perception, or Memory

Effects of Cell Phone Use on Vision, Attention, Perception, or Memory

Introduction

Nations across the world have faced the technological progress and development, on which they stand for their own progress and prosperity. One of the biggest innovations of technology was the cell phone. Cell phones were introduced in the mid of the 1980's in the markets of the United States. By the year 1985 the cell phone subscription in the United States was 91,600; however by 2005 the number of subscriptions of cell phones in the United States increased to 197,680,004.

During the launch of the cell phone in 1980s, the size, prices, features, and functions of the cell phone did not appeal to a greater portion of the population; however, just after the passage of two decades, cell phone status and sale changed drastically. Today, every one pose cell phone for it comes in different designs, colors, with innovative features, and light weighted, making it easy to carry and be in constant communication with your loved once and carry out daily business activities irrespective of place. Today cell phones are no longer considered to be a miracle of technology, but it has become a necessity. There is not only increase in number of subscribers of cell phones, but the amount of usage of cell phones has also increased, along with the range of services and packages offered by the cell phone service providers has also increased.

Discussion

The use of technology is the future for all generations; the changes and growing demand have caused major effects on our society. One in particular effect is the use of cell phone on driving. Use of cell phone including texting and calling during driving has become very common, resulting in numerous accidents and deaths. Major states in the United States have limited the ability for drivers to text in while driving. In California, New York and Ohio drivers are banned altogether from texting and driving, and restricted from handheld cell phones. Georgia, on the other hand, has restricted drivers from texting and driving, but still allows drivers to embrace handheld phones (Strayer, Drews, & Johnston, 2003).

Diving is a complex activity that requires full attention of the driver, since diving is an amalgamation of multi tasking activities like speed, navigation, maintaining distance, following the position of lanes, and instantaneous reactions to unexpected events. Nonetheless, drivers today are engaged in eating, applying makeup, adjusting the radio, changing song tracks, taking over cell phones, shaving, talking to passengers in the car, and lighting cigarette, which are resulting in uneven driving leading towards accidents (Strayer & Drews, 2004).

Researchers have observed that engaging in telephone conversations and other activities adversely affects a driver's ability to appropriately respond to simulated roadway situations (McKnight& McKnight, 1993). It is analyzed that driver's performance is influenced by the use of cell phone while driving. A research demonstrated that skills of steering were not influenced greatly while driving, but the power of making the ...