iPhone Apps for the Needy

Being a foreign student both in high school and college in the U.S is not a simple task. Writing papers for classes and finding the right words to express my thoughts are always a struggle. However, since I got my iPhone, I do have a portable translator with me at all times. Thanks to the Hebrew Translator app, when I get stuck mid-sentence or when I come across an unfamiliar word during class, I have an immediate access to an answer.
Other than being a useful translator for foreigners, iPhone apps can be great “life-savers” to other groups in society. For example, an innovative application came out this month which helps drivers or bikers to find parking spots in big cities in the U.S and also gives them information about the parking space, the fee and the detailed timing of when the spot becomes free. This iPhone app is mostly used by tourists who are new to the city and not familiar with the city rules.
In addition to the hopeless newcomers, physically disabled people utilize multiple iPhone apps in order to perform their daily activities. A brand new app is now available for the blind which recognizes currency bills using the camera application on the iPhone and audio to announce the worth of the bill. Now, instead of folding bills in a certain way, blind iPhone users can simply rely on this magnificent technology to determine the bills’ values.
While people criticize the constant usage of smartphones and the negative consequences they have on future generations, some of us forget about the potential benefits they have on some groups in our society. Once again, the great power we have in our hands called “Technology” needs to be treated with a lot of care and be used with caution and reasoning.

Constantly Connected Cell Phone Use: Brain or Boom?

Are cell phones safe? A long-standing debate exists about whether or not extensive cell phone use is possibly related to rare brain tumors, though many major medical groups have concluded that cell phones are safe. As technology progresses and cell phones become small portable computers to which we find ourselves constantly connected to, it's important to ask ourselves whether research is conclusive on this issue.

According to a recent New York Times article,
Researchers [from the National Institutes of Health] tested 47 people by placing a cell phone at each ear. After 50 minutes, brain scans showed increased consumption of glucose, or sugar, in areas of the brain near the activated phone.

This study is among the first to discover that weak radio-frequency signals from cell phones have the potential to alter brain activity. It remains unclear whether these signals have beneficial or detrimental impacts. The point is that cell phone use is affecting the brain. One theory about how an artificial increase in brain glucose metabolism could be harmful is that it could act as a catalyst for the creation of molecules called free radicals, which can damage healthy cells. Another theory is that repeated stimulation by electromagnetic radiation could cause an inflammatory response, which studies suggest can cause health problems, including cancer. These theories thus suggest that extensive cell phone use may have seriously detrimental effects on health.

In truth, there are everyday situations in which the overstimulation of the brain, as provided by cell phone use, may play a role. In addition to possible connections between cell phone use and health problems as significant as cancer, there are also probable connections between overstimulation of the brain and sleep disturbance. The concept of sleep deprivation occurring when lights are left on (even small power lights on devices), or when our cell phones are resting by our head as we [attempt to] sleep, is a belief held by many. Effects may not always be negative, though. Dr. Volkow, interviewed for the same New York Times article, explains that future research may show that the electromagnetic waves emitted from cell phones could be used to therapeutically stimulate the brain.

Ultimately, more research needs to be conducted in order to determine conclusively whether constant connectivity by cell phone use detrimentally affects the brain. Personally, I feel that while an increase in brain glucose isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's also probably not a good thing. Will I use my cell phone any less? No. Will I opt for the impersonal means of text messaging? No way! However, I feel more aware now of how much time I spend talking/listening directly on or from my cell phone.

It's frightening to think that something that we are so dependent on may potentially be harmful for us. What exactly are we doing to ourselves when we employ such technology? Even scarier is the thought that an entire generation is glued to their devices, with children being introduced to cell phone technology at a younger age than the previous generation. OUR MINDS ARE BEING ALTERED-LITERALLY! For the time being, those of us who remain skeptical about cell phone use not negatively affecting the brain are advised to use a headset or earpiece every now and then to alleviate concern. Thankfully, I rely heavily on my headset, though I hope that research in a few years won't show that headsets also cause brain damage. So it remains to be seen whether relying heavily on such technology is "brainy," or if it causes for a mental/physical "boom" that is negative. What do you think?

For your consideration, Christina Breitenbuecher posted a similar article on Monday, February 28th. She also addresses the possible health issues associated with constant connectivity via extensive phone use.

Constantly Connected Cellphone Use: Brain or Boom?

Are cell phones safe? There is a long-standing debate about whether or not extensive cell phone use is possibly related to rare brain tumors, though many major medical groups have concluded that cell phones are safe. As technology progresses and cell phones become small portable computers that we find ourselves constantly connected to, it's important to ask ourselves, has a decision really been made on this issue?

According to a recent New York Times article,

"Researchers [from the National Institutes of Health] tested 47 people by placing a cellphone at each ear. After 50 minutes, brain scans showed increased consumption of glucose, or sugar, in areas of the brain near the activated phone."

The article also discloses that this study is among the first to discover that weak radio-frequency signals from cellphones have the potential to alter brain activity. It remains unclear whether these signals have beneficial or detrimental implications, but the point is that cellphone use is affecting the brain. One theory about how an artificial increase in brain glucose metabolism could be harmful is that it could potentially act as a catalyst for the creation of molecules called free radicals, which can damage healthy cells. Another theory is that repeated stimulation by electromagnetic radiation could cause an inflammatory response, which studies suggest can cause health problems, including cancer. Therefore, these theories suggest that extensive cell phone use may be more detrimental than beneficial.

In truth, there are everyday situations in which the overstimulation of the brain, as provided by cellphone use, may play a role.

Besides possible connections between cellphone use and health problems as significant as cancer, there may also be connections between overstimulation of the brain and sleep disturbance. It is believed we do not get restful sleep when lights are left on (even small power lights on devices), or when our cell phones are resting by our head as we [attempt to] sleep. Effects may not always be negative, though, as Dr. Volkow, an interviewee in the same New York Times article, explains that future research may show that the electromagnetic waves emitted from cellphones could be used to therapeutically stimulate the brain.

Ultimately, more research needs to be conducted in order to make a decision on whether or not constant connectivity, as it pertains to cellphone use, detrimentally affects the brain. Personally, I feel that while artificial increase in brain glucose isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's also not a good thing. Will I use my cellphone any less? No. Will I opt for the impersonal means of text messaging? No way! However, I feel more aware now of how much time I spend talking/listening directly on or from my cellphone. It's frightening to think that something that we are so dependent on may potentially be harmful for us. What exactly are we doing to ourselves when we employ the use of such technology? Even scarier is the thought that an entire generation is glued to their devices, with children being introduced to cellphone technology at a younger age than the previous generation. OUR MINDS ARE BEING ALTERED-LITERALLY! For the time being, those of us who remain skeptical about cellphone use not negatively affecting the brain are advised to use a headset or earpiece every now and then to alleviate concern. Thankfully, I rely heavily on my headset, though I hope that research in a few years won't show that headsets cause brain damage. So it remains to be seen whether relying heavily on such technology is "brainy," or if it causes for a mental/physical "boom" with negative implications. What do you think?

Constant Connectivity for our Guardians Abroad

Filmmakers and authors focusing on recreating modern military actions are about to lose one of the more romantic aspects of the genre: the classic love letters.

Thanks to social networking, low cost services such as Skype, and smartphones, troops abroad are now able to keep in communication with their loved ones at home on a regular basis. Psychologist Barabara Van Dahlen Romberg accurately describes this phenomenon as “a mixed blessing."

Pros	Cons
Higher troop morale.	Distraction: Angry Birds during combat = no bueno.
Peace of mind for those at home (unless disaster befalls).	Distraction: Worried about issues at home while on the battlefield.
Perhaps more incentive for others to join the military now that there’s an alternative to writing letters.	Extreme cases of suicide due to the breakdown of long-distant relationships.
Fewer cases of depression, desertion, etc.	A different kind of anxiousness for those at home.

I believe my table does an adequate job of summing up the implications of this newfound connectivity on a personal level, so I’ll turn to a different—but nonetheless related—topic: the integration of smartphones into the military through an Army program called Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications, or CSDA. Several phases of this program have already been enacted as students at Fort Lee, Virginia and Fort Sill, Oklahoma are already testing the phones for the war zone (Source).

One of the defining characteristics of the United States’ army is its positive attitude towards technology and its proven track record of incorporating these tools into its strategy. There’s no doubt that we are the most technologically advanced army in the world, just look at how the 1990-1991 Gulf War turned out. We have the security afforded to us by our armed forces abroad and at home to thank for the fact that we are still considered the safest country to invest in despite recent economic uncertainty, and our advanced equipment and weaponry play no small part in that achievement.

But let’s get back to business.

We have already seen some impressive combat applications with respect to our implementations of smart phones specifically. Take the fact that military drones can be controlled remotely via iPhone (Source). Other areas currently being explored are a secure network for iPhones and Androids so that they could be used on the field as an effective medium of communication, a software portal available for troops to download relevant applications, and applications which can be used to track down both enemies and friendly forces live on the battlefield (Source).
According to one of my sources, field tests are planned for February 2011. ArmyTimes, however, reports that while there is nothing definitive, the initiative is likely to begin with the highest ranked Army staff members.

One of the problems I foresee is that of uninterrupted service in hostile territory such as Iraq, but I doubt that there isn’t already some sort of solution for this.

It took me a few minutes to grasp the true implications of this news, but now, as I sit back and ponder the scope of events, I realize the possibilities truly are endless. Dialing in your coordinates into your smartphone as friendly planes prepare for aerial bombardments, ejected pilots enabling the GPS tracking on their phones to inform those back at command, and perhaps direct control for artillery barrages by select troops on the field. Granted, I’m sure anyone more knowledgeable of military matters could point out that all of the ideas I just proposed already exist through other technology. Alright, sounds great, but what sort of ideas could the military expert who just corrected me come up with?

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Albert Einstein.

“When a new invention promises to be useful, it ought to be tried.” Thomas Jefferson.

My Grandpa has an iPhone?!

My uncle is reliant on technology more than anyone I know, and is constantly feeding my little cousins dependency. This last Christmas my 7-year-old cousin got her own Mac book, but none of us were too surprised. What really shocked us was my grandpa’s gift: the iPhone.
My grandpa is more tech savvy than others in his generation. He uses yahoo chat, regularly checks his e-mail, and has a cell phone. I would also say that I relate to him and spend more time with him than my other grandparents who aren't so technologically advanced. However, I thought an iPhone would be too much for someone his age. Surprisingly, my grandpa has become accustomed to his phone. He might not use all the features, and it took some time for him to adjust to a touch screen, but he now uses the phone to play games, check his e-mail etc. Like me, his computer remains off for days. My grandpa isn't the only one acclimating to the current generations' demands. My friend recently received a text from her great grandma. She replied to her grandma: "You're sending text messages now??" Her great grandmas reply: "I don’t know, is this a text?" Our older generation definitely feels a pressure to conform to the technology that has become necessary for communication.
Maybe the generation gap between our grandparents and us isn't as great as we thought. Many people look at older generations and think that they're very behind us. In reality, we might be falling behind. The generations younger than us are already far more fast paced and connected than we were at their age. The gap between my cousin and me is far larger than the gap between my grandpa and me. I didn't think a 7 year old would ever know more about computers and phones than me. I also didn't expect to get a Facebook friend request from my 9 year old cousin, or watch my younger sister (only three years younger) juggle her laptop, iPad, iTouch, and the TV remote. As the New York Times points out, the gap between younger generations and us is growing every year. I can’t help but wonder at what point it'll be too much for someone to handle, but as of now there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight..