Mobility

There are several relations of mobility

The first kind of mobility is the brute fact which involves observable movements, and empirical reality. This is the kind of mobility observed and measured by modelers, migration theorists and transport planners. Here mobility can be captured by high powered computer hardware and software in science labs or animation studios. Under this mobility comes closest to pure motion and it is at its most abstract form.

The second understanding about mobility is conveyed through a diverse array of representational strategies that range from film to photography, literature to philosophy. These representations of mobility capture and make sense of it through the production of meanings that are frequently ideological.

The third mobility is practiced, experienced and embodied. Mobility is a way to be in the world.

Personally I am a very mobile person who needs to be in touch with the world. This prompts me to have a very sophisticated way of keeping abreast with what is going on. In this study I will discuss a mobile phone which I use most of the times and which has evolved over the years to the current great one which simply does everything for you in terms of communication (Creswell 2006).

Mobile phone use

Mobility

Phone use has evolved over the years just the same way the models have evolved right from the late 18th century when the first was invented thanks to Graham Bell. From then on others have worked on the same device to come up with the most recent types which have entrenched technology in an amazing way.

Today’s mobile phone unlike those of the past times allows you to carry out a wide range of activities, which have simply redefined mobility. These activities involve the following:

-The classical role of making calls: This function was the original idea for making phones and for a long time was considered the only purpose for owning a phone. This helped secure individuals who were able to communicate incase of an emergency or security breach. Though this function has been supplemented by other types of communication, it still remains one of the basic reasons for owning a mobile phone in the modern world.

-Modern technology has enabled users of mobile phones to store information in them. This is through inbuilt memory which comes with different capacities based on the kind and model of the phone. The inbuilt memory phones have a provision of adding up memory by use of additional storage material like memory cards.

-To add to mobility, modern phones have allowed connectivity to internet, this is enabled by connection to GPRS technology, this has made it possible to use the phone almost any where around the globe. The connection to GPRS has also contributed to phone security as lost phones can be tracked to identify their exact location.

-Phones have also improved media communication as it is now possible to take photos and send them to other phones. It is also possible to record, store and send music or films to other people which is a major step to achieving “absolute mobility”.

Mobile phone evolution

Mobility

Mobile phones have improved to the current pocket size, slim and comfortable size. Initial mobile phones were large, and heavy. The following is an illustration of the mobile phone revolution.

This was the initial mobile phones. It used analog signals and was made in the early 1980s.

The first of the modern phones was launched in Finland and made use of 2G in the early 1990s.

Then there was the launch of the Nokia 9000 communicator in 1996 which incorporated use of PDA functionality.

The technology of the Nokia 9000 paved way for the modern 3G mobile phone in the late 1990s to date. It involves high internet and functional speed, and uses sophisticated software. A good example is the phone shown below.

Relation with other emerging issues

Globalization

This is the increased movement of people and other factors of production. Mobile phones have highly contributed to this and are a major catalyst of globalization.Globalisation has also led to development of better phones as technology gets shared and individuals seek a wider applicability of phones. I highly recommend that globalization should be encouraged (Wonders 2007).

Mobility

Immigration

This is the movement of people to other countries mainly with the aim of residence or trade. This has increased the use of mobility catalysts such as the mobile phones. This has promoted economies around the world and has led to improved technology (Said 2000).

Terrorism

This is the use of violent means to cause fear or harm to people. It can be organized or haphazard. As may be argued, this was not such a common occurrence in the ancient world as mobility was limited and communication was not that efficient thus hampering organized terror. This however has changed and people are now organizing terror due to increased mobility. This cannot be used to judge technology as a bad thing as even the safest thing used irresponsibly leads to harm. Thus use of the current technology should command a very great sense of responsibility to avoid cases of terrorism. Terrorism to me should be a legal one and not a technical one.

Digitization

This is the use of technology to improve communication. As far as research and improvement in technology continues, new methods of transmitting information will be invented and this will only be better for mobility and issues of communication which go hand in hand. Better innovations in digitization will ease mobility.

Mobility

Transport

This is the movement of goods and services from one point to another. However, in recent times, this has been expanded to include data transport which means transmission of data or information from one point to another.

This has been one of the greatest beneficiaries in the improvement of technology on mobility as the same has been eased (Lyons et al 2007).

Acceleration

This is the study of how fast the technological advances are being made; this puts a mark on the required standards on most of today’s communication facilities that have come to bring about flexibility and improved mobility. Acceleration will have a role to play in future as it helps determine the trend and set standards for mobility.

References

Creswell T (2006) “The production of mobililties: An interpretive Framework” On the

Move: Mobility in the modern western world. Routledge, New York

Morley D (2000).Postmodern and virtual geographies”, Home territories: Media, Mobility

Mobility

And Identity, Rouledge London

Wonders N (2007) Social justice, Globalization, border reconstruction projects and

Transnational, vol 34, no 2,

Apple store, http://3Gmobile.apple.com.as down loaded September 12, 2009

Nokia phones, http://phones.nokia.com as downloaded September 12, 2009

Lyons G, Rafferty J and Kenyon S (2003). Journal of social policy; Social exclusion

And transport in the UK: A role for virtual accessibility in the alleviation of

Mobility related social exclusion, no.32

Said E (2000) Reflections in Exile, Granta books, London