Technology & Gadgets

Cell phones are such an integral part of our lives today that they we take them almost for granted. With so much multi-tasking and constant activity in our lives, we rely on them every day, and it’s only when they become cumbersome or don’t work for us that we realize how much we’ve come to count on them. The right accessories can improve the functionality and convenience of your cell phone as well as making it the envy of all your friends. These accessories are absolute musts for today’s best-dressed cell phones!

1. Anything Bluetooth. Bluetooth is simply a term for a low frequency radio wave signal frequency that is used to make any type of electronic equipment – in this case your cell phone – wireless. No more using those awkward wired headphones that you have to plug into your cell phone! Bluetooth earpieces are small, sleek and have enough range for you to walk about your desk or step away from your parked car while chatting away. You can also get Bluetooth car kits for hands free dialing. These allow you to talk all you want while driving with voice activation and dialing. Typical Bluetooth systems give you up to eight hours of talk time and 150 hours of stand-by.

2. Antenna Booster. You would think cell phones would have clear reception and great coverage just about everywhere these days. You’d be wrong. Getting an antenna booster is a simple solution that’s inexpensive, easy to install and will widen your coverage area instantly. There’s nothing more annoying than a dropped call or talking to someone who’s cutting in or out. Weird problems like buildings that block cell phone reception are solved with a good antenna booster as well.

3. Amplifier Antenna. For cell phones that are the life line of road warriors, an amplifier antenna installed on the car is a must. These antennas are more powerful than the antenna boosters installed in the actual cell phones and are mounted on the rear windshield of the car. They give users great coverage in those areas known as “dead zones” between cell towers and in valleys or mountain areas.

4. Mobile phone charger. Yes, this sounds vaguely old-fashioned, but we still believe this is an essential accessory for anyone who travels a lot and talks a lot. After all, why run down your cell phone’s battery when you’re driving if you can be using a charger and prolonging the battery life for when you get out of your vehicle? The simplest solutions are usually the most elegant, and today’s chargers for cell phones are light years beyond those old versions with the big coils and bulky plugs for the cigarette lighter that you could brain someone with. Check out the newer ones that feature slimmer, shorter cords and dashboard mount, drop-in holders for your cell phone.

Almost a quarter of people in the United States today use cell phones as their primary personal telephone. A few added accessories like the ones mentioned above can make them even more reliable and versatile. When you go shopping for your next phone purchase, be sure to look at a few good extras as well as the best cell phones.

Kim Blithe
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/four-great-accessories-for-cell-phones-108300.html

As cellular phone usage is becoming more popular, the question has arisen as to the effect of these devices on today’s society. Does the use of cell phones help to expand communication between people or diminish it? There are two opposing opinions that deal with communication and cell phone use.

Cell phone advocates point out that thanks to these devices, you can speak to anyone in the world. In the workplace, these devices are indispensable. It is easier for companies in two different countries to do business with each other. They can also be used to hold interoffice meetings between various departments and branches. Cell phone usage can help you to perform better at work, since the office can contact you whenever it needs to. With the Bluetooth devices that are available with many of the newer models of these phones, you can download your files from your office computer that will enable you to continue your work on your personal computer at home. You can also use your cell phone features such as the calendar to remind yourself of important meetings and appointments.

Cell phones can also allow you to stay in closer contact with your family members. Your children can call you if they need a ride home or your spouse can call to remind you to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home. For family member who live out of town, you can talk for hours at little or no cost to you. Cell phones seem to be a perfect way to bring people closer together.

Other individuals feel that cell phones are actually breaking down communications between people. These opponents of cell phone use point out that there are times that you may not want to disturbed by your office. If you have a cell phone, this contact is almost unavoidable.

There may also a lack of personal communication in your workplace. Before cell phones, you might have had to leave your office several times a day to talk to an associate, greeting other employees along the way. Now you may find that you can go all day without seeing another living soul.

Having the ability to bring you work home can also lead to you spending less time with your family. If you are able to work at home, you probably will, which will cut into any quality time that you may have planned to spend with your spouse and children.

Family relationships may also be harmed by the use of cell phones. You may find that you talk to your children more on the phone than you do face to face. Your children may communicate more with their friends than they do with other family members. Many families may have forgotten how to turn off their cell phones and speak to each other.

A child’s written skills may suffer due to the use of text messaging. This form of communication has developed its own language using initials and shorter forms of ordinary words. Children that are growing up using this type of format can carry it over into their written and oral communications.

As well as a lack of communication in the workplace and at home, people do not talk to strangers as they once did. In the past, people who rode the same bus to work or shared a taxi would strike up a conversation. Thanks to cell phones, people are having their own conversations, missing the opportunity to begin new friendships. People have also ceased to talk to their neighbors. In today’ society, you may not even know who your neighbors are.

Both sides to the communication issue have made valid points. While cell phones are great communication tools, they are not the only ones. You need to remember to turn your cell phone off every once in awhile to help you stay involved in the world around you.

Douglas Stewart
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/cell-phones-and-social-skills-533703.html