Cellphones : Friend or Enemy?

Frederic B. A-3

Felix L. A-3

 

 

Cell phones are very popular in India. There are 33 million cell phones and 45 million home phones. It is estimated that by the year 2013 there will be around 65-70 million cell phones and 55 million home phones. Most Indian’s think cell phones are a very useful tool in their everyday life, however, there are also people who think that cell phones are going to ruin the Indian culture completely. For many Indian citizens cell phones are also a second or better chance in their life, because cell phone manufacturers such as Nokia and Sony Ericson are offering jobs. The people work in the cell phone factories for 3-5$ a day, which is compared to other jobs which pay only 1-2$ per day, charming job. Cell phones are also an important part of our life’s here in America, cell phones are personal. The reason of researching this topic is since it has to do with technology, but also, since this same conflict of cell phones destroying culture and communication is present in germany.

 

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Pictures

 

http://www.phonews.net/pics/mobile_phones/11-26-2008/nokia-india-launches-orig.jpg

 

This is a selection of the most common Made in India Nokia cellphones.

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01379/woman_mobilePhone__1379483c.jpg

http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/archives/images/set2/india_phone.jpg

 

 

These pictures are demonstraing the common use of cell phones thoughout India, no matter of their age.

 

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Indian Culture Dialog

 

 

Felix: Come on son, it is time to pray.

Frederic: Not now dad, I am on the phone with my friend, I will just skip it this time.

Felix: You already skipped it the last three times now, why do you always have something else to do when it is time to pray.

Frederic: I am just on the phone; it is not like I can just hang up, this is important.

Felix: You can just call your friend back later, practicing our religion is more important. It doesn’t even take that long to pray, can’t you get off the phone for just twenty minutes ?

Frederic: But dad, I am just talking about my school project, we have to finish it today… ( to phone ): Did you hear about that new movie, what was it called… oh yeah, Terminator 5. Do you want to go watch it on Saturday?

Felix: You can just finish your call after we have prayed.

Frederic: School is more important than our religion, I don’t have the time to pray now, I have to finish this project by tomorrow.

Felix: Alright, but only this one time, you cannot just ignore your culture every time you have something else to do.

Frederic: Thanks Dad, I know that our culture is important, but my friends and school are important too. ( to phone ): That was my dad, he wants me to pray every evening, even if I am talking on the phone with my friends.

20 minutes later:

Felix: Dinner is ready!

Frederic: I will be there in ten minutes; I am just texting with my friend.

Felix: I want the whole family to eat together, you are coming down here now !

Frederic: I will be right there.

Felix: You said that five minutes ago !

Frederic: Ok, fine ( sends text and runs to the dinner table )

 

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Works Cited:

 

GIRIDHARADAS, ANAND. "In India, Poverty Inspires Technology Workers to Altruism". New York Times.

 

3 May 2009 <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/technology/30poor.html?_r=1&scp=13&

 

sq=india%20cell%20phones&st=cse>.

 

 

 

"India - Cellphones could overtake fixed-lines in October." Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (Oct 21, 2004): NA.

 

General OneFile. Gale. 3 May 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS>.

 

 

"New Delhi: mobile phones have outstripped fixed-line connections in India, with nearly 45m cellphones." 

 

Telecom Asia 15.12 (Dec 2004): 13(1). General OneFile. Gale. 3 May 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com

 

/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS>.