Constantly Connected

With the advent of Wi-Fi technology and mobile devices, the experience of using the Internet has come to differ greatly from the days of multiplexed terminals in the 1950’s. There are many features of mobile devices that keep people connected to their mobile phone, and therefore the Internet. Instantaneous GPS, SMS messaging, VoIP, finance, and social media applications often alter and enrich my experience in my everyday tasks. My usage of the internet outside of cable bandwidth Wi-Fi connections, is dependent on my ISP’s cellular networks and my specific location to them. I use a 2Gb plan in the case of emergencies, so I can always be reached and make calls. Applications I access, sometimes utilize offline storage. Consider Google Maps, which I use to download map regions, which really helps me save data when I’m on the go and need to find my route. My data plan highly affects how I use my mobile device outside of my home Wi-Fi connection. I always have to remind myself to download any video or audio content before leaving any Wi-Fi ranges if I’m going on a long trip and will need a podcast to keep me engaged. Mobility ensures that I can access applications for navigation, transportation, entertainment, communication, from wherever I have a satellite tower connection. I have had to switch carriers in the past because certain carriers did not work well in certain locations, which affected my experience connecting to the Internet at the moment. I remember when I moved to Boone, I was using Verizon as I did in Charlotte. With this carrier, I couldn’t get a connection at most places in Boone. I had to switch over to AT&T and change my mobile number to be reached at. I am sure that I will probably have to switch carriers again if I move to another part of the country, or internationally. This dependency on carriers does lead me to discuss how mobile internet usage differs based on location, age, and socio-economic status. People who can afford more or unlimited data plans behave differently than I would, not having to remind themselves to use data sparingly and responsibly. In another sense, mobile devices are to be used responsibly, like anything else. Children can be entirely engaged by a mobile connection to the Internet, and many parents have been taking advantage of this, letting the iPad or Pixel phone become a babysitter for their kids in private or in public. I am sure this can negatively affect their social behaviors, cutting them off from experience in that specific space and place they are in. Parents should encourage the development of social skills in public and private. Too many families are becoming entirely absent from each other in private, with the ability to delve into their own fragmented, yet personalized network. Mobile access to the Internet does also prompt curiosity, which can lead to interesting searches, or quite the time-suck. People young and old are going to become, if they haven’t already, dependent as ever on mobile devices. This is only a notice to IT manufacturers to continue their development of edge-computing, developing low cost and minimal compute resources as near as possible to devices, or on the devices themselves. The convenience of mobile devices will only be increased, as bandwidth and latency will be less likely to interrupt an otherwise seamless online experience, providing both the necessary applications, and those that are a huge distraction. Thus is the struggle in staying constantly connected, one has to be responsible with their time and place of connection.