Aside: Fears for Civil Liberties as Apple Patents Technology

I think it is absolutely ridiculous and unconstitutional for someone to have the power to disable my smartphone. The new patent technology that Apple has released will give police officers or authority figures to remotely control smartphones. They claim that it is helpful because it could prevent against fraud, create more privacy, and control unstable situations; however, to me this looks like a Big Brother situation. America is a free country, and controlling something so personal and important to users such as their smart phones is a detrimental idea. People will grow to detest their superiors like some sort of cruel dictatorship where the people have no power. So much viral and groundbreaking media has come from footage shot on smartphones, such as the UC Davis police pepper spray attacks or even the Arab who got out of their car during a protest and was shot on the spot. Smartphones give anyone the ability to be a journalist or news reporter, and they give people the feeling that they are involved in making a difference and that their voice matters. Not only that, but this patent can take away phone-call abilities at certain times; who the heck would benefit from this? If the police had the power to shut down cell phone usage during the UC Davis protests, the world would never have had proof of the violence and unprofessional tactics used by the officers and they could still be in positions of power today. Smartphones give the user the world at their fingertips. With the push of a button, we are now more powerful than we ever have been before. Taking this away from users is not only a huge abuse of governmental power, but also takes away freedom, civil liberties, and rights that we Americans take for granted.  Nick Pickles said it best, 'It’s been a fact that modern phones are in reality tracking devices that let us make calls, but the idea that awkward citizens might find their phone shut down at the behest of a Government agency is a very worrying thought and not one that fits with democratic principles.” This patent goes against democracy as well as constitutional rights of freedom and I think it is a very unwise decision to implement this technology.

My Personal Network

I am truly astounded by the amount of time during the day in which I am consuming media. From the second I wake up in the morning until the second I go to sleep, I am using media. My iPhone alarm wakes me up, and after that I immediately check the weather app and my text messages. I then go to class, and instead of wearing a watch to see if I am on time I always check my phone. When I had to go to a meeting at an unfamiliar campus building, I plugged it into the map app and am guided step by step to my destination. After all this technology at school, I then go to work where it is my sole job to work on the computer. I do everything from entering data to making copies to researching academia, and my eyes are sore by the end of the day from the glare of technology. I haven’t even mentioned how many times throughout the day I am checking Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for live information or entertainment during my five minutes of free time. I find myself so easily distracted from everyday tasks and craving to check my phone for new information inputs from friends. I can’t remember the last time I sat and just twiddled my thumbs, any down time I have is spent on technology in some way or another!

 So much of my attention is focused where it shouldn't be, honestly. Before starting my homework, I sometimes check Facebook for a “little bit.” That little bit then turns into hours from click to click my attention is being drawn from pictures to funny videos to stalking someone all the way back to 2008. I think it is sad how consumed I am by technology, but I feel that there is nothing I can do to stop it. In such a technology-centered society, not having a cell phone or instant access to the rest of the world is unheard of. Why is it SO important for me to be texting my friend I saw an hour ago about the kid in my class’s weird hairdo? I am so wired it scares me.

It is unreal to think about how truly dependent I am without technology. Without a simple cell phone, I wouldn’t wake up in the morning, keep myself entertained, or know what time it was. With an iPhone, the world is literally at my fingertips. I can get an app for any and every thing imaginable. There are apps for ordering food, paying your parking meter, keeping track of bank accounts and so much more. I don’t even have to use my hands anymore, I can just yell at Siri to get me any information I desire.