The Seventh Kingdom: Is Technology Addiction Real Jan. 2015 | Page 21

Contrastingly, devices are becoming bigger in size now as
a result of the equation: (Harris, 1997 p 104).:
,

benefits
value =
cost

This formula was
stated by the French
economist Jules
Depuit.

In relation to smartphones, larger screen sizes benefit
people who use their device regularly in the following
ways:
Texting and
Browsing is easier

More screen real
estate

Better movie and
gaming experience
(more immersive)

fig 16.1

fig 16.2
The most common products of popular
digital technology sectors have been
identified in the timeline above. The graph
consists of the latest development of
products as well as its first instance.
As time has progressed, most products
have generally increased in size and
some products have also became
more multifunctional. For example, the
iPhone incorporates all the other sectors
of the previous products shown with
exceptions to printing. Regarding design,
the products are less complex, resulting
in easier use of the product to a wider
range of customers. Consumerism is
important with digital technology as
most people do not like change unless
it becomes a trend. Would this be
considered an addiction?

The screen is usually the main
component and as a result is used
the most. However the downside of
,
a large screen area is “pocketability”.
In comparison to regular users,
people who are not fond of the large
screen fad state it “lo oks stupid” and
is immobile. With this being said, due
to consumerism, the fad of certain
new designs becomes infectious
and individuals change their opinions
to find uses for big screen phones,
as the rest of society has deemed it
most popular (Harris, 1997 p
, 104).
The term “smartphone” is not an
accurate representation of the
product since they are closer to
mobile computers rather than
phones.
CHAPTER ONE: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

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