Smartphones appear to confirm the popular saying – ‘one person’s meat is another’s poison‘ in the sense that while most smart-phone owners are attracted to the device because of the numerous apps that makes it possible to perform several tasks at any given time, a substantial amount of owners appear to be turned off by the same apps. According to a recent study, about seventy-one percent of smart-phone users only use their device to make calls, send text messages or check their Facebook profile. With an estimate of 11 million smart-phone devices in the UK alone, this figure is quite alarming considering the costs of obtaining one of these gadgets.
The study, which was conducted by Envirofone in a survey of 2,000 users, also found that a typical smart-phone user only exploits 10 percent of their phone’s functions. One of the major reason for this is because the latest smart-phone gadgets appear to have become more of a status symbol than anything else. For example, the study reveals that over half of smart phone users felt pressured to get the latest or most popular gadget, such as the iPhone4 or BlackBerry whether they found it useful or not. Perhaps that is the reason why a lot of parents are being pressurised by their children to purchase one of these devices as Christmas or birthday gifts, most of which will be lost, stolen or under-utilised.
Talking Point
Do you find smart-phones too complicated to use? Why did you buy one and what do you use it for?