Reflecting Back…1994…the Release of the First Smartphone
Remembering its core mission and purpose - a Communication and Connection tool.
Conversations, books and podcasts are multiplying on the troubling effects of cell phones, particularly for teenagers. I am not a neurologist or a psychologist so I cannot comment on the impacts on our brains and mental health – nor do I question the serious implications that are being raised and questioned. I am, however, passionate about communications and have been reflecting upon cell phones for their originally intended purpose – a communications tool.
When the first Smartphone was released in 1994 (IBM Simon) within one device, we had voice, email and fax capabilities. It advanced how we communicated with one another – making it portable, multi-channel and convenient. Across the next 30 years, applications like text messaging and social media added to the ways in which we connect with each other and see the world.
There are many stories involving mental health that are troubling and heartbreaking. We do have a real problem as a society that needs to be addressed. At the same time, there are some warmer stories about how advancements in Smartphone technology has enabled people to stay connected. For example, I think about the story of a 13-year old boy who shares his Wordle results with his Grandmother every day, forming a bond that otherwise would not exist. I think about the families who are dispersed across the globe and share photos of their lives across distance and time zones through WhatsApp. I think about the person who was feeling alone and isolated but found a moment of levity and a chuckle when their friend shared a funny TikTok video.
All of these examples are about CONNECTION and living in RELATION with one another. Like any major strategic project, the mission, vision and purpose must be at the center of each decision, or we get lost and off track. For cell phones, have we forgotten their intended purpose? Have we forgotten the gains that come from amplifying communications? Can we get back on track and correct the deviations from the mission that has occurred across the last 30 years?
As school administrators, policy makers and technologists grapple with the right level of oversight, safety and governance – which I am absolutely in favor for – I ask that we not overlook the intended purpose of offering the world a meaningful communication tool. I ask that we dissect the harmful use cases of Smartphones that have arisen over time – bullying, disinformation, manipulative algorithms, scamming – and address those head-on and with precision. By correcting the specific misuse, overuse and abuse, maybe we can hold on to a worthy vision from 1994 – to communicate and connect – positive associations that play a vital role in our global, networked society.