Smartphones and tablets: characteristics and applications

Smartphone and Tablets

Smartphones and Tablets

History of Technology

Mainframes

Desktop PC

Cell phones

Laptops

Smartphone and Tablets

Advantages of Smartphone and Tablets in Private and Government Organizations

Communication Options

Web Everywhere

Device Merger

Endless Applications

Disadvantages of Smartphone and Tablets in Private and Government Organizations

Cost

Security

Distraction

Typing

Improved Capability and Mobility

The technological advancements have caused the launch of different technologies namely laptops, smart phones, and tablets. The technologies are being used by everyone and in the organizations as well. Every field has taken advantage of technologies and its advancements to extract most of the benefits (Basole, 2008; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012). Therefore, the paper is providing a brief overview of technology to understand the advantages and disadvantages of recent technologies namely tablets and smart phones in private organizations and government organizations. Since, these technologies are becoming more common in everyday life of every individual and grabbing the attention to target large number of market. At the last of the paper, a brief conclusion is included to provide the brief summary of whole report.

History of Technology

a. Mainframes

Mainframe computers often known as big irons are basically the computers used essentially by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, industry and consumer statistics, and transaction processing. The concept of mainframe computers was established in 1960s. It has been found that throughout the history, the mainframe computers are the most powerful computers throughout the entire globe due to which they often called supercomputers (Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010). The term referred to the large cabinets housing the central processing unit and main memory of early computers. The term was used to differentiate the high-end commercial machineries from units with less power. The higher stability and reliability of mainframe computers enable them to run without any interruption for longer periods (Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012).

b. Desktop PC

The desktop computers were originally small kits without anything assembled. The first assembled desktop computers were expensive and they were operated on BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) language to be programmed by the owner. The desktop PCs also known as minicomputers because it a small digital computers that manufactured on the basis of a microprocessor, which is a small chip that control overall programming and functioning a computer (Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006). Few of these systems had the disk systems on which the data was loaded from tape and the first computers had programs and data was being loaded from cassette tape machines. The desktops were used for complex mathematical calculations along with different types of calculations for scientific research (Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006).

c. Cell phones

The history of cell phones is drawn with the development of devices connected wirelessly to the public telephone network. The origin of mobile phones was made in 1920s and time to time new techniques and technologies has been getting involved (Basole, 2008; Stair & Reynolds, 2011). The mobile phones for automobiles became available from telephone companies in 1940s, whereas, modern cell phones permit automatic and pervasive use of these phones for voice and data communications. The introduction of cell phones, which permits reusing of frequencies in small areas covered by low powered transmitters making widespread adoption of cell phones feasibility. Organizations namely Motorola and Bell Labs were the first to produce and launch a handheld cell phone for the people (Basole, 2008; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011).

d. Laptops

The laptop computers were not imaginable when computers were created more than sixty years ago but it features incredible technology in small package. It can be said that the idea of portable, technically complete computer system. Laptop comes in several forms that may call with different names such as notebook computers, ultra books, and net books. Originally, it has been found that the laptops are monochrome that based on CRT technology (Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010). However, the technology of the laptop was not considered as feasible until the coming ten years but the researchers of Xerox were being experimented with a type of portable computer. The laptop with a flat display screen can fold down on the keyboard in 1982 (Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010).

e. Smartphone and Tablets

A Smartphone and tablet is a mobile phone developed on a mobile operating system with more computing capability connectivity as compared to a featured phone. The first Smartphone is combined with the functions of a personal digital assistant with a mobile phone (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Laudon & Traver, 2010). The models added the functionality of portable media players, pocket video cameras, and navigation units to form one device that is used for multiple purposes. Different Smartphone also include touch screens with high-resolution and web browsers displaying standard web pages along with sites of mobile optimized (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010).

Advantages of Smartphone and Tablets in Private and Government Organizations

It is known that Smartphone and tablets technology is successful in such a way that businesses and employed people have trouble in imagining a day without these things. Nearly all Smartphone can provide directions through GPS and can enable the employees working in private or government organizations to maintain track of appointments and contacts (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010). The following are some of the advantages of Smartphone and tablets in private and government organizations:

a. Communication Options

It can be said that the previous versions of cell phones enabled its users to send or receive text messages and receive or give a call. The people using smart phones and tablets cannot only call, text, and IM, but they can have access to email, video calling, and video conferencing (Laudon & Traver, 2010; Reynolds, 2009). Moreover, it has been examined that the employees in private organizations or government organizations can have access to the social networking for business or work purposes through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn (Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010).

b. Web Everywhere

In previous days, web browsing was only enabled for employees in private organizations or government organizations in workplaces. The introduction of wireless access and laptops moved the web accessible at almost every place (Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011). However, it has been studies that the launch of smart phones and tablets as technology enabled the employees and employers in private or governmental sector to access the web anywhere having cellular coverage (Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Reynolds, 2009).

c. Device Merger

There was a time when employees working in private and public organizations needed an entire bag to carry around all the devices needed for daily activities of businesses. It can be said that the people could have needed cell phones, PDAs, e-book reader, and a GPS device. The introduction of smart phones and tablets enabled all functionalities into one thing for people working in private and governmental organizations through miniaturized hardware packing a processor, speakers, a camera, a GPS receiver, Wi-Fi adapter, and touch sensitive screen. In addition to this, it has been observed that these features of smart phones and tablets made working, interaction, and conferencing for employees working in either private sector or government sector (Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010).

d. Endless Applications

It has been examined that the end of twentieth century observed an explosion of computer applications and the early twentieth century has brought several applications for smart phones and tablets. The sensors established into the smart phones along with the portability and programmability made it a complete device with infinite applications. Apart from the availability of limitless games and entertaining applications, it has been found that with the help of smart phones and tablets, the employees of organizations can maintain their knowledge regarding the stock markets or technologies while maintaining their work-related emails (Reynolds, 2009; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011).

Disadvantages of Smartphone and Tablets in Private and Government Organizations

It is observed that smart phones and tablets are proved to be convenient and provide employees in private organizations and government organizations with the most appropriate information. The applications available in private and government organizations can help employees to manage social media accounts, reminders of appointments, and connectivity with internet for web browsing or accessing emails. In other words, it can be said that smart phones and tablets technology have changed the way of accessing, transmitting, and spreading information (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012). This section of the paper is providing the disadvantages of smart phones and tablets technology for the employees working in private and government organizations.

a. Cost

Undoubtedly, the biggest disadvantage of smart phones and tablets technology is the cost as compared to the standard mobile phones. Since, it has been examined that the cost of smart phones is more upfront as compared to the less than about a third of such cost for a standard phone. The smart phones require expensive data plans that are not included in most standard phones making bills expensive with every passing month (McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006).

b. Security

Smart phones are found to provide access to the internet through the availability of Wi-Fi or data packages. The data security is a major concern for employees working in private or government organizations. The applets being downloaded by the employees along with the passwords being input into these applets and websites are sometimes not secure in the context of account privacy (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Reynolds, 2009). It means that internet access on an insecure network can threat employees of private organizations or government organizations in the context of identity theft and hacked accounts. It can be said that the employees of the private organizations and government organizations should log out of applets and websites after completing their sessions (Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Reynolds, 2009).

c. Distraction

Smart phones and tablets technologies are distracters for employees working in private organizations and public organizations causing the decline in worker productivity along with the maintenance of completion of consumers' tasks. It is obvious that a device fitting into pockets of employees in private organizations or government organizations and equipped with almost everything (Basole, 2008; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Rainer & Cegielski, 2010). It is natural for every employee to check emails consistently, scores of favorite sports, text messages, Facebook, and browsing the web. It declines the time for employees to spend time on projects of their business organizations. In addition to this, the employees being users of smart phones and tablets technology often play games on these technological devices during their business meetings, and seminars instead of focusing on the presentations (Basole, 2008; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Laudon & Traver, 2010; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Rainer & Cegielski, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011).

d. Typing

The smart phones have built on keyboards for touch screen keypad interfaces for the activities such as typing emails, notes and website addresses. It can be said that the keyboard is significantly smaller on the interface of smart phones as compared to its computer and characters are packed closely and these things limit the fast pace of typing. It is often found that people can type with a single hand because one hand needs to support the phone leading to stress and injuries in typing hands of employees working in private organizations and government organizations (Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Laudon & Traver, 2010; Basole, 2008; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010; Stair & Reynolds, 2011; Reynolds, 2009).

Improved Capability and Mobility

Since the inception of App Store of Apple in 2008, the concept of mobility and capability has evolved from a novelty into important part of doing business. It can be said that the organizations in a private sector or public sector in broad markets are observing the value of mobilizing enterprise information while making it available to consumers, employees, and partners (Basole, 2008; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006). These types of organizations have made tablets and smart phones important devices for the sales, marketing, and human resource strategies driving revenue growth with the increase in consumer loyalty and strong brand awareness. The organizations either private or government, can create focused applications to improve the employees' efficiency, communication, and productivity. Such type of initiatives has been considered by different organizations of public and private sector with varying levels of success (Basole, 2008; Ilyas & Ahson, 2006; Cerra, Easterwood, & Power, 2012; McLoughlin & Aaker, 2010).