The Social Implications of the Blackberry Technology

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The Blackberry technology

The Blackberry is a “wireless handled held device” that supports mobile telephony, push-email, web surfing, online faxing, short message services, instant messaging, wap services, as well as other wireless data services (Weiten, Wayne & Lloyd, Margaret, 2006). The uniqueness of the Blackberry in relation to the PDA phones is its ability to deliver e-mails in real-time. However, the device transmits data and information through the mobile phone’s wireless networks.

Operations of the Blackberry

Whenever an e-mail arrives at your inbox, the Blackberry Exchange Server monitors it and transfers the mail to your wireless data network provider, which consequently sends the e-mail to your Blackberry immediately. This explains the push e-mail technology.

The Blackberry keyboard is integrated into the device, and it is designed such that typing is done through thumping. Moreover, the trackwheel (or a trackball in newer models) is used for navigation. The technology was developed by Research In Motion (RIM), a Canadian company, and introduced to the market in nineteen ninety-nine.

Modern Blackberry

Other companies other than RIM have revolutionized the initial idea of the blackberry. Companies such as iDEN, TELUS, and Nextel have created some blackberry models incorporating a two-way radio. In addition, some Blackberry does not use mobile phones networks to deliver information but rather employs the common WiFi technology. RIM has also introduced Blackberry Connect, software that enables devices other than blackberry to handle email. Although the Blackberry was initially designed to handle emails (receive and send emails in real-time), some recent devices have common PDA applications such as address books, to-do-list, calendars, etcetera besides the telephone capabilities.

The contemporary handheld Blackberry integrates an ARM processor in contrast to the older models, which utilized Intel 80386 processors. However, the latest GSM version of Blackberry uses an Intel PXA901 processor. On the other hand, CDMA blackberries employ Qualcomm MSM6x00 technology on top of the ARM 9 processor. In addition, some CDMA blackberries use GSM 900/1800 roaming.

The social implications of the Blackberry

The introduction of the blackberry, as it is with new communication technology, has numerous impacts on society. Usually, the unintended impacts of new technology are unknown and unanticipated before the technology’s arrival. Nonetheless, the effects are significant. The sociological effects of new technology are the most delicate because they may remain unnoticed if not keenly studied and observed. Blackberry has caused alteration in the behavior of society, institutions, groups, as well as individuals.

Values

The emergence of Blackberry has influenced the values of society through raising expectations and changing realities. At the same time, the adoption of this new technology has been influenced by societal values. According to McGinn (1991), technology brings efficiency whereby all elements in life achieve a higher degree of performance, ability, or output. The blackberry, in addition, has brought social progress, which is beneficial.

Ethics

The Blackberry technology has ethical implications. The technology challenges customary ethical systems (Winston, 2003). Since technology affects individuals’ relationships with each other, it also dictates how they deal with one another. Moreover, Blackberry has altered the “distribution of justice” (Winston, 2003). The people with communication technology are likely to have the “justice systems” within reach (Winston, 2003). Furthermore, communication technology magnifies the ability, thus the strength of persons; that is, it gives humans power.

Lifestyle

Blackberry has allowed individuals to complete their work with less energy and in less time; this has made life simpler. In general, communication technology has a profound implication – both good and bad – on the lifestyle of a human being. The Blackberry can be associated with an increase of the “leisure class” (Winston, 2003) as well as a more knowledgeable society. In addition, technology has simplified life by allowing universal networking, increasing the ability to multitasking, and forming a “denser social circle” (Williams, 1996).

The group that the Blackberry has benefited

Blackberries are very popular within corporate circles. Mostly, they are used by nomadic employees to communicate to their company offices. The advantage of Blackberry includes better productivity in organizations as a result of effective business procedures and enhanced social communication. With the device, powerful communication applications such as Google Talk client and the Yahoo Messenger client are within reach. In addition, the gadget is a powerful medium for the disadvantaged people within the community. For instance, it aids the deaf community to communicate in real-time irrespective of where they are so long as there is network coverage.

The Blackberry push e-mail technology is very beneficial to mobile healthcare professionals, physicians, and home care nurses. These health practitioners who are always traveling from home to office to hospital and clinic need reliable real-time access to the clinical data and patient information. Moreover, the device helps these practitioners to plan their time and work effectively. Therefore, the enhanced communication in health care results in inefficient patient care. According to Allen (1987), communication technology reduces the mortality rate.

The group that the technology is a problem

The Blackberry technology – in regards to corporate structure and devices – presents substantial difficulties for communication policy. According to Lorimer, Gasher, Skinner, and David (2007), digital technology reorganizes power and space since it allows the separation of metadata from data itself. The functioning of the Blackberry, as well as its use, points out the remarkable changes which are apparent in modern information settings. Therefore, new communication innovations are putting the policymakers into a task while degrading the traditional regulations as well as copyright laws.

Although the Blackberry technology is associated with flexibility, increased speed, and distribution of production, its capabilities present some dangers. For instance, people and nations are more vulnerable to sabotage as well as identity theft. Adversary countries initiate ‘information wars’ to upset communication infrastructure in addition to managing the flow of information.

Blackberry technology does not benefit some groups of people in society as well as in workplaces. The push e-mail service in blackberry is not beneficial, for instance, to the blind community. In workplaces, this may jeopardize their employment in the case where companies want their employees to utilize the technology in communication. This would mean that special arrangements would have to be made for the blind employees. Moreover, the technology works to further sidelining the blind in society.

As with new technology, Blackberry also presents some financial disadvantages to business organizations that are forced to adopt the innovation so as to remain competitive. Although the ultimate result may be increased productivity, companies that are not prepared for new technology may lack the financial capacity to implement it and hence lose their competitive edge to their rivals.

Technology is also a problem for poor people. Since they cannot afford the technology, they lag behind in information. This worsens their situation in society, where a lack of accessing such technology undermines their value in society. Society is bound to judge people mainly on their material possession. In addition, this may lower their self-esteem.

Conclusion

Philosophers and social scientists view technology from different perspectives.

Instrumentalism sees technology as a tool neutral in value.
Substantives argue that technology is at the expense of humankind.
Liberalism argues that technology encourages the achievement of humans.
In critical theory, technology development, as well as its shaping, usage is a choice by the community.

Presently, theorists view technology as a phenomenon that exists in society and that it can be manipulated by society to suit its interest. Thus, Blackberry presents both positive and negative effects.

References

Allen, F. W. 1987. Towards a holistic appreciation of risk: The challenge for communicators and policy makers. Science, Technology & Human Values, 12 (3-4); 138- 143.

Ariely, Dan. 1998. Controlling the Information Flow: On the Role of Interactivity in Consumers’ Decision-Making and Preferences. Ph.d. diss., Duke University.

Clarke, L. 1989. Explaining choices about technological risks. 1, 22-35.

Grant, Gerald. 2006. Managing telecommunication and networking technologies in the 21^st century. Idea Group Inc.

Lorimer, Rowland; Gasher, Mike; Skinner, David. 2007: Mass Communication in Canada, (Sixth Edn.), Oxford: Oxford University Press

Mayinger, Franz. 2001. Mobility and traffic in the 21^st Century. Springer, 187

McGinn, R. E. 199. Science, Technology, and Society. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Nie, H. N. 2002. The Impact of Internet Use on Sociability. Cambridge Scientific Abstract, Vol. 1, 1-20.

Weiten, Wayne & Lloyd, Margaret. 2006. Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21^st Century. Thomson Wadsworth

Williams, Al & Dianne, Ross. 1992. The Status of Business Communication Technology, UK: McGraw Publisher.

Williams, R. & Edge, D. 1996. The Social Shaping of Technology.

Winston, M. 2003. Children of invention, in Ralph Edelbach & Morton Winston (edn.),: Society, Ethics, and Technology, 2nd edn., California: Wadsworth/Thomson.

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