Cellular Phones

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how cellular phone infrastructure expanded in Hong Kong earlier and more effectively than it did in North America giving them a five to ten year lead on familiarity with cellphone customs. The paper also looks at how the later entrenchment of cellular phone technologies in North America accounts for the cultural differences in the usage and saturation of cellular phones and of SMS and other advanced services. In addition, the paper shows how the differences in cellphone use between Hong Kong and North America can be traced to infrastructure and are not easily explained by Marxist theories of differential use.

Outline:
Introduction
Background
Research: Methods
Research: Results
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Sociological theories of technology suggest that artifacts may reflect political and cultural realities. Differential cellular phone usage between North America and Canada reflects a political and cultural reality: telecommunications infrastructure in the United States and Canada continues to emphasize land lines, and cellular phone services are less entrenched as a result. In Hong Kong the reverse is true: land lines were far less embedded in the culture. Consumers embraced the new technology readily in Hong Kong because unlike in North America there was no need to transfer land line services over to cellular phones. Cellular phone service is more widespread and reliable in Hong Kong and consumers there expect to use their cellular phone as a primary means of communication regardless of the rate plans."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Cell Phone Usage Statistics." CellNumbers.com Retrieved April 1, 2007 from http://www.cellnumbers.com/cell-phone-usage.aspx
• Chowdhury, Mridul & Yeung, Steve. "Hong Kong SAR." Retrieved April 1, 2007 from http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cr/profiles/Hong%20Kong%20SAR.pdf
• "Do Artifacts Have Politics?"
• Heilbroner, Robert L. (1967). "Do Machines Make History?" Technology and Culture. 8(3). July 1967: 335-345.
• Leo, Peter. (2006). Cell Phone Statistics That May Surprise You. Post-Gazette.com Mar 28, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2007 from http://www.eng.vt.edu/pdf/upload_files/Cell%20phone%20statistics.pdf

More papers on Cellular Phones:

• Persuasive Essay # 111164 : "Cognitive Distraction: Driving with Cellular Phones"
• Article Review # 46035 : "The Dangers of Cellular Phones"
• Argumentative Essay # 35095 : "Cellular Phones in Cars"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: