The Impacts of Mobile Computing

The Impact of Mobile Computing Times are changing so fast these days, it is almost hard to keep up on everything. Yet all of this is supposed to be making our lives easier. I openly accept all of the changes but feel like I have gotten a little lost in everything. This class has definitely helped me understand and become familiarized with things that are new to me. Mobile computing has impacted our lives in so many ways. The smart phone and the tablet has made an unlimited amount of information available to us just by a click of the keys. I found an article about how junior doctors are using handheld computers, replacing the school book, at a hospital. They are finding that there are some positives and some negatives to using these to help diagnose and share information
Within the study group there were individual interviews done with each user. Within the first category, people had a feeling of uncertainty about using handheld technology in medical care. There was a lack of confidence when using these devices. Books were a comfort to them. Once their confidence was boosted they found that there was an unlimited access to medical information. These were a portable and time saving way to attain new insights into unknown medical area (Axelson).It was much easier and quicker to keep up to date on the ever changing medical field. All of the devices had the same programs installed on them so there was a sense of consistency. Students were also able to share information with their colleagues almost immediately if needed.
Negatives or concerns with this type of device was that they would have to be personalized to each doctor and their needs and since they were loaned to them the students didn’t feel comfortable with this. Also they needed to be convenient, versatile and not too bulky. There wasn’t a long enough battery life for the devices and they were expensive. Students were also finding that some very important information was not available leaving them to refer back to their books.
I feel that this is a great thing for the doctors but as a patient I feel I would be a little nervous if a doctor whipped out their computer to answer my question or medical concern or diagnose me without seeing me in person. Based on your text (Bowles) it states that “Most physicians still need to see patients in person though even they can sometimes remotely diagnose disease through the use of computers.” With a little bit of research I would have been able to do that myself. It is hard because I don’t necessarily like going to the doctor and would much rather self-diagnose myself even before walking into the clinic. But since I do have respect for the doctor’s knowledge and schooling they had to go through I still need to hear it from them. I do need to hear it and not just read it on some device. Also doctors can sometimes translate things so that people without their schooling are able to understand the information. I think this form of mobile computing is going to be for some but then not for others. I am sure new and upcoming doctors will accept it better than someone who has been in practice for years. They have already personalized their career to their needs and learning something new like this could just cause uncertainty.
One area where mobile computing affects me and has become almost a must have is with schooling. The Society for College and University Planning said, “From a campus computing standpoint, the mobile wave was initially brought to us by our students. Students have been coming to campus with personal computing devices for over 30 years, but never in that time have the devices been so prolific, varied, multifunctional, or powerful. Unlike the PC revolution on the 1980s that started with business, the mobile revolution started at home and is largely student-driven. We need to respond to it now” (Currie). Most students now grew up using the Internet feel comfortable with it and rely on it every day and now they can access it almost anywhere. Schools needed to adapt their teaching to accommodate the new wave of technology. It is not just the ability to receive all of your school information from your mobile device but also a way for students to communicate with each other through social networking. They can now work on a project together as a group but not have to be together doing it. Not everyone’s schedule works together and this way students can be more efficient with their time.
The only thing I have to argue about this is the fact that some students just work better when they are hands on with their partners. Trust is easier formed when you actually know the person that you are relying on to perform their part of the project. This could hinder some student’s ability to work to their fullest potential.
Schools are also now moving to E-textbooks versus the standard book. E-books are something that I now use and am thankful for having access to during my online schooling. The great thing about online schooling is that you have the ability to do your readings, finish your assignments from just about anywhere. This great asset makes it easy for not only the schools but for the students to feel comfortable that everyone is receiving the same information and working from the same books. I also feel good knowing that we are helping the environment by not having to produce thousands of copies of the same book. I find that without all of this technology our lives would be overwhelming. We are moving so fast these days compared to even our Grandparents. I try to think back to life before my tablet or smartphone and don’t know how people functioned efficiently. I don’t like that I now rely on so much of this technology but feel good about what I am able to accomplish. This has all been especially helpful to me with my schooling. I am now able to work on my schoolwork during my downtime at work. This leaves me more time to be with my growing family at the end of my work day. With my husband and myself both in school we would never be able to both work and get our degree and raise our family all at the same time. One final point it want to make is I still feel that children are relying on these devises too much for their entertainment. But then again I feel it is up to me as the parent to regulate the usage time. Things are only going to continue to change and I can’t even imagine what schooling and the medical field will have to offer my children in the future. I can only assume it will be bigger and better.

References:
Axelson, C. (Jul/Aug2007). Using Medical Knowledge Sources on Handheld Computers-A Qualitative Study Among Junior Doctors. Medical Teacher, Vol. 29 Issue 6. P611-618.

Bowles, M. D. (2013). Introduction to Digital Literacy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Currie, C. (2012). Impact of Mobile Computing. Planning for Higher Education. Vol.41 Issue 1. P169-178.