EOTO Technology Presentations: The Smartphone

As I was listening to the presentations of all of the technologies that our society has invented, I was fascinated about the history and evolution of the smartphone. Smartphones are used by people of all ages all over the world as a way to communicate. There are many different brands of smartphones, but they are all important to our daily lives. Smartphones are efficient and portable tools that allow us to access the internet and check social networks. Here is what I learned about the smartphone and its impact.

The first smartphone was invented in 2007 by Steve Jobs. The first debut occurred on January 9th, 2007, at the Macworld convention in San Francisco. From 2007 to 2022, the smartphone has greatly improved in how it looks and functions. For example, iPhones have evolved immensely as they have grown in size. I remember when the iPhone 3 came out and it was super small. Now, there are iPhone 13s and 14s which are way bigger and more advanced. The iPhones that we have in 2022 are completely touch screens. The iPhones in the early 2000s have a home button at the bottom of the phone. Everything we own when it comes to electronic devices are mostly full touch screens. From walkie talkies to our touch screen smartphones, the evolution of technology has become a vital use to people of all generations. 

The iPhone is a combination of a computer, iPod, digital camera, and cellular phone all into one device with a touchscreen interface. It was created to combine all these devices into one handled device that people could take with them everywhere. I can do a lot of tasks like writing a paper on my phone like I would on a computer because the iPhone is like a portable computer. It has the same apps and functions like a computer does. The first ever smartphone included a touchscreen and multiple apps that included a calculator, an address book, a notepad, and several more. It does not have many of the features that the current iPhones have, but it was the starting point to revolutionizing the look and use of smartphones.

We all know that society has an addiction to their phones, but I did not know the percentage of people that are addicted to their devices. 75.4 percent of users of the iPhone would state that they have become addicted to their devices. That is way over half which is a negative aspect of our world. We are glued to our phones that we do not realize the addiction that we have. Everywhere I go, I see people with their phone in front of their face. Whether it is in class, out in public, or with friends, phones are causing a problem that interrupts our everyday lives. We cannot concentrate when we feel the need to check our phones every 5 minutes. 

I learned that more than 5 billion people around the world are using these handheld smartphone devices on a daily basis. That is almost everyone on this earth. It is crazy to think about how iPhones have impacted everyone and how we live with the technology. This changed the game of communication by becoming a handheld communicator device that people could take with them everywhere. No more wires or antennas to help capture the best cell signals. This iPhone changed how we communicate and made it so much easier for us. I hardly use my home phone because my smartphone is always with me in my hand. Instead of being connected to a wall, we have made a device that can be easily transportable from place to place. 

Smartphones are a crucial tool that serves as our entertainment and way of communicating. With my iPhone, I use google maps to help me get to places and I surf the web if I need answers about a specific topic. From listening to the presentation on smartphones, I have learned that within the 15 years that iPhones have existed, we all use it for the same purposes. They are efficient tools that make our lives easier as we have the ability to connect with people from all over the world with just a touch of our finger. I never realized how much iPhones have changed. I have never seen the first smartphone ever invented until the presentation. The first smartphone looks so boring and not the most advanced portable device. The new and latest smartphones that come in different colors and have cool features within the phone that people can use are much more efficient and better. There is a big change between the two phones, and it is important to learn about how it started and how much of an impact it has had on society.

The Evolution of YouTube

 YouTube was invented on February 14th, 2005 in San Mateo, California. It is among the websites with the fastest growth. The first YouTube video to ever surf the internet was posted on April 23, 2005. The co-founder of YouTube, Jawed Karim, created the video that is only 18 seconds long. It was titled, "Me at the Zoo." Today, it has over 90 million views and the only video he has posted on his channel. YouTube has been around for over 17 years now and it still is a popular way of sharing videos to people all over the world. There are more than 50 million channels that are still active today which shows just how much of an impact the invention of this social media app has had on society.

YouTube is a platform where people can share their videos online. It was invented by Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, and Steve Chen. All three were PayPal workers before the foundation of YouTube. The inventors claim that the concept was conceived in 2004, a year before it was invented. The concept came about at a dinner party in San Francisco. They found it hard to send the videos and photos they took to friends over the internet, even though they were both taken from digital cameras. It was easy to send the photos over email, but difficult to send the videos. They started to talk about how to share quick and short videos as there could be an easy way over the internet. Chad Hurley said, "On their cell phones, people were gathering video clips, but there was no simple way to share them." The three men were annoyed about how challenging it was to discover and distribute videos online at the time. The problems of distributing videos soon vanished because of the invention of YouTube. The first idea for YouTube was a way for people to be able to express themselves and tell the world what they like to do. Since this idea, YouTube has skyrocketed greatly from the numerous milestones it has accomplished since 2005. Users of YouTube have access to a variety of features, including the ability to publish, watch, comment, share, and subscribe to other users' content. Anyone can publish any type of video content on YouTube, which is how it was first designed. Users should be able to upload, share, and watch content on the website without any limitations. By selling ad space before or on the videos people produce and post to the website, many creators nowadays are able to make a respectable income including millions. The platform's underlying ideas is to enable anyone to operate a personal broadcasting station similar to television. 

The meaning of the word, YouTube, can be easily solved by anyone. The "You" indicates that the content is produced by the user themselves rather than the website. "Tube" alludes to an earlier title for TV. With hundreds of hours of video content being posted every minute, it exists in more than 70 countries and can be accessed and watch in over 60 languages. There are over a billion users and has taken over as the primary online video sharing service. It is used as an educational tool especially in schools where students learn about information as there are lectures and professors that post on their own accounts. YouTube provides the connection of researchers and knowledgeable individuals to engage and provide fascinating content to educate users about the world we live in.

Several amateur animators, filmmakers, music critics, teen lifestyle experts, and others have been able to create films that are viewed by a large audience thanks to YouTube. Most content on YouTube has helped people become more conscious of social concerns like bullying, suicide, and LGBTQ-related problems. According to reports, YouTube can help people better understand the personal experience of others, gain access to specialized health data and information, receive emotional support, reduce their risk of depression and loneliness, and give them a productive outlet for self-expression, self-identity, and building a safe and respected community. As a everyday YouTube user myself, I always love to read comments under influencer's posts about how their videos have helped them become more like themselves and to be more confident. YouTube influencers and users has made so many people not lose hope in themselves and has inspired many watchers to create their own accounts. "YouTube is improving our memories", says Don Tapscott, one of the world's foremost experts on how technology affects business and society. It is a publicly accessible visual record of a significant portion of what is happening or has occurred in the world. I go on YouTube to watch livestreams of the beach or watch videos of a country that is currently getting destroyed. I have also watched parties that are from creators who are celebrating a milestone and it felt like I was there. YouTube has given us a much deeper, more accurate understanding of the past than we could have obtained from reading our history books, viewing documentaries on television, or simply being verbally told about it. 

According to reports, watching YouTube had a negative impact on people's sleep, as well as their self-esteem, ability to deal with bullying, and fear of missing out. Social media is an addicting place. When we watch YouTube too much, it can affect how we work and perform in our lives. Parental guidance and content that is not made for children is a negative attribute of YouTube. A lot of videos on the internet are not made for children and when they browse the web, it can create problems in how they act and view the world from the one video that was made for a mature audience. Users are constantly making violent videos that are made to ease past the kids filter on YouTube. This can have a negative effect on children as they can be traumatized and easily disturbed. 

One of YouTube's most revolutionary effects on communication was its capacity to make the globe smaller than it actually is. With just a mouse click, users of the platform can not go anywhere in the world and broadcast it to millions of people. Brand messaging can be quickly and effectively communicated through video. Videos are a medium for expressing the feeling and physical characteristics of what you are marketing since people respond positively to visual cues. Concepts that are difficult to express in word form can be effectively demonstrated through video. To assist viewers in winning prizes made by their favorite creators, YouTube encourages video replies, comments, and contests that allow watchers to win prizes and get in contact with their favorite creators. Many users also post their talents like singing and dancing that allowed them to rise to fame. For example, Justin Bieber who posted a video of him singing a Ne-Yo some blew up on YouTube and allowed for him to get noticed by celebrities like Usher who eventually signed Justin Bieber to a record deal. YouTube has changed the way we communicate by allowing normal everyday people to be heard and seen by famous people or people around the world. We can direct message people and collaborate with other influencers to grow each other's channels. Instead of face to face communication, we can share self-made videos and publicly address a topic or a person who the video is directed to. Without YouTube, there may have been a possibility that we would have never known who Justin Bieber or a lot of internet sensations are. People from all other the world can come together and share the same interests and passions by sharing their videos.

One of my favorite YouTubers is Baylen Levine. Most of his content consists of prank videos and videos of him having fun with his group of friends. I like this creator because he does not care what other people think. Haters can have a negative effect on YouTubers, especially when they are recording their life and expressing their interests. Levine does not let that stop him from chasing his dreams. His fans or subscribers are like his family. A lot of them think that they have known him his whole life because his fans can relate and look up to him. A lot of fans have met him by reaching out to him on YouTube or commenting on his videos. This has allowed communication to be more effective. Levine's weekly postings get sent out to his 3.72 million subscribers and over millions are watching them. The invention of YouTube has allowed people to gain a voice and a following so that they can inspire and make a change for the younger generations. Baylen Levine and many YouTubers have the freedom to post any content they want or desire in hopes that it will reach out to numerous amounts of users. 

Individual Self-Fulfillment and the use of Social Media

 Social Media is a way for people to express themselves. We see people on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter who have the freedom to say what they want and give the public a taste of their personality. We use social media as a form of communication and it has allowed us to be able to exchange information. Theories help us to describe what we see and figure out how we can make a change. Freedom of speech from the First Amendment has allowed society to be themselves and stand up for what they believe in so that there will be change in the future. We can see wrongdoing, and then describe it in a way that everyone knows that it is a problem that needs to be solved. 

Technology has provided a whole different and new reality within a virtual stance. Technology and social media can prevent us from fulfilling our needs and sometimes drives them. 

How does Social Media hinder our abilities? 

The way society overuses social media can be damaging and harmful. We use social media to find acceptance, inspirations, and to use our voices. We replace face to face conversations with the virtual world of social media. We do not stop judging ourselves and comparing how we look to other people. Everyone's lives are different and not everyone has a perfect life that it seems like they have when they post online. Unrealistic images online can be harmful to young kids of our generation who feel like they need to be a certain way in order to fit in. With this, we start to become dissatisfied with ourselves and change our appearance or personality for other people. When I go online, I always see people arguing and creating rumors. I wonder why they even brought it up online instead of handling it in private. We have the freedom to put everything online which can be tricky and harmful at times. instead of having face to face interactions, we decide to project it on social media where millions of people can see and form opinions about someone even when they do not know both sides of the story. Technology and social media is addicting just like any drug or alcohol. Once we use it, we cannot stop. The addiction to social networking sites can make become more comfortable to hide behind a screen and send hateful messages across a platform. 

How can we use social media in developing our self fulfillment?

1. A consistent image of yourself

Society should always represent themselves well. You have to be consistent with your image or it could be damaging to your reputation. A lot of influencers are seen as a positive and happy person who could do no wrong, and then a certain image or video leaks where they are making unwise choice. This can lead to damaging your reputation and you could potentially get cancelled online where everyone will be against you and your values. It is beneficial to express yourself with pictures that show people your personality and what your interests are, but certain photos can hurt your image and create a situation where less opportunities are thrown your way. 

2. Engage in discussions

Society should never be scared to use their voice. You might think your opinions or yourself in general does not matter, but you are definitely a vital source in our society. There is a reason we are all on this earth. Everyone can provide insights that are unique and different. We have the freedom to express how we think and feel about things. Everyone should be open to the idea of putting yourself out there. Never be afraid to show who you are and what is on your mind. Most importantly, we should respect other's choices and opinions. Negative feedback or arguing over something that only going to get you into a sticky situation is never the right answer. In order to build your brand or social accounts, you need to be able to express yourself and give positive feedback to people who may have the same goals and insights as you. Do not just lurk around the web. Add your voice because everyone matters and is equal in having that autonomy. Especially with news that has been talked about for months now with the case Roe v Wade, many people on social media are expressing their opinions about why people should be against or for abortion. We have the freedom to express how we feel online and any speech we project onto the media. 

3. Study and take notes on influencers or people around you

The best way to grow and get inspired is by looking at the people around you. You should be engaged with influencers in order to grow your brand. Life is about getting connected and building relationships to get yourself out there. Influencers need to be able to trust you and want to work with you. There are so many fake people out there who just want to use someone for clout or to get what they want. You need to automatically create those connections and analyze the individual's networks. Human dignity is all about being respectful in regard to how someone lives and what they believe in. We should be open to new possibilities and not judge too quickly. We are all unique with different purposes in life and our self-fulfillments should be free of judgements and taken seriously. 

How should we utilize social media as a way to help us reach our full potential?

For me, one thing I do is follow people who do not bring me down. I like to follow inspirational accounts that lift me up and make me fill good. In order to grow as a person, we should be following people who encourage us to reach our goals and become happy when we achieve them. This is also a big problem for me, and it is the use of social media. If we all were not on social media 24 hours a day, then there would never be a distraction for achieving our goals. We should be able to express ourselves and say what we want without it becoming a distraction or a necessity. Society needs to take some time for themselves and limit the amount of social media that are exposed to everyday. I am trying to create good habits by only allowing an hour of social media in the morning and at night. This allows me to have the freedom to find myself and what I really want in life. I can strengthen relationships without the distraction of social media and technology like my phone. I stop comparing myself to others when I am not on social media and it has made my mental health so much better. Instead of relying on the messages and posts of individuals to make us happy and fulfilled, we need to focus on ourselves. We need to discover ourselves first in order to reach our full potential and self-fulfillment.

I believe that individual self-fulfillment is important because it allows us to be able to express ourselves. Social media allows us to reach our full potential and accept who we are without thinking about our limitations and failures. We have the freedom to be creative in all parts of our lives and seek faithful and deep connecting relationships with people through the web or in person. Censorship can prevent someone from reaching their personal growth and being able to accept who they are. The internet provides different views or values and it gives people the opportunity to express themselves with a comment or thought. We can share how we view a certain topic and have the bravery to post about a certain topic that expresses ourselves in a way that may help someone else to do the same. We have free virtual access to what is happening in the world and we should use that to our advantage. 

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The U.S. Supreme Court

     The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court which means that they have the power to make constitutional decisions and make sure that the United States citizens are guaranteed equal justices under the law. The President of the United States gets to nominate and decide who the Supreme Court's justices are and the Unites States Senate approves or rejects them. The article was interesting to explore new facts of information that I did not know prior to reading and how it changed the they way I thought about the Supreme Court.

What did I learn about the Supreme Court that I didn't already know?

I did not know that several  of the Supreme Court justices were different for several reasons. I am not a political person and do not keep up with the Supreme Court so I do not know too much about the Supreme Court and why it exists. I have heard of John Marshall and how he was chief justice but I did not know his role and influence in the Supreme Court. He was the one who explained the relationship between the judiciary and the remainder of the government. In Marbury v. Madison, he confirmed the Supreme Court's authority to examine and decide whether federal laws passed by Congress are constitutional. I never knew how long he served as chief justice before reading. He served 34 years in that position which is the longest term for anyone who has played that role in the Supreme Court.

 I knew the court has dealt with and contributed with more than just civil rights matters, but I never heard of some of the vital cases. I knew of Engel v. Vitale case but I have never learned it in depth and how the Supreme Court took action. Within this case, the First Amendment is violated by prayer that is promoted by and conducted in public schools, according to the Supreme Court. Additionally, it determined in 1963 that defendants who cannot afford legal representation must receive it for free. This was provided in the Gideon v. Wainwright case. Again, I have heard of these cases but have never really studied them or gone in depth about how the Supreme Court was involved with many issues so that everyone has equal rights and laws.

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

The most important take-away point I took about the Supreme Court is what they do and why it is so important. Created by the United States in accordance with the Unites States Constitution, the Supreme Court has final authority over all domestic legislation and is charged with determining whether they are constitutional. The Supreme Court, which now consists of nine justices, has the authority to check the activities of the president's executive branch and Congress' legislative branch. The Supreme Court makes the most important decisions for our country. All nine justices are the people who we have to count on and trust them to make the right decisions, especially the chief justice. The Chief Justice, who oversees the Supreme Court and sets the agenda for the justice's weekly meetings, is the nation's highest judicial official. The Chief Justice has the power to choose who will draft the court's opinion in situations when he or she is a member of the majority opinion. The Chief Justice is required to serve on the Smithsonian institution's Board of Regents. The Chief Justice is very important to the Supreme Court in making decisions that will lead the United States into the right direction. Without the Supreme Court, the United States would be chaotic and have no regulatory procedures of how to handle a situation that is controversial or a problem in our community.

What was the most surprising thing I learned?

The most surprising thing I learned is how many times the size of the Supreme Court has varied. Although the initial court has six justices, Congress changed the size of the Supreme Court six times over the years, from a minimum of five to a maximum of ten. Congress set the number of seats at nine in 1869, and that number has not changed since. I was a little surprised with that information, but more curious as to why they kept changing it. I think that the more people they have within the Supreme Court is better than a few because you have more voices and opinions in order to make decisions for the laws of the people. Why did it keep on changing? Six times is a lot and it seems like they could never make up their mind. Since 1869 the number of people have stayed the same. We have stayed pretty consistent but I am surprised that they would not want more voices within the system. I am surprised and not surprised by the gender ratio within the Court. 3 women and 6 men is not a perfect ratio. Every gender has their own opinions and views on certain subjects and I would expect them to consist of an equal amount of men and women, as well as a larger range of people that have a role in the Supreme Court. The fact that they changed the number of people involved made me curious as to why they did that and why did they settle for 9 justices.

How did the Article change the way I thought of the Supreme Court?

The article changed the way I thought about the Supreme Court in a number of ways. The Supreme Court's role is very complexed. The overload of topics and cases that they have to deal with has to be a lot of stress for them. There is a lot of pressure that they have to go through because the United States is expecting a lot from them. Americans are waiting for laws to pass and they can be very opinionated and get offended by the final decisions from the Court. The Supreme Court justices were obligated to travel at each judicial district twice a year for more than 100 years following the court's founding. Congress formally eliminated this onerous requirement in 1891. Throughout history, the Supreme Court has had big shoes to fill and roles that only a few can handle because of the commitment to making decisions that can make or break our country. I never thought about how important the Chief Justice role is and how they are vital for Supreme Court. As was the case with Presidents Andre Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, the Chief Justice preside over impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States in the U.S. Senate. The Chief Justice has an important role in the case selections and choosing's to review, as well as case discussions between the justices. I never put much thought into the Supreme Court because for the longest time I never cared about what they do and their role in society. The article helped me to think about the history and significance of how much power and control the Supreme Court has with what is happening in the world right now.

My Top 5 News Sources

     Technology is one of the most important and useful inventions as it is a way for me to receive information. My phone, TV, tablet, and radio are just a number of ways I am able to be notified about political, pop cultural, or any of the latest news. I use my phone more than I should. If you could see my screen time, it would be high double digits. I watch these news sources on my phone every single day. I get notifications and watch any livestream or YouTube videos that were released that day from these news sources.  These news sources that I have picked out all have been a reliable source for me. When I look up breaking news on google or on social media apps, these are the first ones to pop up or that I click on. CNN, ABC News, The New York Times, Twitter, and Fox News all have useful and accurate news information that people all across the world utilize as a way of keeping up with various types of news.

1. CNN

https://www.cnn.com/

In high school, my civics teacher would have my class watch CNN at the beginning of class to receive any information going on in the world that day. CNN is a credible source of information and does not contain any bias. I like CNN because it is one of the most unopinionated and informative resources. When I watch CNN, I am not going to be offended by someone's opinions about a political topic because the news source strictly communicates factual evidence about events going on in the world. CNN reports news as quickly as possible so we know exactly what is going on. It is not just political news, but anything from sports to weather and to entertainment. I have the CNN app on my phone since I use my phone every single hour.

I want to give you not just my opinion, but a little research as to why CNN should be recommended. CNN extends to 80 million families in the United States. If 80 million people are believing and spreading the information that CNN reports, then I think that it is accurate enough to be released into the public. For online news, CNN is one of the most popular destinations. There are many users of technology, whether they have laptops or phones. The best way of reaching millions of people is by creating apps where people around the world can have easy access to CNN news.

2. ABC News

https://abcnews.go.com/

I watch ABC News on television almost everyday. I trust this source because it is coming from credible resources that are short of bias and contain factual reporting. Whenever I look up any current news, ABC is always one of my top choices on google to click on. I watched a lot of ABC News growing up when my family and I would watch TV together after dinner. Since it is on national television, I would think that it would be credible to put out into the world. I like how ABC News gives you an opportunity to ask any questions or say your opinions and comments. They value their viewer's opinions and comments because the information getting sent out by ABC News is important and valued by the viewers. Millions of people are watching ABC News, so they should know what information is accurate or not.  

ABC news examines and records any new releases and records any new released news information so they know for sure that the news that is given out is biased or unbiased. Any information that is sent out to ABC news is accessed through professional and experienced staff who edits the material and makes sure that the information is factual and is not offending anyone. Offensive language and information is a common pattern we see everyday. ABC News is a trusted source that will provide entertainment and information that will not offend any viewer. They look for validity and reliability, just like any news source should. 

3. The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/

The New York Times is an article I do not use very often, but when I do I can always trust them with accurate resources. Today when I heard from a fellow student that Queen Elizabeth II has died, I immediately looked it up because I could not believe the news even though we all know her time was coming. The first news source to appear was The New York Times. They provided in depth information about her death and I believed it because all the news sources and TV stations were communicating the same information. The New York Times does not just give short and basic knowledge of information. Any reader can tell that they do their research and take the time and effort to make sure that the news is as descriptive and detailed as possible. They provide similar articles that are about the information you are reading. For example, the Queen Elizabeth II passing I discussed and read from The New York Times also gave me other articles relating to the Queen and her life. It gave information about what is going to happen after her death and who will take over her duties in England.

The New York Times article is one of the popular read articles in America. The New York Times has been around for well over 100 years, so you could figure out that they know how to publish the most accurate information. The New York Times makes sure that their curious readers who are seeking to find the most reliable sources of information are receiving that. They have broadened their topics that they discuss by providing popular information about the NFL and food recipes. Especially with football coming up, more people are going to be intrigued by the news and be more engaged with their news.

4. Twitter

https://twitter.com/

Twitter is one of my most used social media apps besides TikTok. I get my information very quickly while scrolling through the app. People share and spread news about pop culture, sports, politics, etc. I go to Twitter the most if I want to know the latest political news. I like it because the app allows people from all over the world who may not be professional editors or journalists to post events that other news sources may not come across or post on their sites. I would recommend Twitter because when it comes to breaking news or exclusive news, majority of people will tweet about it. I am a big fan of any social media news and want to know right away. Twitter is my go-to. With the app, I am a click away from knowing the information and can express my knowledge or comment on the post as well as hear what others have to say.

Twitter allows for mass communication. It is also one of the first apps that journalists will scroll through and make sure they know the latest trending topics.  Over 70 percent of people that use Twitter reported that they get the majority of their news on the app. Twitter started placing popular news at the very start of people's timelines so that they would be engaged with the material.

5. Fox News

https://www.foxnews.com/

We live in a world right now where people can twist news and create bias information. Fox News ensures accurate and trustworthy data. I would deny the allegation that Fox News has bias in their news reports because it is the most recommended and I know that their news reporting works separately from their opinion journalism. I like it because I can trust the people who work for Fox News and their experience of being a part of the news channel for a while now. If I am not familiar with the reporters and the people who work there, I am less likely to listen and watch Fox News. This news source is not the most frequent one I use, but if I have nothing else to watch then this is the site I use. There are several sources I have seen saying that Fox News is biased and can not be trusted, but there is a reason why this is number 5. I recommend this source if you want quick news that is covered, but I would not make this your first resort. I do use the source when it pops up on my feed and I can say from the articles and information I have read so far from Fox News that they provide the same reports and news information as everyone else.

Fox News has over a million users worldwide. The news source used the "Fair and Balanced" motto but then gradually changed to "Most Watched, Most Trusted." As long as Fox News provides relevant information that other news sources have, I trust them enough to read and engage in their material.