The Smartphone: Putting it All Together

In 2011, 35% of Americans owed a smartphone, in contrast with 83% who owned a cellphone at all. In early 2021 the number of smartphone users increased dramatically to 85%, while the number of those who owned a cellphone at all increased to 97%, surpassing even those who owned a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer. In the decades since the arrival of the first telephone, the meaning of “phone” is one that has expanded to a device that not only makes calls, but also surfs the Internet, films video, sends emails, plays music, and gives directions with minimal human intervention. Many students are probably familiar with how to use a cellphone/ smartphone, but less so the inner workings of it.