Are you lost without your phone? When you do have it, do you find yourself almost constantly looking down at it? Well, if you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you are not alone. According to Pew Research, 90% of people in America use Smartphones.

A Smartphone is a cellular phone that performs many of the functions of a computer. Typically, it has a touch screen, Internet access, and applications. Perhaps better known as apps, applications are what drive the market for better and faster Smartphones.
The first Smartphone, according to Doug Aamoth, a tech-writer for Time magazine, was the IBM Simon Personal Communicator, which was created and sold to the public back in 1994. This was way before the universal iPhone was introduced seven years ago.

The first incantation of the smartphone, had no web browser. However, according to Aamoth e-mail access but sadly the product was short lived.

Tristan Louis, a technology writer for Forbes, reports that, in today’s market, the newest Smartphone costs up to $650 with the lowest price of $120. Despite the high price of such devices, according to a Nielsen survey reported by Dara Kerr of cnet, the percentage of the teens who have Smartphones is 70%, while for adults the percentage who own Smartphones is only 56%.

“Having a Smartphone is one of the greatest things to have in possession. You can finally have Internet on the go,” one senior student said.

One aspect of Smartphones that make them worthwhile for all buyers is their ability to perform multiple tasks. One example of this is the GPS function. With today’s Smartphones, there is no need to waste $100 at a local Radio Shack or Best Buy, when you can download a GPS on your phone. Smartphones also connect people with one another through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vine, and Instagram. Using these sites can make communication seem easier, as people can converse with others instead of texting each other or calling them on their phone.
Another benefit from a Smartphone that most teens can certainly tell you about is the computer-like functionality. Not only can you get the Google app and either type or speak the topic you need to research for that English or history project, but you also can type it on your Smartphone as well. “Using apps like Google helps me with my homework because it’s faster, and I can do it wherever I am.”

While there are positives views on Smartphone, there are also negative views on smartphones, which some people see as too much of a distraction to life. Using one’s phone in class has become a troublesome problem, as teens pay too much attention to their phone rather than listening and engaging in the lesson. “I find it very frustrating; it’s difficult to teach students when they are playing games, texting, and using social media.” Mr. Ritzer said. Almost all teachers say these words in this kind of situation.