Mobile Phones

A. Introduction
Seven questions on mobile phones
It's been 40 years since the first public mobile phone call was made by Martin Cooper,
a senior engineer at Motorola. Now there are almost as many mobile phone
subscriptions in the world as people. Test yourself on the history of mobile phones
1. Cooper made the first public wireless phone call walking along Sixth Avenue in New
York City on 3 April 1973. But whom did he ring?
His wife - His boss - His rival
2. Ten years later the world's first commercial handheld mobile phone, dubbed the
Brick, went on sale for an eye-watering $3,995. How much heavier than the
world's thinnest 3G mobile was it?
Three times - Eleven times - Eighteen times
3. The first text message was sent by a 22-year-old engineer more than 20 years
ago. What did it say?
Happy Easter - Merry Christmas - Hello world
4. The Nokia tune is arguably still the most recognised mobile ringtone. What's its
origin?
- A 1902 composition by a Spanish classical guitarist
- An oboe concerto by Handel
- A computer-generated tune by Nokia
5. Philippe Kahn is credited with creating the first camera phone and transmitting the
first publicly shared photo in 1997. What was the photo of?
His daughter - His dog - His hand
6. The most expensive telephone number sold at auction cost 10 million Qatari Riyals
(then �1.46m; $2.75m). What was the number?
11 11 11 11 - 5537-8008 - 666-6666
7. Many associate modern phones with apps. When is the OED's first recorded use of
the word?
1985 - 1998 - 2007
Answers
1. It was his rival, Joel Engel, who was head of research at Bell Labs and also
committed to developing the first mobile phone.
2. It's 11 times. The Brick, a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, weighed 785g (28oz) and
measured a colossal 300 x 44 x 89mm (13 x 1.75 x 3.5in). According to the
Guinness World Records, the world's thinnest 3G mobile phone, Samsung's Ultra
Edition 8.4 Z370, weighed just 71g (2.5oz).
3. It's Merry Christmas. The first text message was sent by Neil Papworth on 3
December 1992. He sent Vodafone's Richard Jarvis the festive greeting on Jarvis's
Orbitel 901 mobile phone.
4. It's a phrase from a 1902 composition by Spanish classical guitarist and composer
Francisco Tarrega, called Gran Vals. At one point, it was estimated that the Nokia
tune was heard about 1.8 billion times per day worldwide.
5. It's his newborn daughter, Sophie. The entrepreneur shared photos from the
maternity ward where she was born with thousands of friends and associates
around the world.
6. It's 666-6666. The number was bought by an anonymous Qatari bidder during a
charity auction hosted by Qatar Telecom in Doha on 23 May 2006, according to
Guinness World Records.
7. It's July 1985, when Info World wrote: "One step in that direction is Apple's recent
beta testing of the new programming tools called Mac App." Apple launched its
 colourful iMacs in 1998, and the iPhone in 2007, which sent the word into the
mainstream.

B. Discussion on The Mobile Phone:

1. What was life like before mobile telephones came along?
2. What would your life be like without your mobile telephone?
3. Can you remember your first mobile telephone?
4. Are you happy with the mobile telephone you have now? Why (not)?
5. What are your favourite functions on mobile telephones?
6. What new functions would you like to see on mobile telephones?
7. Do you think mobile telephones are dangerous in any way?
8. What is the ring tone on your mobile telephone and why did you choose it?
99. Are other people’s mobile telephones annoying?

C. Reading
MOBILE PHONES AND DRIVING
a. Though once perceived a luxury cell phones have become a common possession
over the last ten years or so. Due to modern day technology and public demand cell
phones have been made affordable to most. However, one of the most controversial
topics of today is whether or not we should be using our cell phones whilst driving,
Does it pose a danger to ourselves and other drivers? Or doesn’t it make any
difference to the likelihood of an accident.
b. Several countries around the world have already imposed a national Jaw with
heavy infringements. More recently the UK, Australia and Finland have joined the
ranks of countries opposing this very hazardous act, with Ireland imposing the
harshest penalties on the continent (a third offence can mean 3 months
imprisonment). Also in Europe, the Netherlands is fining offenders 2000 Euros and 2
weeks in jail.
c. This dangerous distraction contributes largely to motor vehicle accidents and the
statistics are Increasing daily as we continue to take our eyes off the road to call or
even more dangerously text. Research by road safety groups suggests speaking on a
phone whilst driving increases your chances of an accident, increasing to nine times
more likely when texting. Time and again, in study after study replicated across the
world, the use of a cell phone by the driver has been proven, beyond any sense of
reasonable doubt, to dramatically increase the probability of a motor vehicle crash.
d. In New Zealand, a proposal made by a previous Labour led Government suggests a
$50 fine and 27 demerit points for any person using a cell phone whilst driving,
although the Ministry of Transport is still preparing a report based on public
consultation. Although this is only a pending idea, the government knows this will be
a difficult infringement to police but a start needs to be made and people need to
understand the consequences of what potentially could happen. It is a common
misconception that hands free kits are safe to use, but research conducted by
Waikato University has proven that these can be equally as dangerous as hand held
phones.
e. On one hand, using a cell phone whilst driving has become an integral part of our
lives and is going to be a hard habit to kick. But it has been proven that our reaction
time is never fast enough when confronted with a road hazard, but if you are having a
conversation at the same time it will slow your reaction time by even more. Most
people find It takes 2 and a half seconds to react in a dangerous situation but if you
are on the phone you can add another 2 seconds onto that. Your attention is divided;
part of you concentrates on your conversation, the other on driving. The demands of
die conversation and the road are competing, therefore making it a cognitive
distraction as well as physical as you are removing one hand from the steering wheel
to hold the phone. On the other hand, an American radio host suggested that banning
cell phones whist driving was taking it a step too far, “if we ban cell phones, what’s
next? No billboards, coffee drinking, or CD players?” The host agreed that texting
whilst driving was a danger but phoning was not.
f. Many people agreed with him in saying that texting was a definite hazard as the act
of looking down would lead your eyes off the road. However, doesn’t holding a
conversation while driving seems just as distracting as eating food or reaching for a
CD? Accidents were happening decades before the cell phone was introduced so
should we be taking this matter so seriously?

g. Obviously opinions will differ on this matter, and it will always remain a debatable
issue. A long list of countries seems to be following the trend and imposing a law
against cell phones on the road, but there is still and even longer list yet to follow.
Lack of data leaves uncertain results but it seems research is ongoing and surveys
and tests are being carried out on a regular basis to reach some kind of conclusion as
to just how dangerous and potentially fatal this habit may be.

Questions 1 – 6
Reading Passage has seven paragraphs a – g.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs b – g from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number.
List of Headings
- Impact of mobile phones in hazards
- Texting statistics
- International reactions
- Further research required
- Evidence from around the globe
- Challenges of enforcement
- Global agreement on penalties
- Contradictory data
- Risks of talking to passengers
- Balancing the risks

1. Paragraph b: ......................
2. Paragraph c : ……………………
3. Paragraph d : …………………….
4. Paragraph e : …………………
5. Paragraph f : …………………..
6. Paragraph g : …………………….

Questions 7 – 11
Look at the following list of statement (questions 7-11) based on ‘Mobile phones and
driving’
Match the statement with the correct person or department a-e.
7. Ministry of Transport ....................
8. Road safety groups ........................
9. Waikato University .........................
10. American radio host .........................
11. The New Zealand government .............................
a. is currently putting together feedback from the general public.
b. proposed specific penalties for mobile phone use while driving.
c. statistically proven the higher likelihood of an accident.
d. believes any use of a phone while driving has potential risks.
e. speaking on the phone is an overrated risk.

Questions 12 – 16
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 12-16 an your answer sheet write
TRUE: if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE: if the statement contradicts with the information
NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this
12. The law in Ireland regarding mobile phone use while driving is the world’s most
serious: ...........................
13. According to research conducted by road safety groups, speaking on a phone
makes an accident nine times more likely: ....................
14. Reaction times in an emergency are doubled if the driver is using a mobile: .......
15. Eating while driving is statistically as dangerous as using a mobile: ...............
16. More research is required to form a clearer conclusion: ....................

D. Quick Paragraph Writing: Discussion

Do old and young people use mobile phones in the same way?