Question 1

Gadgets, examples are smartphones, iPad and tab has destroyed communication among friends and
family. Do you agree or disagree.

https://www.newsday.co.zw/2012/01/27/2012-01-27-mobile-phones-destroy-family-ties/

Mobile phones destroy family ties

January 27, 2012 in Columnists, Comment & Analysis, Opinion

The era of mobile phones was a welcome relief since land phones were no longer functional and
less accessible to most Zimbabweans.

These mobile phones took Zimbabweans by storm and although I do not have statistics on hand,
every person I know whether they live in town or the rural areas, owns a mobile phone.

But this technology might be just as addictive as alcohol and drugs and could also wreak havoc with
personal and work relationships.

I was at my brother’s home at New Forest Estate in the Goodhope area recently and when I walked
into the lounge; his two children were hooked onto the mobile Internet.

My brother was glued to the television watching some soccer match. I had to announce my arrival
verbally which startled them because they had not heard me drive in.

This scenario is so common and annoying as well. People no longer talk like they used to in the
past. We used to have so many visitors at weekends, but this has changed because of the mobile
communication.

“Before mobile phones and cellphones, people saw each other in person and called each other on
the phone. Even with cordless phones there was still an element of publicity with a home phone. And
parents usually set time limits on how much time one could talk on the phone at one time.

“Now, with cellphone plans offering unlimited calling and texting, there are no boundaries. Adults,
teens and even young children walk around perpetually glued to their cellphone.
Many people send hundreds and even thousands of text messages. With Bluetooth technology, the
cellphone user is constantly plugged in to the phone,” reads an article on Yahoo news.

Stories about mobile phones that have destroyed relationships are endless. One married man saved
his girlfriend’s phone number using a male name Japhet.

One day the phone rang when the husband was taking a bath and that is when hell broke loose.
The wife wanted to know who this Japhet was, but the husband insisted it was a male friend who
had called him.

A fight nearly ensued between the two when the husband grabbed the phone from her and smashed
it against a bathroom wall.

The expensive Blueberry mobile phone was now broken into pieces. Most spouses may not agree
with me when I say that a mobile phone is a very private gadget that should be answered only by the
owner. This is because there is a 50% chance of coming across such secrets.

A colleague was once called by his girlfriend as he lay in bed with his wife. This happened around
midnight when they were sleeping when this woman called.

“Iwe huya kuno mwana arikuchema zvisingaite (Please come over the baby is crying so much),” she
said.

All hell broke loose. The woman was later to discover that the girlfriend had actually three children
with this man and had it not been for the mobile phone, she would never have known about his
secret family.

Women too have not been spared as they too have their little secrets which eventually explode on
the mobile phone.

A spouse discovered a message on the mobile which read: “Let’s have more time together
. . . I love you so much.”

He took the number and called the sender. The person on the other end told him that this woman
was single following a divorce. He added that he buys her expensive jewellery and takes her to
lunch daily.
That was the end of their marriage. The wife is now at her parents’ home in Greendale while the
spouse has taken custody of the children.

Constant texting is also very disturbing says the article on Yahoo news.

“It’s unnerving to hear the constant buzz or beep of an incoming text message. Constant texting
makes the partner in the relationship feel a lack of privacy.

If she takes a shower or goes to the bathroom and finds six text messages during that brief period, it
really amounts to an invasion of privacy.

If the partner gets angry about missed text messages when he gets no reply, this can drive the
person being texted literally bonkers. And when the text messages just amount to ‘hi’, ‘where are u?’
what r u doing?’ constant texts of this kind become a form of stalking.

“Texting is time consuming. Texting takes attention away from matters at hand. And if said matters
are driving, working or other important matters, texting becomes dangerous.

Most employers do not allow cellphone usage at work. And if the employer overlooks or doesn’t see
the cellphone usage, continual texting will eventually sabotage a person’s performance and work
record.

“Receiving texts and calls causes strain among employees and employers, which in turn causes
resentment between partners in a relationship.

Very few people can think of that much to say to anyone, no matter how in love they may be.
Endless calling and texting gets boring, tedious and really annoying. It will almost surely kill a
relationship. “

Mobile phones, e-mails, texts, and the Internet which are great tools and helpful communication
devices,” says Ezine Articles.Com.

“However, if you and your spouse are having dinner and you’re both more involved with texting other
people rather than talking to each other, or if you’d rather spend hours on the computer chatting with
someone else, playing games or doing anything that is keeping you from interacting with your
husband or wife, then it’s time to step away from your communication device.
“Any extra time you have that you spend away from your spouse rather than with them is definitely
going to help your marriage to fail.”

Gadgets that destroy relationships!!!

http://forums.psychcentral.com/relationships-communication/118047-gadgets-destroy-
relationships.html

I am interested in how many people feel that computers and cell phones, improperly used,
are destroying marriages and relationships. When hubby and I were married, we had our
home phone with our phone book, and all the numbers of family and friends that we needed
for our whole family right there in view of everyone in the household. Now, everyone is
running around with their cell phones with all their private numbers in them, constantly
texting and talking to anyone and everyone. At meals, in restaurants, mothers are texting
or talking and not paying atttention to their children or husband and vice versa. My husband
had some vacation days last week and we had something planned for my birthday, and we
were enjoying the long weekend. Lo and behold, on Friday, a woman from his work place
called him on her break to ask him if he wanted to work on Saturday as they were working
overtime. Not on our home phone, but on his cell phone, and she is not a boss, and these
were VACATION days that he had taken. People are just so rude and so gutsy any more. I
am putting up my cell phone , and will only have it with me from now on when I go out of
town for emergencies. I am sick to death of all this. Does anyone else feel like this?

Good topic. When used right I think all these new gadgets in the world make a huge
difference. As my Grandfather use to say "used in moderation"
I know for me when the kids and i eat dinner, There is no tv on. No cell phones at the table.
For sure no one is allowed to play video games and eat dinner. My son use to try that.
All those things disconnect the family.
Cells phone they are a wonder. If your kids are out and they need help its a life savoir. I
know for me i have been out had the car break down and called home.
I think imo its how they all are used.

i am agree. u know bcoz of what,now everywhere of any ages obsesses with their gadgets.If u dont blieve
,u just go to the restaurant.Look at any family.They didnot talk,they having fun with gadget.Their starred
and starred to their smartphone.There is no communication .Well now is IT WORLD,yes I know ,but not
until ignore our family..Communication is important.
Within short distance like everyone is together or at a family event, then yes. But
with everywhere being dangerous anymore, no. It has ruined social
skills/interactions. Yet, it has opened up a branch to networking with people online.
Its a shame people become introverts, yet at the same time, people who are alone
and need helpful advice can get it within minutes to an hour in their darkest hours.

http://allensu0212.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/smartphones-and-tablets-have-destroyed-
communication-among-friends/

Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone, tablets, or any other kinds of mobile devices. And one of the most
appealing traits of these devices is accelerating the dissemination of information and knowledge, which means
you can grab any news you’re interested in anytime and anywhere.

However, the mobile devices have also destroyed communication among our friends and family. For instance,
when I went out with my friends and had a dinner with them, most of us just focused on the tiny little screens
on our hands without talking to each other. Moreover, they chatted with each other via Facebook even when
they just sat nearby. In other words, these mobile devices have not only improved the quality of
communication, well…on the Internet, but also have destroyed communication among friends directly.

Therefore, I think that we all need to figure out the original intentions that drives us want to use a smartphone,
such as productivity improvement, joyfulness, or merely pursuit of vanity. No matter what the motivation it is,
trying not to be obsessed with these gadgets is the most important thing to us.

About these ads

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2594471/How-iPads-helping-children-autism-Tablets-
develop-communication-skills-predictable-neat.html

It is thought that up to one in 50 children globally have some form of autism, and this number continues to rise
steadily each year.
While there is no cure for the condition, the use of technology in autism treatment has grown in popularity in recent
years, but the reasons for its success are only just being highlighted.
Experts are finding that simple, carefully constructed apps are enabling affected children to feel safe and
communicate more readily because the software is more predictable and ordered than human interaction.
 +5
Researchers have found smartphones and tablets help autistic children develop new skills. Toca Boca, for example, create apps aimed at
children aged three to six. Although the games are not specifically designed for children with autism, they have proved popular among
parents who have children with the condition
AUTISM AND ITS EFFECTS
Autism is a neurological disorder that affects how a person communicates, and relates to, other people. It can also
affect how they make sense of the world around them.
People with autism typically have trouble communicating, looking people in the eye, and can get upset by loud noises
or bright lights.
They may also have a sensitivity to touch, tastes, smells and colours.
In particular, many autistic people like order and predictability.
Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition
affects them in different ways.
Some people with autism, for example, are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have
accompanying learning disabilities and need specialist support.
Asperger syndrome is a form of autism and people with the syndrome are often of average or above average
intelligence.
They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.
Toca Boca in Sweden, for example, creates apps aimed primarily at children aged between three and six.
Toca Band encourages children to make music and learn about rhythm and tempo, while Toca Hair Salon Me lets
players give their family and friends virtual haircuts.
The firm calls the characters in the apps ‘digital toys’ and although the games are not specifically designed for
children with autism, they have proved popular among parents who have children with the condition.
More...
 Life under the sea: Incredible time-lapse video reveals corals and sponges in all their alien-like beauty as they forage for food
 Do you want to be a GOAT? Role-play game lets you become a farmyard creature - and is the latest in a growing line of bizarre animal
simulators
Toby Price from Mississippi has a daughter called Addison, 11, who has non-verbal autism.
He has noticed a marked improvement in Addison’s behaviour and skills since learning to use an iPad, and the Toca
Boca apps.
‘When you have a child with autism take an interest in something, as a parent, you have to run with it,’ explained
Price.
‘Addison uses her iPad to show us things she wants, or places she would like to go. She uses it to practice
handwriting and even counting.
‘As a parent [I am] happy to have found a way to engage our kids with iPads.’
Rhiannan Walton, 32, from West London has been a speech and language therapist for eight years.
She began using technology in her therapy sessions with autistic children approximately 18 months ago.
‘Technology responds in the same way every time; you press a button and it responds how you expect it to,' Walton
told MailOnline. 'This particularly appeals to autistic children who can become scared and confused by
unpredictability.'

+5
Toby Price from Mississippi has a daughter called Addison, 11, pictured, who is non-verbal and has autism. He has noticed a positive
improvement in Addison's behaviour and skills since learning to use an iPad. He said she uses it to show what she wants, or places she'd
like to go. She uses it to practice handwriting and counting
+5
Speech and Language Therapist Rhiannan Walton told MailOnline: 'Technology responds in the same way every time; you press a button
and it responds how you expect it to. This particularly appeals to autistic children who can become scared and confused by unpredictability.'
Stock image of Apple's iOS 7 pictured
Many autistic children like trains, for example, because they are predictable. They follow set paths along stable tracks
and their doors open and close in the same way each time.
For therapy to work, Walton believes it has to be motivating and said technology motivates children with autism in a
unique way.
‘We know therapy needs to be motivating for children in general, and games are particularly motivating for children
with autism because they’re visually appealing.
‘Autistic children aren't motivated by wanting to please in the same way other children are.
‘Non-autistic children think ‘this lady wants me to play this game and if I do, she'll say well done,' but autistic children
aren’t interested in that at all.
'They need to be motivated in other ways - and technology helps with this.'
Autistic children typically have visual ways of communicating, and as a result have a visual way of learning and this is
why apps are so effective.
HOW TECH IS BEING USED IN THE CLASSROOM WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN
In a recent study, researchers from Canada studied 12 children in six classrooms across Ontario, all of whom have
non-verbal autism spectrum disorder.
These classrooms were given Apple iPads for a six-month trial.
Following the experiment, nine of the students showed a statistical improvement ranging from mild to significant in
their overall communication skills.
The devices were also found to boost motivation among 75 per cent of the children, while also increasing their
attention span and ability to interact socially.
Topcliffe Primary School in Birmingham recently introduced touchscreen devices into classrooms and similarly
noticed an improvement among the autistic students.
‘We watched children with autism playing with the images on the screen in ways in which none of the typically
developing children had done, said Topcliffe’s spectrum disorders teacher Sarah Quickenden.
‘The normal curriculum that we were offering just wasn't allowing them to demonstrate these skills to us. We never
realised that the children had these skills because some of them are so locked in.’

Walton said the technology can also be used to build other communication opportunities.
'I give the children in my therapy sessions the game, let them play it for a while before taking it away.
‘We then work together to help the child show me that they want it back; they want to play more of the game.’
Once this skill is developed, Walton continued, it can be built upon to teach children about taking turns, sequencing,
and so on.
It can also be generalised for other tasks, such as asking for more food or drink.
+5
Researchers from Canada recently studied children with non-verbal autism, stock image pictured, who were each Apple iPads for a six-
month trial at school. Following the experiment, nine of the students showed a statistical improvement ranging from mild to significant in their
overall communication skills
Walton told MailOnline that apps and games have the added benefit of appealing to children without autism,
especially the siblings of those who do have the condition.
This means families can manage the child’s condition as a group, and helps siblings play together.
Price’s son McKade, for example, recently set up a tea party with sister Addison after she had learned the skills from
the Toca Kitchen game.
+5
Autistic children typically have visual ways of communicating and learning. This is why apps such as Toca Hair Salon Me, pictured, are so
effective

Walton said many of her autistic patients pick up the games quickly, and have good memory, so will remember skills
they’ve learnt when at home with their parents.
Vicki Clarke is the owner and president of Dynamic Therapy Associates with 18 years’ experience as a Speech
Language Pathologist and Augmentative Communication Specialist in Georgia.
She told Autism Speaks: ‘People are messy and computers are neat. For our friends with autism, this consistency is
easy to understand and comforting.
‘The iPad puts this comfortable, predictable teaching friend right in the hands of our children with autism, regardless
of where they are.’
But she continued technology isn’t a ‘miracle cure’.
‘The specific needs of the child need to be the main deciding factor on purchasing any technology,’ explained Clarke.
‘These technologies are simply another tool in our box that have the potential to help meet some of the needs of our
children.
‘When deciding on technology options, teams must consider the individual needs of the child and the ability of the
app to meet the comprehensive needs for which they are purchased.
‘Families should consult with the professional and personal friends who know the child and can offer input on
potential needs of the child.
Today marks the seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day, in which organisations get together to discuss the
challenges surrounding the disorder, share advice, and look for solutions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9714616/Mobile-phone-addiction-ruining-
relationships.html

Mobile phone addiction ruining

relationships
Not for nothing is a popular mobile phone brand
nicknamed the Crackberry.

Researchers have found that constantly checking for messages is an addiction which
like other drugs can ruin your personal relationships.
The survey shows that young adults spend up to seven hours a day interacting with
communication technology and their behaviour can spill over into a problem.
For some it can become a compulsion and others feel feelings of withdrawal when they
are not with their phone.
It is also extremely annoying to those around them.
Is your phone ruining your relationships?

Yes, I'm hopelessly addicted and I know it annoys my friends and family No, as long as you have manners this isn't a problem
VoteView Results

Dr James Roberts, of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, in Texas, said that the
“instant messaging” addiction was driven by “materialism and impulsiveness”.
"Mobile phones are a part of our consumer culture,” Dr Roberts said.
"They are not just a consumer tool, but are used as a status symbol. They're also
eroding our personal relationships."
He said getting hooked on a mobile is similar to other addictions, such as compulsive
buying and credit card misuse.
The study is the first to investigate the role materialism plays in mobile phone addiction
and the researchers say it is an important consumer value that impacts many decisions
shoppers make.
The researchers believe mobile phone use has become so common, it is important to
have a better understanding of what drives these types of technological addictions.
Previous studies have revealed young adults, aged 18 to 29, send on average 109.5
texts a day, or approximately 3,200 messages a month.
They receive an additional 113 texts and check their phones 60 times in a typical day
and students spend about seven hours a day interacting with information and
communication technology.
The study for the Journal of Behavioural Addictions used data from 191 business
students and two universities, as mobiles are used by about 90 per cent of students –
"serving more than just a utilitarian purpose", Dr Roberts said.
Mobiles are accessible at any time – including during class – and their functions are
forever expanding, making their use or overuse more likely.
And the, researchers say a majority of youngsters claim losing their phone would be
"disastrous to their social lives".
Dr Roberts said: "At first glance, one might have the tendency to dismiss such aberrant
mobile phone use as merely youthful nonsense – a passing fad.
"But an emerging body of literature has given increasing credence to cell phone
addiction and similar behavioural addictions."
The addiction has even been given a name – Nomophobia is the term created by British
researchers in 2008 to identify people who experience anxiety when they have no
access to mobile technology.
A previous study showed that young people are now so addicted to their mobile phones
it feels like they have lost a limb when they are without them.
Some said they felt so bereft without their iPhone or Blackberry that it evokes similar
feelings to the "phantom limb" syndrome suffered by amputees.
The findings, by the University of Maryland, show the growing reliance that the younger
generation has on technology and how it has become central to their lives.

Essay topic:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement ? television has destroyed
communication among friend and family.

Communication is very important at nowadays and communication media

not things extravaganza. It is because all people are have the media
communication not only circle up but circle too and can get only price
cheap depend want consumer .The things are use to get information and
media communication. Television is one of them example from media
communication. I not agree at statement television has destroyed
communication among friend and family. I have some reason to support
my opinion.

First of all, television is media information that every time and

everywhere we can enjoy it. From television, we can see everything which
is not see and from it also we can learn something from their experience.
Agenda television many numerous which is very interesting for us
because we can learn and enjoy with audio and video .

Secondly, all people are have busy alone not only employee but also
helper household from morning until evening even night and all the
routine that tired enough. To lose tired they are watching television and
time together with our family. At the moment, each we are sharing about
agenda that after we are exceedingly. After we eat together and watching
time are moment which are precise to communication when each people
have bustle.

When we are watching television and our friends come, we can invite they
to watching with us and a moment sure relax and time a break. In there
our friends and I can enjoy with the agenda television and that make
relationship of friends and family.

To sum up: watching television a moment where are we enjoy and make
good relationship between friend and family.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed
communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.

Nowadays, a household which does not possess a television set is a rare

occurrence. This ubiquitous device bears a strong hold on our life.
Though its influence has mostly been positive, some people,
nevertheless, argue that it has impaired our communication with relatives
and friends.

On one hand, the increasing appeal of television programs has shifted

people’s attention from their family members to the more popular black
box. In most modern households, dinner is no longer served in the dining
room but in the living room where everyone can keep track of the latest
television show. As the traditional dinner conversation suffers a slow
death, people living under the same roof bec ...

The Truth Behind the Art of Communication

May 25, 2014 - Articles, Entertainment - Tagged: art, communication, conversation, face-to-
face, natural, social,socialization, Technology - no comments
 I can’t express how saddened I am by the lack of
communication this generation of humans share. I may still be young, but I remember how fun it was to share a
moment of your life with someone else, and I’m not talking about marriage. I’m talking about simple face-to-face
communication. It’s the 21 century, but it doesn’t sound as advanced and futuristic as it should. I regret to inform
st

you that technology has taken over the minds of our people, we are indeed advancing into the future, but we are
leaving many valuable things behind. I wish to retreat, to a time where “good communication skills” wasn’t a job
requirement, to a time where I can sit down and have a regular face-to-face conversation with someone without
being harassed by the beeping reminder that you can not live in peace for 10 minutes without being interrupted by
the newly, yet revolting, social queue to answer your phone. I am demanding the most basic human need of
connection and affection. Why has it become so hard to sit with a group of people and still feel absolutely alone?
We as human strive for other human attention. For as long as humans existed they have grown to seek deep and
emotional connections with other humans, it’s only natural to feel the same way today without being worried that
you are “too emotionally needy” or perhaps “an attention seeker”.
People have actually created games out of this technology obsession, the most common of them all is to have
everyone place their phones in the middle of the table while dinning and the first one to pick up their phone before
the gathering is over has to pay the bill.
Albert Einstein warned us of this day to arrive, and in fact he was right. He said, “I fear the day that technology will
surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Technology is destroying human
interaction, Little by little, internet and mobile technology seems to be slowly, yet subtly destroying the
meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an
imminent sense of isolation in today’s society. Instead of spending time in person with friends, we just call, text or
instant message them. It may seem simpler, but we ultimately end up seeing our friends face to face a lot less. Ten
text messages can’t even begin to equal an hour spent chatting with a friend over lunch. And a smiley-face emoticon
is cute, but it could never replace the ear-splitting grin and smiling eyes of one of your best friends. Face time, not
the application, but actually face-to-face quality time is important, people. We need to see each other.

It is actually exhausting to constantly have to keep up with social networking. Mary, in the movie He’s Just Not
That In To You couldn’t have given us a better example.

“Mary: I had this guy leave me a voice mail at work so I called him at home and then he e-mailed me to my
Blackberry and so I texted to his cell and then he e-mailed me to my home account and the whole thing just got out
of control. And I miss the days when you had one phone number and one answering machine and that one answering
machine has one cassette tape and that one cassette tape either had a message from a guy or it didn’t. And now you
just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It’s
exhausting.” – He’s Just Not That In To You (2009)

Let’s all hope we surpass this phase of social technology obsession. Consider yourself aware of the downfalls of
social networking, don’t be the one who watches the crime being done, yet do nothing about it. You’re just as guilty
as those who commit it. So put your phone down and go out for a walk, sit with your family and friends – maybe
even SOCIALIZE. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Put your phone down and look up, turn around and talk the person next
you.