Cultural and Social Significance of Mobility and Wearable Technology - Essay Example

Vis a vis, the advent of mobility and wearable technology has had profound implications on communication, interpersonal interactions, security and privacy, and healthcare services provisions.

Social Significance of Mobility and Wearable Technology

            One of the key significance of mobility and wearable technology has been the facilitation of communication and interpersonal interaction (Ling, 2008). The extent of interpersonal interaction and communication is no longer dependent on the physical proximity between parties.  Wearable and mobile technologies have led to the real-time flow of information and data through the internet and social platforms such as Facebook.  Subsequently, this phenomenon has transformed information technology into the most vital resource of our time.  Socially, mobile technologies have further accelerated the globalization of the entire universe. Information can be shared by everyone on the globe through the internet. Furthermore, the social context of wearable and mobile technology has been extended to nontraditional spheres of information technology such as provisions of healthcare services especially in the management of chronic disease such as mHealth services.  Wearable technologies have proved effective in the management of diabetes through the transmission of alerts and medical feedback to doctors. Similarly, users of wearable technologies have been primarily driven by digital devices empowering abilities. By wearing them, users are frequently encouraged to check their fitness status, interact more with friends and strangers, and triggering of social changes.

Cultural Significance of Mobility and Wearable Technology

            Culturally, mobile and wearable technologies have had a significant impact on users’ lifestyles trends. Foremost, wearable technologies such as Google Glass have been inherently integrated into the dressing fashion of its users through their design into clothes and accessories.  Also, mobile devices and smartphones have become a necessity even for communities in the developing world with the invention of Mpesa for mobile money transfer in Kenya. Interactive devices have created new means of entertainment, individuals’ interactions with the environment through simulations of virtual reality technologies. Culturally, mobile and wearable technologies have been pertinent in the propagation of western culture and subsequently democratic practices (Ling, 2008).  Adoption of wearable and mobile technologies facilitates the transfer of indiscriminate technologies and capabilities that are at par with developed countries thereby exposing users to worldwide trending cultures and practices.  This exposure creates societal and cultural awareness thereby deterring the prevalence of deteriorative practices such as child marriage and female circumcision. Additionally, mobile and wearable technologies have successfully eliminated cultural biases such as racism and tribalism among common users.  In particular, users of mobile and wearable technologies have developed social groupings and identities which uphold brotherhood and belongingness thereby promoting cohesion in society.

             Consequently, Ling (2008) noted these technologies have given rise to new concerns of privacy and security.  Wearable and mobile technologies have been characterized by massive collection and transmission of private information. Vis a vis, the issues of data privacy and security raises concerns over the ownership of the information, third party access rights, and sharing of the information to government agencies. Nevertheless, the positive implications of wearable and mobile technologies are far more potent than the raised concerns.