I wrote this essay for a course I am taking called: “The Social Implications of Computing”
The topic: “The Changing Nature of Work with Computerization: Mobile Devices”
Mobile Devices: Our companion at the workplace
Mobile devices have become an essential part of our lives. Currently, millions of people around the world take advantage of the different mobile devices available such as: laptop computers, handheld game consoles, mobile phones, MP3 players, GPS (global positioning systems) and others.
As a result, many companies are noticing this trend and are buying mobile devices for their employees, allowing them to work from a distance. In fact IDC, an intelligence provider for information technology markets, conducted research which states that in the United States it is expected that mobile workers will account for more than seventy percent of the country’s total workforce by 2009 (Becker).
In spite of the fact that there are many types of mobile devices available, there are two devices that are most commonly used by companies: laptop computers and mobile phones. Ipsos Reid, a Canadian market intelligence research company, revealed that nine out of ten of the Canadian companies surveyed provide company mobile phones for some employees and almost as many provide laptops for their employees (Arellano).
Laptop computers are smaller and lighter personal computers. In contrast to desktop computers, laptops are easier to carry, use less electricity, and contain almost equivalent computing power as desktops.
Laptops have a motherboard, the main circuit board, which in most cases are customized for a specific model of a computer. Laptops motherboards are built in with parts that are not easily upgradeable such as: the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), and others.
The central processing unit, the principal component of a computer, designed for laptops are optimized to save energy, reduce heat, and operate equally as fast as desktops processors (Roseberry).
The graphics processing unit, which outputs the images to the display, in laptops are physically smaller than desktops cards, they share memory between the CPU and GPU which results in saving space and reduce power utilization (Wilson, Valdes).
The memory used in laptops is SODIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) which is a smaller alternative to desktops DIMM (dual in-line memory module). SODIMM is used in systems that have space restrictions such as laptops, routers, and others (Wilson, Valdes).
Both laptops and desktops use electricity in order to run. However, laptops can run on batteries, without the need of electricity. Nowadays, lithium-ion batteries are widely used on laptops, since they are light, and do not overheat if overcharged (Brain).
On the other hand, a mobile phone is a hand-held device that converts voice or data into radio waves or radio frequencies that gets transferred through a network. They provide different types of functionalities including: text messaging, games, store information, built-in calculators, Internet browsing, camera, and others.
Currently, mobile phones are used by millions of people around the world. In fact, Ofcom, a telecommunication regulator from the United Kingdom, conducted a research study in which they discovered that eighty five percent of United Kingdom households have mobile phones (Lomas).
Mobile phones send and receive radio signals to mobile networks that consist of mobile phone base stations (cell sites), and mobile telephone switching offices (MTSO). A cellular base station is composed of antennas, a radio transceiver, digital signal processors, and backup electrical power sources in order to provide radio communication to mobile phones located in its cell. The MTSO is responsible for monitoring the signal strength of your mobile phone reported by the cell towers, and switching your phone conversation to the cellular base station that will provide the best reception.
When a mobile phone is turned on it listens to a System Identification Code (SID), which identifies a mobile network, on the control channel, a frequency that the phone and the cellular base station use to talk between each other (Tyson, Layton, Brain). At the time the phone receives the SID, it compares and validates it against the one stored in the phone. When a mobile phone receives a call, the MTSO tries to find the mobile and determine in which cell is located. Then, the MTSO picks a frequency for the mobile phone which will be used for the current call. Once the mobile phone and the cell tower switch to the selected frequency, the call is connected (Tyson, Layton, Brain).
Both laptops and mobile phones can be considered as computer science since both of them use computer systems and hardware components that help us to automate many of our daily tasks at work or home. In order to create the required software and hardware, we need to design and analyze algorithmic processes, computer elements, architectures, and execute performance studies of the systems and their components. Additionally, experts from many computer science fields such as software engineering, networking, databases, and computer graphics are required in order to build laptops and mobile phones correctly.
Benefits and Drawbacks
There are many advantages of using mobile devices for work such as: encouraging efficiency, improving the services offered and communication with clients, providing remote access to the virtual private network of a company and saving on real estate and recruitment of employees.
Mobile devices promote efficiency at work, saving time and the smoothing of business processes. For example, suppose that an outside sales representative from a company located in Toronto has to travel to Quebec to close a very good deal with one of his biggest national clients. The sales representative, using his laptop, shows the customer the products and offers available, as well as the terms of the contract. The customer, negotiating a better deal, asks for very low prices. Now, the salesman, using his mobile phone, communicates with his boss and pricing department in Toronto through a conference call to know if those prices and margin levels can be granted to this “special customer”. They agree and he finally closes the deal. The client needs the product to begin the project in three days. The salesmen, rapidly, using his laptop, places the purchase order so the product can be delivered as soon as possible. Without these mobile devices, this process would have taken more time.
Mobile devices improve communication to resolve business problems and to narrow distances. In the globalized business world of exports and imports, mobile devices play a crucial role when problems in the distribution channel of the products arise. For example, a Canadian importer of handcraft products is waiting for a shipment from Detroit. At the frontier, his customs agent, using his mobile phone, informs him that his importer license expired two days ago. He needs to present a copy of the renewal license as soon as possible to avoid delays and extra charges. The Canadian businessman, who is outside the company at the moment, using his mobile phone, calls his secretary and asks for a copy of the renewal license to be scan and sent rapidly to his email. He is able to confirm the data and forward this information to his custom agent so the shipment can be permitted into the country. Small problems like this need a rapid solution and happen every day in the business world. Mobile devices help resolve them faster no matter the distances.
Mobile devices allow employees to connect to a virtual private network, meaning a company’s private network. Virtual private networks allows employees who travel frequently or those who simply want to work from home to: access the company’s network to check e-mail, share files, set up a customer account, and access databases or any other system. Therefore, employees are able to enjoy flexible work practices because of the freedom of being able to work or move anywhere, at any time. E-mori, a United Kingdom nationwide survey company, conducted a survey of mobile workers, in which they found that seventy percent of mobile workers agree that developments in mobile technology offer them more freedom in their working lives (Lake).
More employees working from home could produce savings in real estate and recruitment of employees. The ability to recruit an employee located anywhere in the world, gives a company a competitive advantage to those companies that rely on local talent. For example, a company can follow IBM’s cost saving practices on recruiting by hiring employees in cheaper and higher-growth parts of the world, like India (Robertson). Additionally, a company could save on real state expenditures and energy costs.
However, carrying mobile devices have some drawbacks such as: bringing the stress from work to home, security issues, distraction and cost.
Mobile devices make employees more accessible after work hours, which could potentially cause stress, health problems, and relationship disputes at home. E-mori in their research also stated that even though employees believe in working hard, eighty one percent said their private life is more important to them(Lake). This is a reasonable statement considering that we spend at least eight hours a day at work, our family deserves our attention after we finish our daily work.
Security issues will arise from the use of mobile devices and companies need to take measures. Ipsos Reid, in their research, stated that only thirty two percent of the executives interviewed believe that their business performs at an optimum level to prevent and manage potential attacks (Arellano). Considering the valuable data about the company or the customers that could be exposed to unauthorised people, a very low percentage of companies are well prepared for security attacks. The company also needs to be prepared to handle the introduction of viruses and malware to the company’s network. Additionally, information on mobile devices can also be altered if the device is unattended, lost or stolen, exposing the company to legal liabilities and financial losses.
On the other hand, flexibility allows employees to do more than one activity at the same time. This can lead to a drawback when using mobile devices because there are people who simple cannot work from home or outside the company. They can get distracted with something else and cannot focus on their assignments, or do not respect their work schedule. E-mori in their research also stated that mobile workers using their laptop at home, fifty nine percent of them talk on the phone; sixty two percent listen to music, and sixty three percent talk to other household members (Lake). As a result, work productivity decreases.
Mobile devices also involve mandatory costs including: setting up the equipment for a virtual private network, purchasing mobile phones, laptops, and investing in possible training required to use correctly the mobile devices. For example, the upfront cost of a VPN includes: routers ($75-$300), servers ($1500-$20000), Operating Systems ($799-$2500), and much more . For small companies, setting a VPN can be expensive; nonetheless, for big companies is an affordable price. Other costs include: replacing lost devices, the time it takes for an employee to recover from the loss of a device, and the time the network administration team needs to handle the loss.
The future
Mobile devices are part of our daily lives, and as the technology develops, they will become even more relevant in the workplace. Companies that produce mobile devices will continue to invest in research and development to make sure creative ideas and inventions become a reality. As a result, wireless technology, processors and graphics for mobile devices will continue to evolve.
Mobile devices will continue to change and influence the way of doing business in ways we cannot envision right now. As mobile devices become more advanced, business processes will become more efficient and productive. As a result, both employees and employers will enjoy the benefits. Nonetheless, the benefits of mobile devices will still come at a price, long hours of work for employees. I believe that in the near future the line between work and life will be well established, and companies will have to respect that line.
Mobile devices will always change, but as long as we keep ourselves current on how to use them, we will always be able to be productive and enjoy all the benefits mobile devices provide.
Bibliography
Arellano, Nestor. “Keep your iPod at home, Canadian firms tell staff”.IT World Canada. July 2006. < http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=idgml-0c2c0e0a-a40a-4d00-a798-a873f3758aae>
Becker, Neil. “Study Reveals Insight, Opportunity for IT to Protect Mobile Wireless Users”.Cisco Systems Inc. August 2007.< http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/prod_082107b.html>
Brain, Marshall. “How Lithium-ion Work”. HowStuffWorks.com. November 2006. < http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery.htm>
Lake, Andy. “Workaholic Britain puts in a six day working week”. Flexibility.com. August 2000. < http://www.flexibility.co.uk/flexwork/time/laptops.htm>
Lomas, Natasha. “Ofcom seeks public feedback on mobile issues”.ZDNet.co.uk. September 2008. < http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39482889,00.htm>
Robertson, Jordan. “IBM quietly cuts thousands of jobs”. The Associated Press. January 2009.< http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTRob6LXiiLWNPqpGUhdfLWN7WdgD95VP2Q81>
Roseberry, Catherine. “What Makes Laptops Work - The Laptop Motherboard”. About.com. January 2004. < http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/laptopstabletpcs/tp/laptopmotherboards.htm>
Tyson,Jeff., Layton,Julia., and Brain, Marshall. “How Cell Phones Work”. HowStuffWorks.com. November 2000. < http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone.htm>
Wilson, Tracy V., and Valdes, Robert. “How Laptops Work”. HowStuffWorks.com. November 2000. < http://communication.howstuffworks.com/laptop.htm>