Travel Apps

Take the stress out of travel with a
travel app. (pic from: comsoc.org)

There are many apps that have been invented to help those who are traveling, whether in the US or around the world. While many people think that they have everything planned out when traveling, apps are there to help with the unexpected.

The first app is called UV Detector. This app, according to a Fox News article from April 19, 2012, "detects the UVI rating of your current location and sets a countdown timer to alert you should reapply sunblock." Since being sunburnt is never on someone's to do list (unless they enjoy looking like a lobster which I do not), this app could help people prevent this from happening while spending the day at the beach. As a rather fair skinned person, this app could be a lifesaver.

Have you ever been downtown in a large city unable to find a restroom?

In need of a restroom? Get SitOr Squat.
(pic from: Macworld)

The next app is helpful while traveling in the US, and it is one that many people would not think of. Recently, Charmin created an app called SitOrSquat, which will locate a bathroom nearby. With almost 100,000 bathrooms currently in the system, it is likely that you will find a place to "go" when you really need it. According to a 2011 article from the Departures website, the article will also tell you whether the place with the restroom is currently open or closed and what other people have thought of the bathroom.

The next app is one that I would find very helpful in the pre-travel phase of the vacation. Called Packing Pro, this app allows the user to create a packing list and add to it, and even find suggestions on things to pack from sample lists. This app would be especially helpful for people like me, who are always worried they forgot something. Whether packing for your post-graduation trip or for a trip with the family abroad, this app allows users to stay organized ahead of time.

The last app is one of the most exciting. This translation app, called Word Lens, allows the iPhone user to hold their phone up to any sign and have it instantly translated into the chosen language (see video). According to a 2010 article from Business Insider:


"The words appear on your phone's screen in the same font and style as the original in front of you, so it looks like someone swooped in and replaced the sign you were just looking at."


While it currently only works for English/Spanish and English/French, the makers are working to add more languages and also have it available to more types of phones in the future.

So maybe you think you have everything planned out for your trip, but think again. Do you know where you can find a bathroom or how often you need to reapply sunscreen? If not, take a trip to the world of apps.

Rant Apps

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Safe App

There is a growing trend that people will find themselves in unsafe situations at some point in their lives. Whether this lack of safety has to do with being distracted, the area you are living, or the party you are at, smartphone apps are being developed to make sure that staying safe is just button press away.

As I talked about in a previous post, people are more attached to their smartphones than ever before. Talking on the phone may be something you do while running errands. Suppose you are in a busy part of town and you are talking on the phone . . . how much attention are you paying to what's around you? An app called WalkSafe uses images from the phone's camera to detect and warn distracted pedestrians about oncoming traffic. According to a 2011 article from MIT:

WalkSafe uses the phones camera to detect oncoming vehicles
 (pic from: technabob)

"When WalkSafe detects a car approaching at 30 miles per hour or faster, it vibrates the phone and makes a sound to alert the distracted user"

This app attempts to help the user avoid accidents that might happen if they are not paying attention to their surroundings.

Another app created to promote safety is the "Sex Offender Tracker" app. This app uses the camera and GPS in the smartphone to identify where the user is and then it shows where registered sex offenders are in the area (see video above). According to the Sex Offender Tracker website "It also includes a photo of the registered offender along with details about the offense."

Not only is this great for personal safety, but it would also be good in a family situation. For instance, Halloween trick or treating can be made safer by knowing areas that may not be safe.

Apps exist to keep the user safe in tough situations.
(pic from: mtv.com)

Another important app is one to prevent assault. As the winner of the White House Apps Against Abuse Technology Challenge, the app Circle of 6 gives you instant access to six of your closest and most dependable friends. Mostly targeted at college students, Circle of 6 is "the mobile way to look out for your friends, on campus or when you're out for the night".

If you find yourself in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation, you can send a pre-programmed text for your friends to pick you up or call you in order for you to get away from a questionable person. According to a 2011 article by MTV, "GPS coordinates and mobile messaging functions give contacts all of the info they need so that they jump into action to get help on its way ASAP."

Whether you are taking an active role in making sure an area is safe or need the help of a friend (or camera), these apps help you take control of your safety. Not all situations may seem unsafe at first, but it is important to be prepared to take action if needed.

Mobile gaming

We've all been there . . . incredibly bored with nothing to do. But wait . . . you downloaded a new game on your smartphone! A perfect time-killer. Games such as Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and Words with Friends are on the top of the download charts. The popularity of games such as these is causing a shift in the mobile app industry and have also increase sales in other industries. Not only that, but they also impact our social lives.

According to a March 2012 CNN article, "with more than 60% of users regularly playing games on their mobile devices, games have clearly emerged as a core part of the mobile user experience." Since games are so important in the smartphone world, it is important for developers to create unique games that will draw in new players. A 2012 Wired article talks about the importance of having "buzzworthy" apps that people will talk about. 

One of these games is Angry Birds. As the top paid iPhone app for the year of 2010, Angry Birds gained national attention and drew in many users. For those who haven't played before, the user throws birds in order to try to break the green pigs' castles. Why? View the cinematic trailer for the game to the left for an explanation. The game uses logic and points to keep the player interested and, let's face it, addicted. 

Another game featured at the top of the download lists, and my personal favorite, is Fruit Ninja. This game allows the user to "slice" fruit to gain points and avoid bombs that will end their game. One bonus for Windows Phone owners is the ability to earn gamer points and achievements through Xbox Live. According to a 2011 everythingwm article, "Fruit Ninja has grossed over $150,000 on the Windows Phone 7 Platform."

Another popular game that is taking over the app world is Words with Friends. This game is much like Scrabble, allowing you to face off against friends in order to earn points and bragging rights. This game has been especially popular on my college campus, with some friends sitting in the same room playing the game together instead of talking to one another. 

These smartphone games are so popular that the companies are able to earn more profits by selling associated merchandise. These include shirts, plush, accessories, and also other game setups. For instance, Fruit Ninja now has a Xbox Kinect version that has reached one million downloads as of March 2012 as well as a larger version of the touch game at popular restaurant and arcade Dave & Busters. Angry Birds has plush birds and pigs that can be thrown (and even make the noises) just in case you want to recreate the game in real life. 

While these apps have been popular on smartphones, their popularity has been transferred to other devices and accessories, allowing avid fans to show their allegiance to a certain game. But what are these games doing to relationships? Making us play games against one another rather than talking to each other? I must say that I love playing games on my phone . . . but I would rather play these games when there is nothing else to do. Spend quality time with your friends . . . spend bored time with your apps. 

Save Your Pride

Staying in touch is why many people get smartphones. But, sometimes you should just wait. What I'm talking about are the times where using your phone might cause damage to your pride. Like texting while walking or while drunk or contacting that ex you swore you were done with. While you might not have enough control to stop, there are apps that can help you save your pride.

For instance, there are many people who text their friends while walking (like the woman in the video above). This can lead to a lot of embarrassment as you might walk into a door, wall, or you could even fall down the stairs. Luckily, an app called 'Type n Walk' can save you from this embarrassment. How does it work? According to Digital Inspiration, "they switch on your phone's camera and add the email/texting functions on top of the live camera feed so you can type as before and still not run into anyone."

Another thing apps protect against is communicating while drunk. As a college student, I have received messages from friends who don't remember sending them in the morning simply due to the state they were in. Luckily, there are a couple of apps that can save you from sending embarrassing texts to your friends, parents, or co-workers. One of these apps is called 'the Textalyzer,' and according to the Official Website it has the potential texter play small games in order to tell if they are potentially in a drunken state. However, a May 2011 Tech post states that this app only stops you from texting if you use the app to text, not if texting through your typical text messaging location. It also doesn't protect against calling your intended contact.

'Don't Dial' keeps the texter out of their contact list.
(pic from: Apartment Therapy)

The solution to this could be another drunk app. 'Don't Dial' blocks you from texting, calling, or doing anything revolving around a contact. According to a February 2012 article, the drunk texter can lock contacts for a predetermined amount of time or give a friend the power to decide when the texter is sober enough to have control. The only way around this is if the texter has memorized the contacts phone number, because they will still be able to dial. This app would be useful since many people haven't taken the time to memorize their contact list.

'The Ex-App' has the control you
don't have. (pic from: iTunes)

The final app that can save your pride is 'The Ex-App' which stops you from contacting a certain person. Not only does this app block you from seeing this person in your text contacts, but it also gives you positive encouragement if you attempt to call your ex. According to the iTunes website, "it also tracks the number of consecutive days that you have stopped contacting your ex to help you stay motivated and committed to your new awesome ex-free life."

We all love to keep in touch with the people we care about, but there are some situations that don't work well with being social. Whether walking in a mall, at a party, or overcoming a break-up, there are apps to keep you from causing yourself unnecessary embarrassment.

An app a day . . .

An app may be able to keep you
out of the doctor's office.

Many people have heard the phrase: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." But what happens when a smartphone app can do the same thing? As the FDA approves more health related apps for smartphones, health apps are becoming more popular.

The market for health apps has increased significantly as more people purchase smartphones and more apps are created. MedCity News discovered that within the last year, the market increased from $100 million to over $700 million annually. A Business Week article estimates that health apps will be used by 30 percent of smartphone users by 2015.

Harvard Medical identifies blood pressure, CPR, ICE (in case of emergency), and heart rate apps to be increasingly important. Not only do these apps help you stay healthy, but they also allow action to be taken if something does happen. The CPR app teaches you how to perform CPR on someone if needed, and the ICE app allows you to enter relevant health information about yourself and contact information so paramedics can find it if something happens to you.

A new app allows doctors to employ a mobile ultrasound.

One new app used by doctors is an ultrasound app that works when a small device is plugged into it (image of device to the right). An article from Business Week tells a story about how a doctor used this pocket-sized ultrasound when he responded to Joplin, MO after the tornado hit. He "used it to examine a pregnant woman who came to a temporary hospital complaining of stomach pain." The mobility of this item allows for convenience in emergency situations.

Maybe you think that you have no need for a health related app. You have no known health problem, so why should you care? Well, there is more to health than just health problems.  

Japanese programmers created an app to repel mosquitoes. 

One app I found particularly entertaining is called "Mosquito Buster". Japan Trends identifies an app that causes your phone to emit three levels of high frequency sounds in order to drive away mosquitoes, rodents, and (my personal favorite) children. That's right . . . children. As we get older we are said to lose our ability to hear the high pitched sound, so only children will be bothered and will stay away (perfect for the screaming children in the department store).

However, with the increasing creation of health related apps, the FDA has begun to regulate some medical apps as they would any other medical device. As people implement the use of smartphones in the place of regular equipment, they are becoming medical devices, so they must be examined in the same way.

So whether you want to keep track of your blood pressure, have a doctor give you an ultrasound with their smartphone, or just want to relax away from mosquitoes (or your/someone else's children) smartphone apps are increasing in the health field. What once was done with large devices can be done with a device that fits in the palm of your hand, making mobility and convenience a possibility for health.

Networked

Facebook has become a popular app for smartphones.

Smartphones have become more and more popular in recent years. As that happens, more apps come out that allow you to update others on your life whenever you feel the need. However, having the ability to upload thoughts and pictures at whim can have both positive and negative affects on your life.

Twitter and Facebook both have mobile apps that allow users to update their profiles from wherever they find themselves; whether this is in class, at work, or maybe even on a date. Recent statistics show that 59% of smartphone users have used their phone in order to access a social networking app.

Twitter has become a
popular app among young
users. 

Although all of these options allow us to stay connected to our friends and family, the apps on smartphones also pose some risks. When information, pictures, and videos can be uploaded from a phone, anyone can post something with ease that they might regret later. Facebook and Twitter are two common ways for people to update their profile. In 2010, 40% of tweets came from a mobile phone, with the number likely rising due to advances in technology.

Statistics from 2011 show that about one fourth of smartphone owners are under the age of 24. As many people many know, people in high school and college do not always make the most responsible decisions. Pictures taken at a party or a bar could be uploaded not only by the people in the picture, but also by anyone with them who has a smartphone. This could cause a loss of privacy, as well as embarrassment, as pictures that were not meant to be seen by others are suddenly broadcast to everyone on a friends or followers list.


A quote from a recent article on CNN says it best: "Not everyone is cut out to use social media . . . Some people just don't know how to handle themselves in public."

Not only have apps such as Twitter and Facebook become popular, but companies are also creating phones that take advantage of the users need to constantly update their profile. The HTC Status from AT&T (seen in the commercial to the left) is one such phone; it features a Facebook button that glows whenever there is content that can be uploaded.

There are also reports that Facebook may be creating their own smartphone with extra Facebook capabilities. They are hoping to take advantage of the 350 million mobile users they currently have in order to create more business.

Although technology is making it easier to upload content to social networking sites, it not always a good idea to do so. With technology right at your fingertips, it might be wise to consider what you are tweeting or posting to see how it will affect your image. Take a few minutes to decide if that angry tweet or funny picture is how you want to present yourself to others.

Stay Connected

People are able to stay connected through smartphones.

One of the greatest features of the smartphone is the ability for people to stay connected. Whether someone is in a long distance relationship, traveling, or just has friends in many other places, this is one reason that he or she may choose to buy a smartphone.

Smartphones offer not just regular phone calls to stay connected, but so much more. These features include texting, email, and apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Foursquare, and Google +. While not all smartphone owners choose to download or use all of these apps, they are common ways to stay connected.

According to a Commscope, "In 2012, consumers around the world are expected to take possesion of more than 450 million new smartphones." This shows how many people are going to be connected through social networking and other features that can be found on smartphones within the next year. Simply sending a picture to let another person know you are thinking about them when you are away can help the two of you stay connected. 

I use my smartphone for texting and phone calls to stay in touch with my friends and family, email to take care of school and work, and Facebook and Twitter to update friends far away on my life (and to keep track of their lives). I also use Facebook to keep in contact with my friend who is serving overseas. Being able to send a message wherever I am to let him know I care or get a message from him to let me know he is okay is one of the bonuses of having a smartphone. Many of my friends have used their smartphones to maintain long-distance relationships with their significant other when they can't see each other often. 

Not only have smartphones been used for personal relationships, but they are also being adopted by company executives and employees. They have become tools in order to get work done without having to be in the office. According to an article from the New York Times, "Employees are using their smartphones and other devices to connect with corporate e-mail, applications and data wherever they happen to be — whether at home, on the go or even on vacation." By being able to connect to work, smartphone owners are able to be at home at a decent time but take care of the things that need to be done at work. 

Mothers are also using the smartphone in order to maintain their household and family. A March 2011 study done by BabyCenter shows that moms are more likely to use smartphones than the average population. Almost 60% of  moms use smartphones, compared to 35% of the US population as mentioned in my last post. They often use them to keep track of their children, as well as track the plans for the day. My mom uses her phone to contact my brothers and me while we are away at school. 


There are many different people who use smartphones, for many different reasons. Whether people are keeping in touch with a loved one or using it for business interactions, smartphones allow them to stay connected to those around them. 


How do you use your smartphone to stay connected to your loved ones?

Unglue

UCLA graduates couldn't put down their phones.

That horrible moment: as you are heading to class you realize that you left your smartphone in your room and think: Oh crap. What do I do now? Do you risk being late for class in order to retrieve your phone? Do you continue on without it and risk going through withdrawal?

Odds are this has happened to you. But what do you do? Your answer to this may be influenced by your dependence on your phone. Some people may not be able to last a day without it, while others may enjoy the peace and quiet of ungluing themselves for the day.

A 2011 study found that 35% of American adults own a smartphone; that's over one-third. This is a rather large increase from the 21% found in a study done just two years earlier. Times are changing as more people (myself included) find themselves glued to their smartphones day and night. 

However, this dependence may actually lead to distractions in your everyday life. An article from the Herald Sun states "The psychologists found that some users become obsessive and upset when they do not receive notifications, such as Facebook or Twitter alerts, and email." They may repeatedly check their Facebook, Twitter, Email, and text messages in hopes to find something new, which just adds to their distractions. 

With so many apps available to download to your phone, it is easy to become distracted and lose track of the real world. An app even exists to help you see where you are walking while texting. This shows that many people don't want to put down their phones long enough to walk to their destination. Microsoft Corporation made fun of this fact with a series of commercials for their Windows Phone.

With so many apps available on your smartphone, you may feel that you have everything you need in the palm of your hand. It may be convenient, but think of the things you are losing out on: quality face-to-face conversations, going outside instead of checking the weather on your phone, or being at an event rather than hearing about it in text messages and Facebook statuses. Think of all of the memories you are losing out on by being permanently glued to your phone.

So how could unglue and become independent from your smartphone? Next time you find yourself:

• holding a phone conversation with someone while using the restroom,
• forgetting where you parked only to be reminded by your phone, 
• running into a door you didn't see while texting, 
• losing your phone and having an instant panic attack,
• realizing that your whole life is stored on that one small device 

Put down the phone; shut it off for the night. Interact with people. Trust me, people can be more fun to spend time with than your smartphone. And once you learn to let go, forgetting your phone might not be that bad of a thing after all. Who knows, you might even end up paying attention in class.