For this blog I can think of several pieces of technology that will fit. But, the one that has made the largest impact was the invention of the cell phone. This device has become the most populated and accessible device the the society has become dependent on.
Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
• The technology behind the cellphone was based on radio technology from the 1940’s. The first official mobile phone was used in Sweden by the Swedish police in 1946. The technology was connected to the telephone network and was distinctive of two way radio technology. The phone was not very practical; it was only able to make 6 phone calls before the car's battery was drained. The technology of modern cell phones started with the creation of hexagonal cells for mobile phones by D.H. Ring from Bell Labs in 1947, later on another engineer from Bell Labs conceived of cell towers that would transmit and receive signals in three directions instead of normal bi directional antennas. However, although some technologies have been developed, electronics and other technologies would take decades to mature and to be developed. For instance, the electronics that were used in the first cell phones were first developed in the 1960's
Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
• By 1967, mobile phone technology was available; however, the user had to stay within one cell area. Cell areas which were serviced by a base station were unable to hand off cellular phone calls from one base station to another. While you could make a phone, call, you weren't able to continue the call after you reached a set range. In 1970, Amos Edward Joel, who also was an engineer at Bell Labs, developed the call handoff system. This technology facilitated continuity of a phone call from one area to another without dropping the phone call.
Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
• Cellular phones from the early 1990's are considered being second generation (2G) and now we are up to 4G technology. Digital mobile phone networks were in use in the United States in 1990 and in Europe by 1991. 2G mobile phones use digital circuit switched transmissions. With everyone using and wanting a cell phone, the technology will only improve. At this time the cell phone doesn’t have a replacement.
Reference
History of Cellphones (2010) Retrieved October 15,2010 from http://www.tech-faq.com/history-of-cell-phones.html
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