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Answer from Shara Tibken, Senior Reporter at CNET:
The iPhone has completely changed the way we live. Would you even consider leaving your home without your smartphone today? I sure wouldn't!
Just think about all the things you do with your phone today (whether it's an iPhone, Android smartphone or other device). You have the entire Internet in your pocket anytime you want it (assuming you have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection). You no longer have to wait for your computer to boot up to find out how old Queen Elizabeth is or what restaurants are nearby.
I would be hopelessly lost 80 percent of the time without my smartphone. And just think of all of those apps. Uber couldn't exist without smartphones, and there'd be no such thing as a selfie (I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing!)
You can broadcast live video at any time, capturing police injustices or just the funny things your kids say. Touchscreens in devices has become the norm (they're even in refrigerators), and we spend a lot of time checking our social media feeds from our phones.
Then there are all the things that connect to the phone. If we didn't have the iPhone, we'd probably never have smartwatches and the kinds of touchscreen tablets we use today. Mobile technology plays a big role in the smart home, as well as augmented and virtual reality. The accessory business has become huge (ABI Research estimates that revenue in the global mobile accessories market will top $110 billion in 2021).
The iPhone also killed some businesses. None of us really carry point-and-shoot cameras anymore, and every time Apple introduces a new feature in the iPhone, there's some third party app that becomes obsolete.
There are more worries about security and privacy now that we all have phones. Apple takes a strong stance on keeping our data private, but always having a smartphone on us means there's always the potential someone is keeping tabs on us.
I don't think any of us could imagine not having these phones today, even with some of the negatives. The iPhone, and all of the smart devices that came after it, have really changed the way we live.
How has the iPhone changed human behavior and culture? originally appeared on Quora—the knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:
- iPhones: What made the iPhone such a groundbreaking product?
- Apple Products and Services: What will make the iPhone 8 different from the iPhone 7?
- Technology Trends: How is Apple shaping mobile culture looking ahead into the next decade?
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