The Tetrad of an Emerging Technology – The Telephone

Brief History and Development

The telephone that we use today dates back to the mid 19th century. The basic telephone was invented by an Italian, Antonio Meucci, in 1849 (Elon University/Pew Internet project, n. d., p. 7). However, the Elon University/Pew Internet project said, it was not until 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell was recognized for the first United States of America (USA) patent for the device, when it became popular in the USA. The telephone, since then, has been a technology device that has been recognized by all societies, worldwide. This emerged technology has gone through a series of progressions, thereby, making it an emerging technology device. This tetrad has grown as a chain of events as it progresses over the years.

Bell's first telephone



















The Telephone Tetrad

Tetrad of the Telephone

ENHANCES: The telephone, once a regular land line communication technology device, enhances the communication of people worldwide. People is closely connected with each other than they were without this form of communication. It reduces the time people travel between distant places, which results in savings of transportation cost. The increased mobility of communicators worldwide has given rise to the mobile telephone, with the emerging technology version of the smart phone. This mobile communication technology device, not only allows for telephone services, but acts as an instant messaging (texting) medium, and an Internet connection link that allows for communication through email and social networking sites like Facebook, and Skype. Other features include audio and video connections like radio, music and video download, camera connection for picture taking, and video recording. The access to many of these features is through free or paid applications that can be easily downloaded to the mobile device.

OBSOLETES: The telephone obsoleted the telegraph system. The communication between people no longer requires a third party medium as in the case of the telegraph system, where the sender had to go to the telegrapher who sends the message to the receiver. Direct communication is between two people only, unless a third party is invited in the case of three-way calling. It also obsoleted the music iPod, as users of the mobile device also use it to listen to their favorite songs while traveling.

RETRIEVES: The telephone rekindled interest in the telegraph system that it replaces through text messaging, but instantly. This is like communication between individuals who telegraph each other from different locations, especially long distance, which can include another country. It also retrieves, through the use of its mobile system, the iPod system of listening to music, but through download, and watching televised recordings, which was once only seen via television.

The smart phone


REVERSES: The telephone, through its emerging smart phone technology, sets the stage for the inclusion of other applications, most of which are currently been used without the input of this emerging technology device. Examples of some of theses future applications could include the use of the smart phone as a credit card, a mass transit fare card, a ticket to entertainment, and as personal identification (I.D. card).

Reference

Elon University/Pew Internet Project. (n. d.). Imagining the Internet: A history and forecast: Back 150 timeline. Retrieved from http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/predictions/back150years.pdf

Amanda. Mar. 7, 2012. Alexander Graham Bell and the First Telephone. Geni
Genealogy Research. Retrieved from http://www.geni.com/blog/alexander-graham-bell-and-the-first-telephone-373198.html

From computing to drawing

According to CalculatorsBest.Com, “A calculator is one of the most important devices used for doing mathematical calculations”. For a number of years, the mathematics classroom in the high school system (Grade 9 – 12) has been using the calculator to aid the students with advanced mathematics like trigonometry, but this calculator is scientific.

Calculatorsbest.Com further said, “These gadgets are available in two basic formats, one is the standard and other the scientific calculators”. The display window on most of the scientific calculators is only able to show one row of digits when calculations were done. This is a disadvantage to the learners because only some input data would have been shown, making it difficult to follow the mathematical method.

In recent times, these calculators were replaced with a ‘large screen’ calculator group called the graphing calculator. This replacement was necessary, as the use of the graphing calculator should have met the criteria for the state mathematics examination. As 21st century educator blogger, David Wees said, of the notice on the examination booklet, “A graphing calculator and a straight-edge (ruler) must be available for you to use while taking this exam.” The version of the graphing calculator that is best suited for the state examination is the TI-84 Silver edition, manufactured by Texas Instrument, as it shows full screen displays of the mathematics method used, including graphs, tables, and geometric figures.


Even though this emerging technology has emerged in many schools, its cost has not drastically reduced, and some schools have difficulty in purchasing it. The average cost of this emerged technology device ranges from $100 to approximately $140. To alleviate this, many schools apply for grants to offset this desired expense. In addition, mathematics educators, who have never used the technology, have to be trained in its use; and this can be costly, as well. However, training for new teacher recruits proved less expensive, as they would have been trained in the use of the technology while undergoing their studies in preparation for employment. Ye (2009), in a study, asked, “What are the advantages of using the graphing calculators in mathematics education programs in higher education institutions and in professional development?” (p. 136). In response to her question, the study said, “Since 2003, we have offered a course ‘modern technology of mathematics education’ for graduates in mathematics education, mainly on how to use graphing calculators to solve problems of mathematics teaching, which have achieved good results” (p. 142).

The graphing calculator is most beneficial to the students of mathematics, as it helps them to increase their understanding and the speed at which they solve the problems of the discipline. Understanding mathematics is an important part of mathematics education, as its language tends to be different from those of disciplines like the English Language Arts, social studies, and the sciences. Unlike these other disciplines which is mostly literacy, mathematics tends to concentrate mostly on numeracy. Thinking numerate can be very abstract to many students, and the graphing calculator can help to ease some of these though processes. Ye (2009) said of the graphing calculator, “It encourages diverse learning such as self-learning, cooperation, and exploration” (p. 144). Students like to explore the use of this technology in the classroom. It is worth mentioning that, in addition to mathematics concepts, this mathematics technology device also has a game program, which can be useful to students, especially during mathematics recreational periods.

As this technology tool is a necessity for mathematics programs at the secondary level, it would be even better if it is more affordable. Schools would have quick and easy access without the inclusion of a third party (grant donors). However, it is the hope that as the technology becomes fully emerged, the cost would fall drastically, allowing for affordability, but, until that time, many high schools will have to continue soliciting funds for this emerging or emerged technology, depending on the status of their usage.

Reference

CalculatorsBest.Com Retrieved from http://www.calculatorsbest.com/blog/

Wees, D. NY State Regents exam in Mathematics: Fair or not? 21st Century Educator. Retrieved from http://davidwees.com/content/ny-state-regents-exam-mathematics-fair-or-not

Ye, L. Integration of graphing calculator in mathematics teaching in China. Journal of Mathematics Education. Dec. 2009, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp 134-146. retrieved from http://educationforatoz.com/images/_9734_11_Lijun_Ye.pdf