The world of technology is growing faster than ever imagined. Not so long ago were the days when you had to choose between slowly surfing badly designed websites and making a phone call. These days, the demand for constant communication, access to news and online banking while on the move has pushed the evolution of the internet into the palm of our hands.
It is no longer a sight to behold if someone is walking down the street, streaming their Spotify playlists through their brand new Galaxy Tab, while reading the news and Tweeting about it at simultaneously. 3G (third generation) technology has allowed us to access and share information at the click of a button or a swipe of a finger.
It’s a hard concept to grasp that just ten years ago we would sit patiently for two whole minutes and wait for a webpage to load when now, we curse slow-loading mobile internet more than bad traffic on a Friday afternoon.
Where would we be without the technological advancement of 3G? Ten years in the past is our best guess. Without 3G, remote working would be completely out of the question and switching off between work and home was as easy as not having emails bombarding your mobile phone at all times of the night.
It’s not just the workaholic that has been affected by the advancement of internet on the move. Travellers benefit from mobile GPS systems, while families split between cities and countries can chat face-to-face while on the train.
If you find yourself bored whilst commuting to and from A to B, you have the option to download a book or some music, browse the App Store for another addictive game or Facebook the journey away.
The power of 3G, however, was greatly underestimated until recent events across the world. Student protests in London, uprisings in theMiddle East and help in finding loved ones after the Japanese tsunami are only a few examples of how 3G technology has helped organise major events.
Citizen journalism has also been on the rise since the ability to upload and share information has become so easy. The Hudson River emergency landing is probably the most famous example of an innocent bystander snapping a shot and sharing it with the world before the newspapers were able to get on the scene.
May 2011 saw the Twitter sphere explode with the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death before the Whitehouse had the chance to give an official statement and the Google Nexus One was revealed online before mainstream news, or even Google itself, got a look in.
The advancement of mobile internet can only get faster and more efficient as it grows in popularity across the world. Currently, 4G is being tested around the UK and promises ultra-broadband speeds and an alternative to home wifi connections. Watch this space – it may not be long before your whole online life goes mobile. The developed countries are talking about 4G and in Pakistan we are still waiting when 3G will come in Pakistan.
