Welcome to Portable Partners

From gramophones to the latest media players; from radio-telephones and pagers to our multi-function cell phones; from LED games to current gaming consoles. Advances in mobile computing have continually marvelled us and have become an indispensable part of our lives.

However, many people have been overwhelmed with the relentless pace of technological improvements to stop to ponder on the reasons behind such evolutionary innovations, and perhaps more importantly, the associated health effects on the human body. A vast majority have adopted such gadgets with increasing reliance on them and yet are generally ignorant of the potential accumulative health hazards.

Portable Partners aims to promote early awareness in youths today the benefits and safety issues associated with popular contemporary mobile devices. We present in an entertaining and interactive way how such gadgets have evolved into sophisticated multi-faceted companions, and more importantly, to unveil their mask that while they provide a convenient, effective and fun solution to our communication and entertainment needs, they can also be inherently harmful to our mental, physical and social health when not used with care.

Motivation

Our topic is of paramount importance as mobile devices are now necessities instead of luxuries. We are dependent upon them during most of our waking hours. According to a United Nations report, 60% of the world's population now own the most common mobile device, the cell phone, with mobile phone subscription rate increasing by more than 400% from 1 billion in 2002 to 4.1 billion by end 2008. This trend is expected to increase with the miniaturization of electronics and the improvement in processing power due to Moore's Law. The exponential growth in mobile phone ownership will be especially effected in developing countries where people use these gadgets for basic communication and survival or functional needs. In developed nations, people are also using and replacing mobile gadgets at alarming rates for lifestyle and entertainment purposes. Hence the topic is one which spans globally across all socio-economic profiles.

Target audience

Our primary audience are youths who are the ones who first come into contact with mobile devices in the early stages of their lives. We feel it is important to inculcate the right mindset and be adequately informed about these portable partners. With this knowledge, they will be able to better appreciate the worth of mobile devices and to make responsible decisions about their use.

Nonetheless, given the pervasiveness of mobile devices ownership, the topic will be relevant and beneficial to anyone who owns such gadgets.

Approach

We have organized the site contents such that it is reader-friendly with interesting writings, life stories, original survey findings and interviews with experts, all presented in a casual yet informative tone. Image galleries give a visual illustration on the evolution of media devices. Short quizzes and flash games provide an engaging and educational way to assess understanding while having fun at the same time. Do check out our Site Dynamics section to find out how to make the best use of our site.

Enough said, let the journey begin!

With Regards,

Acknowledgements

1. Jose Fermoso for Massiv Growth in Mobile Phone Ownership statistics. (1st April 2009)