INSCMagazine: Get Social!

By Andrea Bell

There is absolutely no doubt that apps are the future, but the question arises when one considers the dark side of it. There aren’t many posts on the internet that highlight the negative point of view of smart apps compared to those who brag about them. We cannot deny the fact that our lives have evolved with the new generation of technology.

However, at what cost?emojis

How many of our daily or monthly tasks are handled through a specific app? Shopping? Financial calculations? Medical billing? Here is an overview of usage of apps on daily basis

Probably, the most likely reason behind the high influx of apps on the App Store and Play Store is the number of online resources available for people to learn how to create new apps. Online learning platforms have been here for around some time, many of which are popular choices for graduates, and even professionals. Examples include Code Academy, Zeolearn and Udemy. Their accessibility and flexibility allow developers to augment their skill set, and as a result, we have new apps coming out every day.

What do you think ……the verdict will be if we weigh the odds together? Are apps a Saving Grace that rescue us from tedious tasks and horrors of monotony, or are they minions of the devil trying very hard for us to succumb to our idleness and intolerance for hard work? May the odds be forever in their favor, perhaps?

Okay, let’s highlight how applications help us:

  • Humans hate tedious activities such as calculating test papers repeatedly if you’re a teacher, or solving a math equation that has somewhat the same variables every time. Starting with a very simple app such as a calculator in our phones and tablets allow us to calculate with ease without the mental math pressure that people dislike greatly. Spreadsheet accounting apps allow accountants to complete their book entries with ease, as they do not have to write in everything again. Therefore, what we have deduced up until now is that apps save time.
  • Accuracy is one characteristic of human beings that can be considered unpredictable, so the apps decided to take the responsibility over their shoulders. Many industries run solely on effectiveness and efficiency, such as the medical and information technology industry. These standards can be maintained with the use of the apps available on the store such as simple grammar editors or the advanced medical billing software.
  • If we shed light on dynamism, apps can be the perfect partners in various activities that people of all ages can enjoy. Apps such as Lightbot can allow people with creative minds to create what they like through coding. They make our work easy and influence the eager audience to develop something new that the world has not seen before. Healthcare industries are now moving ahead with the era of technology by introducing apps like BrainTest, which allow people to take the SAGE test for dementia easily through their devices.
  • Moving ahead of the serious advantages, the one that trumps those all is the fact that apps are fun. Entertainment is a thirst that people cannot seem to quench. Other than our traditional music and video applications, miscellaneous apps such as Nail Art and Which Celebrity Hairstyle Looks Good on You? are a really great pass time for someone who is bored.

Now it is time to highlight the dark side. One major issue that I want to address is the fact that people talk about the relevancy that each app has, but forget to address the frustration that the apps and devices in general cause. What I am trying to outline is that the whole idea of having a piece of code do everything for us is positively unnatural – no matter if it is only meant to help.

  • If we start from the development of these apps, it cannot be denied that the entire process of coding and making it work is frustrating for the person who is actually doing it. Once it is made the number of source code errors can make the programmer pray for escape.
  • Running an app on a device can never always be as smooth as butter. Bugs and updates can consume a substantial amount of time as well as internet data that can hike up the internet charges that you are paying. Perhaps the most frustrating of all is the problem people face while running an app that does not have mobile or user-friendly interface.
  • Many apps that are available in the market may or may not be compatible with the operating systems that are installed within your devices. Updating your operating systems can be quiet a hassle, and this usually turns out to be a bad experience.
  • Most importantly, they make us idle and dependent on technology, which takes away our ability to survive when the power is out. This is a very realistic claim, how many of us function perfectly when the power is out? – Exactly. We live in an age where there is no life without internet, and a simple task seems impossible if our apps are unavailable.
  • The amount of power and battery the applications consume is astonishing. I personally resent situations in which my phone is turning hot, and I have to rush everywhere in search of a power outlet.

I believe that amidst all the technology and innovation people forget that they are their creators. The human mind is stronger than every machine out there because of its natural ability to multitask, and they have the perfect balance of empathic and systemization ability that technology does not – yet.

andreamillerAuthor Bio: Andrea Bell is a Freelance writer and a content contributor at www.zeolearn.com, which provides angularJS and big data hadoop training. She writes mostly on technology and health related stuff. Live simply, give generously and a sports lover. Find her on twitter @IM_AndreaBell.