Islington College

CS5052NI - Professional Issues, Ethics

and Computer Law
Coursework 2

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Nilaa Maharjan (L2N3) Yunisha Bajracharya

np01nt4a170017@islingtoncollege.edu.np Tutor

Prayash Khati (L2N3)

np01nt4a170007@islingtoncollege.edu.np
Essay: Most libraries, and academic staff teaching lectures tutorials
and workshops, ban the use of cell phones. Some require that
members switch off their phones before entering.

What are the reasons for these policies? Do you think they are good
policies? Explain your point of view.

Abstract:
Mobile phones enable individuals to convey when, where, and with whom they wish.
Nonetheless, users are frequently troubled to find themselves constantly accessible
to others. An invention to connect lives far apart has distanced two sitting in a same
room. Straining away from the bright light of the mobile phone to the darker side, most
agree that they feel trapped within their phones making “cell” phones autological
choice to describe the phone than a random chance. Worries about reliance on mobile
phones relate to power of utilization. So, has mobile telephony really freed people?
Introduction:
“If we take a moment and look around our homes, offices or cars, I am sure we will
find many items that we see as true necessities. I would bet that at one time these
items were seen as luxuries, even frivolous perhaps. The Austrian economist and
philosopher Ludwig von Mises once said, “The luxury of today is the necessity of
tomorrow.” Where technology is involved, history has proven this time and again.”
(Kenton, 2008)

At a time where telecommunication was blooming and landline phones were the
hottest thing in the society, the only logical step was to take phone everywhere we
walked. Mobile telephony, as it began, meant that telephone services of phone may
move around freely rather than stay fixed in one location like the landlines that people
used to have lying around. They would connect to a terrestrial cellular network of base
stations that are connected to orbiting satellite creating a massive network.

Fast forward 25 years into the year 2010, and we had over five billion cellular
subscriptions in the world. In many nations, mobile phones dwarf line telephones. A
report from Point.com (2006) revealed that in many markets from Japan and South
Korea, to Europe, to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, most kids age 8-9
have mobile phones and new accounts are presently opened for clients aged 6 and 7.
Where for the most part guardians tend to give phones to their youthful kids, in Japan
officially new camera-phones are available whose target age is under 10 years old,
presented by KDDI in February 2007. The USA likewise slacks on this measure, as
until this point, about half of all youngsters have mobile phones.
Problem Statement
Mobile phones have revolutionized what we think we can do and what we do. But
when it comes to the youths, it has just made typical classroom problem extend to
digital world. Problems of cyberbullying, easier to access pornography, and interfered
with social interactions in schools.

“The Daily mail revealed with evidence people are tapping at the screen every four
minutes during their waking hours. Apps that monitored people's phone use found that
- on average - they checked devices an astonishing 253 times a day” (25 February
2016)

Concerning the constructive effects of mobile phone possession, 66% of mobile

users say that mobile phones have made it "a lot” less demanding to keep in contact
with people they think about, while only 6% say that their telephone has not
enhanced their associations with loved ones by any means. Generally, over half of
mobile users say that their telephone has made it to some degree less demanding to
plan and timetable their schedule, and to be gainful while doing things like waiting for
traffic holding up in line, which on the paper might seem like progression, but cause
real problems of mobile and social addiction.

Around one in every five mobile owners say that their telephone has made it in any
event to some degree harder to forget work at home or on the ends of the week; to
give individuals their full focus; or to concentrate on a single task without being
distracted. Most of mobile owners say that their telephone has had no effect at all on
their life in any of these negative ways. Contrasted to their older folks, younger mobile
users are particularly receptive to both the positive and negative effects of portable
network.

“Many cell owners sleep next to their phones so as not to miss calls, messages, or
updates during the night. They also check their phones for messages even when not
prompted by their phone to do so.” (Pew Research Center, 2012)

With time, authorities are being concerned as this has hampered the student’s
attention, overall grades and human interaction while in the school premises. Most
libraries, and academic staff teaching lectures tutorials and workshops, ban the use of
cell phones. Some require that members switch off their phones before entering.
Governments are enforcing laws to make sure that the schools and similar
organizations are perfoming their part when it comes to digital media control.

French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is the latest to take action in the form
of a National Assembly bill to ban cellphones at school before school resumes in
September 2018. Deeply concerned about the phenomenon of “phone-addicted
children,” he claims that the bill is a “detox measure” to combat classroom distractions
and cyberbullying. More than 90 per cent of French children aged 12 years or older
posess a mobile phone and teachers are finding it increasingly difficult to capture and
hold the attention of their students. (Bennett, July 2, 2018)
Case Study
Many studies have found a cell phone to be an impediment to learning in class.
Cell phone use is a distraction to all members of the class—especially yourself. In
addition, cognitive and behavioral scientists have found that electronic devices can
erode ability to concentrate. Notably, the ability to focus is highly correlated with
educational and occupational success. In addition, many college students report
feeling addicted to their cell phones. Thus to maintain the student’s attention towards
the academic activities without any kind of mobile communication interferences during
school hours, academic institutions enforce certain rules and policies under the
circumference of the organizational boundaries. Some of the policies constructed by
different schools in US are as follows:

 HIGHLAND PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL - DALLAS TX

Possession and use of personal telecommunications devices, including
mobile telephones in grades K-8, students will not be permitted to display, turn
on, or use a telecommunications device, including a cellular telephone, or other
electronic device on school property during school sessions. The use of mobile
devices consisting of a camera function is strictly prohibited in the lockers and
bathrooms during school-related events.

 MURPHYSBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL - MURPHYSBORO, IL

The students are requested to shut down their mobile devices and store
them in their respective lockers during school hours however before and after
the school sessions, the students are permitted to use their mobile devices.

 WHITE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL - FAIRFAX, CA

Electronic communication and multimedia devices such as mobile

phones, MP3 players, iPods, etc. can be used before and after school periods
only. If it is being used during the school sessions, school personnel may
confiscate it.
 GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - ESCONDIDO, CA

Cell phones, smart watches and any other communication devices may
not be used while on campus. If you feel your child must have a cell phone, it
must remain in their backpack, TURNED OFF while at school and during
Extended Care. Texting and videotaping are not permitted anytime during the
school day. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a behavior detention
and confiscation of the phone. The cell phone may be retrieved by the parent
at the end of the day. This policy is in effect throughout the entire school day
including extended care.

 BURGESS HILL

Mobile phones can be brought to school but must remain off or silent and
completely out of view on-site for the whole of the school day. Any phone in
view and on-site will be confiscated, logged and securely held until the end of
the school day, at which point it can be collected by the student. Repeat
offenders will be sanctioned in line with our existing behavior policy.
Conclusion:
(Rolf) once said, “Form and function are a unity, two sides of one coin. In order to
enhance function, appropriate form must exist or be created.” The clear issue
regarding mobile telephony is feeling trapped by the mobile phone. This arises the
psychological phenomenon “dependency stress” as more and more people feel
dependent on mobile for communication and socializing. Worries about reliance on
mobile phones relate to power of utilization.

The rapid falling of grade, increased dropouts, increased anti-social students all raise
suspicion to authorized personnel from home to school and government. Most of the
nations are adopting the no-phone policies which will to an extend help with the
addiction and focused students in the study areas.

As wise men say, unless we would not learn to use only as much as we need, we will
find ourselves trapped beyond escape in the 5-inch screen in our hands. So being
trapped within the mobile phones is a matter of “if” than “when” for now.
Bibliography
Bennett, P.W. (July 2, 2018) Banning Cellphones in Class: Why is the Policy Making a Comeback?
[Online]. Available from: https://educhatter.wordpress.com/2018/07/02/banning-cellphones-in-
class-why-is-the-policy-making-a-comeback/ [Accessed 25 Febuary 2019].

Kenton, J. (2008) Luxuries of Today, Necessities of Tomorrow? JRD Marketing, p.2.

Pew Research Center. (2012) The Impact of Mobile Phones on People’s Lives [Online]. Available from:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/30/part-iii-the-impact-of-mobile-phones-on-peoples-lives/
[Accessed 14 January 2018].

Point.com. (2006) Mobile Phones for Kids Under 15: a Responsible Question. Article. Reuters.

Rolf, I.P. (April 3, 2009) Data Preparation and Data Standards: The Devil is in the Details. In The Field
Research Survival Guide. Oxford University Press.

The Daily Mail. (25 February 2016) We really are slaves to our smartphones. Mail Online, p.1.