A Blog about the use of apps
I wake up each morning...the first thing I do? Look out the window? Get up and get dressed? Not a chance...the very first thing I do is check my phone. It's like a routine. I have to check a range of different apps. I have to see if I've gotten any messages or what's new in the social network world. It's really interesting to me.
I never really watch the news on tv or read a newspaper. I find all the news I need through my apps. Whether it be the obvious news apps whose sole purpose is to list the latest news, to simply hearing about something from what other people are talking about on social network. I know this has ruined the element of surprise for my mum. Whenever we speak she always asks;
"Did you hear about...?" - to which I of course I always reply;
"Mum, I heard about that two days ago!"
"How?" - she used to always ask;
"Online mum...Facebook!". So now she just replies;
"That bloody Facebook".
She used to be so against the idea of Facebook, as I've mentioned in previous blogs, she saw Facebook like one of those friends who you shouldn't hang around with...a bad influence! However, the last time I was home she asked me if I thought she should get Facebook!!! Funny how people's thoughts on things change.
It's crazy how dependent our generation are on our phones and apps. Some people argue that this is a bad thing, that we are moving away from eye contact and face to face chat, which to some extent I would agree with. But it just depends on how much you really allow yourself to get wrapped up in it I think. There are so many benefits to these developments in app technology. After travelling so much and living abroad for most of the past couple of years, these apps have allowed me to remain in constant contact with all my friends and family all around the world. They allow me to see images, watch videos and read stories of how they are enjoying their everyday lives, and this makes me really happy. As long as we don't get lazy and use this as an excuse never to see people and all become confined to our beds, we should be fine (famous last words...hope not!).
There is an app for almost everything these days. From booking a taxi or finding a good restaurant nearby, to managing your bank account or dating. But one thing I have been taking more and more advantage of is educational apps, be it developing my own education by learning a new language or using apps to assist me when teaching in the classroom. So much can be said for our generation, but the up and coming one, including some of the six year old kids I've had the pleasure of teaching recently, are a whole other ballgame. Sometimes it's scary how much they know about technology...much more than me (or maybe they're all robots?). Either way, the use of technology within the classroom is such an effective teaching tool, and definitely makes learning so much more interesting and interactive. I've seen this first hand. I recently had a five year old pupil whiz through a smart-board activity before I even understood what we were even doing...it's like these kids are born with a built in app store!!! Don't even get me started on minecraft!
Apps are just like extra limbs now:
If I get lost in a new city - I use an app to find my way.
If I want to talk to my parents - I use an app to video chat.
If I want to find out where my next lecture is - I use an app to check the room and time.
If I want to book a plane, train or bus - I use an app.
If I want to know what the weather will be like for the week - app!
If I want to listen to music, watch tv or a movie - app, app and...APP!!!
This is our world now, and to be honest it's pretty cool!
I'm even using two apps as I type this blog while listening to music (and maybe even more that I'm not even aware that I'm using). IT'S APPTASTIC!!!
