It may be described as technology wrapped in one tiny package. It is a camera, a camcorder, a webcam, a computer, a music player, a video player, tape recorder, an alarm clock, a calculator, a calendar, a notebook, a phone and even more all in one. It is multifaceted.  It is perhaps the only modern gadget that has so many uses. In addition, it is mobile. It is like taking your source of business and pleasure with you wherever you go.

However, like all inventions, it has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. What may be considered as an advantage to one individual may be actually considered to be a disadvantage to someone else. The government, for example, admits to monitoring communication on cell phones to intercept and prevent the possibility of terrorist attacks. Monitoring in this way can be considered an advantage for the sake of national security. However, this method has also been used by criminals to harass and provoke innocent people.

The video below gives us a detailed view of how cell phones can actually be used to monitor our activities illegally.

The good news is that we can find out if our phone is being bugged, or we can take measures to prevent bugging. The video below gives tips on how to know if our cell phone is being bugged.

When first introduced, cell phones carried the reputation of being potentially hazardous to our health, due to the radioactivity involved. It has allegedly been linked to brain disorders such as brain cancer. Apparently its usefulness outweighed its potential dangers, because even young children are allowed by their parents to use them.

Statistics show that many car accidents are caused by the inadvertent use of cell phones while driving. Perhaps the slogan don't drink and drive should be changed to don't drink, talk and drive. Countless lives could have been saved if drivers were more focused on driving rather than on their conversation at the moment. It is extremely difficult to make a timely decision in an emergency when the priority is the telephone conversation.

The videos below reveal the difficulty in addressing an emergency while our attention is swayed by a telephone conversation.

Unfortunately, it seems as if some people use cell phones as an excuse for being rude. How many times have we been in a library, a bank, a restaurant or some other public place and there are other people engaging in very loud conversations. These people seem so intensively involved in their conversation that they are oblivious to those around them. Consequently some business places have now posted signs requesting that customers not use cell phones while being served.

People who have been in a seminar, in church, at the movies or other places, have also been suddenly distracted by the ringtone of someone's cell phone. Sometimes to add insult to injury, the person may even engage in a conversation instead of just turning the phone off at that time.

It can be a distraction to intimacy. Many relationships have been compromised, because cell phone calls have been accepted at times the ringtone should have been silent. In addition, the delivery of text messages though they may seem to be private have revealed secret relationships that led to the termination of marriages.

Sometimes employees spend too much time and energy on personal cell phone conversations and texting during office time. Cell phone users need to use discretion, so that calls and text messages are reduced to the minimum, such as may be required in an emergency.

Many important calls are not transmitted because the signal has dropped, or too many people may be using the signal at the same time, This can limit the communication between emergency personnel and victims. This was evident in the September 11 tragedy.

Some people use the signal as an excuse to not speak to someone. People who lack integrity even pretend the signal dropped during a conversation by simply hanging up. They are obviously prepared to twist the truth when asked what happened to their cell phone.

It can be easily lost or stolen. Even though the service can be suspended easily, it can be costly to replace the instrument. In addition, the names and telephone numbers which were stored in the phone may never be recovered by the owner, but such vital information can be accessed by hackers.

The advent of the cell phone has resulted in a decreased use of public telephones, especially in an emergency. The public phones harbor bacteria and viruses which are easily passed on between individuals. It is not clear that anyone has the responsibility to sanitize the public phone

The cell phone is mobile. It is also small and compact which makes carrying it around so convenient.  The traveling pouch allows us to keep it on our clothing easily. People can use it anywhere and anytime as long as the signal allows it. This is very convenient when people are taking trips many miles away from home, The cell phone can also be used to link loved ones who are stranded.

Perhaps the most important use of a cell phone is its accessibility and availability during an emergency. Even strangers have used their cell phone to report car accidents, sudden illnesses and other emergencies which have resulted in the prompt response of the emergency personnel.

Most cell phones have inbuilt cameras which can be used to take photographs to capture a moment. These photographs can be stored on the phone, stored on our computer and they can also be shared with others. This can be used as a great tool while we are on vacation especially.

Cell phones can also be used as camcorders, and this can be a great asset. especially since Amateur recording with cell phones  have been a great asset in helping law authorities solve crimes with the evidence it provides.  The camcorder records situations which would otherwise not be seen ever again.

It is interesting to note that cell phones can also be used to record voices. This can be an asset if someone needs to have specific tasks done at a particular day or time this individual can actually remind himself or herself using his or her own voice. The voice command attached to certain phones facilitates the calling of numbers by just speaking the command to the phone. This alleviates the hassle of having to find numbers and then dial them.

It can also be used as an alarm clock, especially if someone is traveling and forgot to pack their alarm clock. This can ensure that the owner wakes on time to fulfill the tasks for the day in a timely manner.

Music lovers can download their favorite music to listen to at their convenience. Cell phone owners can also use select music for particular callers to identify who is calling.

Cell phones also function as mini computers even if the cell phone providers do not offer the internet service with the plan.  Text messages are like a form of e mail in a very brief form.  Basically people do not have to speak on the phone if they choose to.  Once the party they are sending the text to has the service they can send and receive texts.  This is a quiet way of communicating.  In addition, some consumers opt to receive the internet service on their phones so they use their phones to do almost everything they can on the computers.  This is an asset if they can see the screen well and use the tiny keys on the keyboard adequately.

We can live with it, but we can also live without it.

The cell phone has become the most popular gadget ever created. If you don't believe me, leave yours at home, and make a note of how you feel while you are out. Observe the people you see around you. How many of them do not have a cell phone in their possession. You would probably not see anyone that fits that description. It has become a part of our decor, and we actually feel naked when we leave home without it. I know, I have made several trips back home when discovering that I have left home without it. How else can I call to tell someone I'm on the way, or get directions if I am lost? How can I order lunch or just keep in touch with others.

We have come to be able to live with it, even tolerate it, but we must never forget that we can live without it. We did survive before it was even created, and if all cell phones happened to disappear one day we would adjust and survive like we always did.

I thought about the relevance of cell phones and I came up with this:

It may be used for good, but it can also be used for evil.
It can bring people together, but it can also drive them apart.
It can be used for business, but it may be used purely for pleasure?
It can give us a feeling of security, but it also gives us a feeling of insecurity.
It can be costly, but it could cost less.
It can be a useful gadget, but it can be an insignificant nuisance.
It can be large enough to hold, but small enough to carry.
It can be a great attraction, but it can be a great distraction.
It can be used indoors, but it can also be used outdoors.
It can be used to celebrate a birth, but it is also used to announce a death.
It can be used to spread peace, but it is also used to propagate war.
It can be used to start a relationship, but it is also used to end a relationship.
It is used for significant conversation, but it is also used for insignificant chatter.
It is used for complements, but it can also be used to transmit insults.
It can be used for pleasure, but it can also be used to bring pain.
It has been used very little by some, but it has been overused by too many.
It can be used to save us time, but it can be used by us to waste time.
It can be used by the elderly, but it is also the treasure for the young.
It can be put to good use, but sometimes it would be better if it was used less.
It can lead us in the right direction, but it can also be used without discretion.
It can be used with positive intentions, but it can also be used with negative motives.
It can be used to seek our privacy, but it can also deprive us of our privacy.
It is a camera, a camcorder, a computer, a music player, a video player, a notebook, an alarm clock, a calculator, a calendar and a phone all in one. It is everything we want it to be and more.

The cell phone... we can live with it, but we can also live without it.