Smart Living

By Tang Jen Chuan

Navigating life with electronics

In the 21st century, electronic devices have become ubiquitous, seamlessly integrating into nearly every aspect of our existence. The smartphone, a pocket-sized marvel, serves as a prime example, acting as a communication hub, a resource for information, and a gateway to global connectivity. Its evolution has transcended mere communication, catalysing societal shifts and influencing how we learn, work, and interact.

Smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices allow people to communicate anytime, anywhere through various communication applications such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook, and Messenger. This instant communication includes text, voice, and video calls, allowing people to connect directly and immediately.

To better understand the importance of electronic devices in today’s world, I interviewed my cousin, Irene, 22, a Chinese international student. She is a second-year student at Zhejiang University studying international trade.

“I video chat with my family every night. We often exchange details about each other’s daily lives, such as studies, hobbies, and entertainment, in order to enhance mutual understanding and communication. When I’m stressed, I turn to video calling for comfort and support from my family. This is because I think that when we video chat, my family can instantly reach me and share their concerns and words of support, which gives me comfort in knowing that I am not alone and can always count on them for help when things go tough,” said Irene.

Parents chat with their children via video call. Photo: Freepik

In addition to instant messaging, social media provides a platform for people to share their lives, opinions, and insights. We can post photos, videos, texts, and others, as well as interact with friends, family, or other users worldwide.

“Whether I’m happy, sad, or frustrated, posting photos is a form of emotional catharsis. It allows me to share my feelings in a virtual space and gain psychological catharsis and release. I hope to empathise and connect with others by sharing my emotions and moods. Sometimes, other people may find resonance in my experiences, thus creating shared emotions. Therefore, such links help us strengthen our emotional ties and build closer social relationships,” Irene said.

This connectivity has changed how people communicate so that geographical distance is no longer a barrier to communication. As a result, people around the world can easily connect with each other, facilitating globalisation and cultural exchange.

“I always bring my tablet to class. It is multi-functional and can be used for reading e-books, searching for information, browsing the web, watching instructional videos, and doing group projects. I use it for taking notes, looking up information, doing exercises, and more,” Irene said.

She also emphasised that note-taking apps or organisational tools on tablets can help us organise our notes better and even tag and sort them in electronic files to manage learning materials more effectively. For example, I always organise my notes based on topics, dates, or other criteria to make them easier to find and review later.

With electronic devices, we have an unprecedented wealth of information at our fingertips.

Irene watches her favourite variety show.

“Regarding homework, I usually use Google and Baidu to find information because of various ideas, research materials, and resources that some traditional libraries can’t provide. In addition, many websites provide articles, reports, research papers, and more for us to use as references,” Irene said.

The advent of electronic devices has also enabled flexible learning opportunities. Distance learning programmes, online courses, and remote education have become more accessible, allowing us to pursue education regardless of geographical location or time constraints.

“I remember before MCO when we went from physical to online classes. At that time, without these electronic devices and web links, we would not have been able to participate in online discussions, learning, and others. This would therefore affect the learning outcomes and interactive communication,” said Irene, adding that distance learning and online courses use modern technological tools which can help people adapt to the digital age’s learning styles and working environments.

Furthermore, we can watch video content on our mobile phones, tablets, and computers thanks to advances in technology. Video streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube offer a rich and diverse range of film and television programmes, including movies, TV series, documentaries, and others. Hence, we can choose our favourite content to watch anytime, anywhere, without the constraints of time and place.

“In my spare time, I prefer to unwind by watching shows like “Running Man”, which features hilarious scenes in each episode. It can temporarily alleviate my fatigue and anxiety while also bringing calm and relaxation to my body and mind,” said Irene.

Tablets give us a lot of convenience during classes. Photo: computerhoy.com

Spotify offers millions of songs for us to listen to at any time.

We can access various music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and others via electronic devices. These platforms provide millions of songs for us to listen to anytime. We can also create our own playlists, search for new music, and even share music with other users according to our preferences.

Additionally, wearables such as bracelets and health trackers have become essential health and lifestyle management tools. These devices, often connected to smartphones or cloud-based platforms, allow continuous tracking of vital signs and other health metrics.

“I wear my bracelet to school every day. The bracelet detects heart rate, stress, sleep, and training status. We can access these records through our mobile phones and keep track of our physical condition,” Irene said, emphasising that it can help us monitor our daily activity levels and raise awareness of exercise, which can be helpful in rehabilitation, losing weight or staying healthy.

Smart bracelets can be linked to our mobile phones and can receive incoming calls. Photo: neway.mobi

“Smartwatches, like bracelets, can be linked to our phones, allowing us to receive notifications, messages, phone calls, and more anytime. Smartwatches can also track steps, distance travelled, calories burnt, and exercise duration. It can also recognise different types of exercise and provide exercise training plans, goal setting, and feedback to help us exercise more effectively,” she added.

Smartwatches, like smartphones, can be loaded with apps such as weather forecasts, calendars, music players, and more. We can also customise the dial style and function settings according to our preferences. In addition, some smartwatches also have security features, such as emergency calls, location sharing, and others. As a result, these safety features greatly enhance the usefulness of smartwatches in our everyday lives, allowing us to feel safer and more secure in unpredictable situations.

• This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS.