An investigation of wireless phone technologies usage patterns and impact : a case study of IIUM staff

Abstract

The widespread usage of mobile phones technologies across people of different backgrounds has sparked much debate with optimistic accounts on the one hand and with the negative views on the other hand. The non-homogeneity of uses and impacts of technologies in general as well as the unprecedented rate of adoption of mobile phones necessitates the need for a more focus on mobile phone technologies. Therefore, this present study investigates the usage patterns and impacts of wireless phone technologies by building on the technology appropriation and impact theories. To understand the usage patterns, the study looks into; the factors influencing the choice or adoption of mobile phone, the purposes of use or appropriation of the technologies and the extent of using the mobile applications. Then the usage impacts were observed in terms of economic and finance, social relationship, occupation, emotion and physical and health. In addition, the effect of age, gender and occupation were tested on the usage patterns and impacts. The result of this present study shows that; brand name and physical attributes is a factor influencing the choice of mobile phones. Then, five usage purposes which are: the use of mobile phone for family contact, emergency and safety purpose, scheduling purposes, socialization and for job accomplishment were found as the common purposes of use. Lastly on the usage patterns, two services and four features emerged as the frequently used applications of mobile phone. These applications are SMS, voice communication, address book, alarm clock, calendar and camera. On the usage impacts, the following seven usage impacts were identified in the study: impact on work productivity and emotion, social alienation, economic and financial burden, emotional satisfaction, usage addiction, impact on health and social inclination and cohesion. Lastly, the study finds that age, gender and occupation effects are significant on some of the constructs of usage patterns and impacts and that relationship exists between some usage patterns and usage impacts of mobile phone technologies.