Individual Topical Review Paper

i. Specific Innovation of Interest: A brief description of the disruptive innovation that, in your opinion, has either already changed the world or is likely to do so in the future.

Communications Technology: Smartphones

ii. Rationale for Selecting this Innovation: How, in your opinion, this specific innovation of interest has already changed the world (or is likely to do so in future).

Since the breakthrough of smartphones in the recent years, the dynamics of the mobile market has changed significantly. In the short span of a few years, many renowned brands that have been producing feature phones for years have switched to producing their own unique versions of smartphones in order to stay competitive. Now, approximately 72% of Singaporeans own smartphones and the percentage is likely to keep increasing.

iii. Proposed Approach to Development of Paper: The gist of the arguments and the key points you intend to cover in each section of your paper as you build-up your paper

Executive Summary

Smartphones are ingenious inventions that have quickly taken over the dynamics of how we communicate nowadays, so much so that the more 'normal' phones that we used to depend on are dubbed as 'dumbphones'. How has smartphones and its intelligent functions affected us and continue to do so in the future?

Background/Introduction

Smartphones as we know them today are no longer used just for calling or messaging alone. The smartphone incorporates more advanced functions such as wi-fi & 3G capabilities, interactive 3rd party gaming applications, video calling, touch-screen features, GPS navigation and more. Smartphones has enabled consumers to do all these things in just one device, making this particular innovation a convenient, efficient, important and sometimes a complete necessity for most people. The innovation of smartphones is, arguably, one of the most important development in recent years. The functions of a smartphone can be useful not just as entertainment but also as platforms for people to do work because of the increasing influence of the internet.
The innovation of smartphones has changed the world in many ways, whether directly or indirectly. It has had an impact on the market for mobile phones,
It is interesting (though not necessarily relevant) to note that 'smartphone' is a registered word online but 'handphone' is not.

Historical Perspective (ie where we have come from – prior to the introduction of the innovation)

Before the introduction of smartphones:
The development of phones dates way back to the 1800s. The earliest distinct form of communication through telephone was an invention that belonged to Alexandra Graham Bell. The development of phones in the following years were confined to wire-based technology that were uncommon at that time and rare to see.
The first mobile phones emerged soon afterwards but were still bulky, expensive and not widely available.
The next breakthrough was the development of handheld phones which included basic communicating services.
Finally, feature mobile phones today include other functions such as games, calendar, calculator, messaging systems and so on.

Current Situation (ie where we are today – how the innovation has changed things)

Today, smartphones are dominating the market in ways we may not have imagined. Smartphones are not only changing the market and consumerism, it is also starting to change the way we think or act.

- The definition of a smartphone today.
What is smart?

With the emergence of the iPhone, Blackberry and other smartphones that followed, there is a standard and typical set of expectations that encompass smartphones today.
- Touchscreen/QWERTY keypad is the most common design of a smartphone that allows for more user-friendly navigation through its functions
- 3G standards (as compared to 2G standards)
- Functions of a personal digital assistant (PDA): able to send email, messages, has wireless functions etc.
- Supports third party applications
- Web access at high speeds with 3G (and the developing 4G) networks
- Operating systems such as iPhone OS

- Economic impacts of the smartphone on the mobile phone market

Competition between smartphones and feature phones
Competitive innovations between smartphones
Third party industries affected by this development

- Social impact of the smartphones

Convenience & Efficiency
Communication between people
Cultural impact

- Future Considerations (ie where we might go – how you foresee things going in future)

4G technology
Problems of changing definitions
Change is constant, and so is innovation. Technology will keep developing in the future, whatever we consider to be smart now may not be so in the future. Is it possible to develop something big enough to make a breakthrough in the market as a completely new set of technology instead of being a branch development of the smartphone?

References

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_661682.html