§1.  Looking back to when I was younger in the 1980s, I can remember dreaming of two inventions I thought would change my world but were probably not likely to happen in my lifetime. One was a tiny video camera that I could carry around in my pocket and film moments whenever I had the opportunity. The other was something I could use to see and speak to people miles away. I often saw them in science fiction films, and they didn’t even need to be plugged in!

§2.  I find it incredible that during my adult life these two dreams have become a reality. And not even two separate inventions. Just one phone, small enough to keep in my pocket so that I hardly know it’s there. I can video call or chat to friends and relatives, catch up with the latest news, watch videos of my favourite bands, check the weather forecast or send messages. Thanks to satnav I never have to worry if I get lost when I make a journey somewhere I have never been before. I can shop as much as I want and even take a course in any subject I want... the list goes on.

§3.  Along with the Internet, the mobile phone must be the biggest change in technology ever. So why do many of us feel slightly worried about how much time we spend on the phone in our lives? It’s strange that the opportunities it has offered us for communication seem to have limited the time we actually spend talking to each other. We are all used to seeing friends and families who are always looking at their screens and taking very little notice of those around them.

§4.  The mobile phone is here to stay and we have to find a way of dealing with the problems it might create. I believe these are challenges we have to solve individually rather than expecting something or someone else to come to our rescue. It’s up to us to be careful about the time we spend online and remember that it’s good to talk with those sitting nearby. We can still feel amazed to have such a powerful piece of technology available when we need it.