The world has come a long way since Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone, that's for sure. From the hand crank to rotary dial to push button the phone has evolved and then evolved again. Even the first cell phones just a couple of decades ago resemble exhibits in a museum of ancient inventions compared to the sleek styles of today. Those early phones were used by the very wealthy or kept in a vehicle for emergencies only. Who would have imagined that cell phones would someday become such an essential part of life and used for so much more than just emergency phone calls?



In fact, phone calls are just a small part of what today's cell phones are capable of. Text messages, email, Internet access, mp3 music playing, a built-in camera and even TV can all be accessed with your cell phone. Some cell phones today even have a complete QWERTY keyboard and can run many computer programs; in fact you can almost consider them a mini-laptop computer. Need directions? Just pick up your cell phone and navigation is at your fingertips. Want to know what movies are playing and the show times? A 411 operator will give you a quick rundown and you don't even have to wait on the line listening to the whole recording (then missing the one you really wanted to hear because someone interrupts you at that exact moment and you have to listen to the whole thing again!)

In the case of an emergency cell phones save lives. Whether it is a traffic accident or you are being attacked on a dark street, your cell phone can reach emergency personnel and can be used to track your location. There was even a story of a missing woman who had gone off the road and was on the side of a cliff for days, her cell phone signal led to her safe recovery and without it she would never have been found; at least not alive. Even if your cell phone service is turned off, your cell phone will still be able to call 911 and get help for you. That is why you should never throw your old cell phones away; they can be donated at any police station and be given to victims of domestic violence to help give them protection.

It is hard to imagine life without cell phones now that they have become such an integral part of our lives. It is also difficult to imagine what new features cell phones in the future will have since they already do so much. Judging from the advancements made so far, however, you can be sure that the cell phone will continue to evolve and add value to the user's life. Whether you want to watch the news, ask your spouse to bring home a loaf of bread on their way home from work or be protected in dangerous situations your cell phone is on the job.

Cell phones are obviously the future for technology growth. The only question is, what will be next?