Many would say that people are becoming more antisocial because they tend to spend too much time on their computers and devices. I would have to disagree, and say that people are becoming better at multitasking with the help of technology. Technology is empowering us to be more engaging with larger groups of people, as our society is becoming more global. 4G LTE, specifically, is giving us the power and technology to use specific tools to have any answer we search for at the tips of our fingers. Further, device applications are constantly being released, and I think we, as consumers, can have a hand in their implementation and thus change society’s perception.
How do we do that?
It’s very simple, especially with a smartphone. For any smartphone, the carrier will have an application store with many different options to choose from. I personally am using the app store for the iPhone. Here you will find application gold! When you launch the application, the first thing you see are the tabs on the bottom of the screen (Featured, Top Charts, Genius, Search, Updates.) Many people do not realize how to use the application store, and do not realize how empowered the consumer actually is.
In the featured section, the Apple team will provide you with “New and Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot.” Both of these options are great because they allow the consumer to see what applications are trending and the ones just released. Here is an opportunity for the consumer to become a trendsetter, and not only share the application with others but also write reviews where others can relate.
Next we find “Top Charts,” where you can find the top applications that people paid for, are free to download, and the applications that are top grossing. The term “top grossing” in the app store refers to those that have the highest sales in dollars. It could also refer to the total of all revenue produced from the purchase of the app + the sum of all in-app purchases. For the top charts section, if I really wanted to get an application, especially if I had to pay for it, I would first see how many people have downloaded the app. Then, I would read the reviews and check how many stars it has received. This way, you can truly see what other tech savvy consumers are saying about the application and if it is worth paying for/downloading it.
Next, we will find the genius section. This section is a powerful tool that people rarely use. If you have an application that you are in love with, you can use the genius section and see what other apps Apple recommends for you.
The search section is self-explanatory; however, it is also very useful because here you do not need to have the specific name of the application, just keywords to find it.
Now we encounter the updates section. It is very important to constantly update your applications because many times people will encounter problems that can be easily fixed just by updating the application. I’ve had many friends freak out with questions like “Why is this application draining all my battery?” or “Why am I not allowed to delete this picture off of Facebook or Instagram?” when the answer is just to update the app – just one of the reasons why it is important for people to constantly update their phone.
Like I said before, technology can be very overwhelming, but if you know how to use it, it can be a very powerful multitasking tool. This tool is even more powerful if you know how to handle all the resources that are available.
-Igor Carvalho, Account Coordinator, GlobalHue