tag:theconversation.com,2011:/ca-fr/topics/iphones-4656/articlesiPhones – La Conversation2024-01-29T19:05:11Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2219102024-01-29T19:05:11Z2024-01-29T19:05:11ZEditing memories, spying on our bodies, normalising weird goggles: Apple’s new Vision Pro has big ambitions<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571783/original/file-20240128-25-8hsbjk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=7%2C3%2C2541%2C1425&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Apple</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset – which the company hopes is a “<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/01/apple-vision-pro-available-in-the-us-on-february-2/">revolutionary spatial computer</a> that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment” – that begins shipping to the public (in the United States) later this week. </p>
<p>Critics have <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/apple-vision-pro-doomed/">doubted the appeal</a> of the face-worn computer, which “seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world”, but Apple has pre-sold <a href="https://www.engadget.com/apple-might-have-sold-up-to-180000-vision-pro-headsets-over-pre-order-weekend-081727344.html">as many as 180,000</a> of the US$3,500 gizmos.</p>
<p>What does Apple think people will do with these pricey peripherals? While uses will evolve, Apple is focusing attention on watching TV and movies, editing and reliving “memories”, and – perhaps most importantly for the product’s success – having its customers not look like total weirdos.</p>
<p>Apple hopes the new device will redefine personal computing, like the iPhone did 16 years ago, and Macintosh did 40 years ago. But if it succeeds, it will also redefine concerns about privacy, as it captures enormous amounts of data about users and their environments, creating an unprecedented kind of “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1354856521989514">biospatial surveillance</a>”.</p>
<h2>Spatial computing</h2>
<p>Apple is careful about its brand and how it packages and describes its products. In an extensive set of <a href="https://developer.apple.com/visionos/submit/#:%7E:text=Don%27t%20refer%20to%20Apple,first%20word%20in%20a%20sentence.">rules for developers</a>, the company insists the new headset is not to be referred to as a “headset”. What’s more, the Apple Vision Pro does not do “augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or mixed reality (MR)” – it is a gateway to “spatial computing”.</p>
<p>Spatial computing, as sketched out in the <a href="https://acg.media.mit.edu/people/simong/thesis/SpatialComputing.pdf">2003 PhD thesis</a> of US software engineer Simon Greenwold, is: “human interaction with a machine in which the machine retains and manipulates referents to real objects and spaces”. In other words, the computer can interact with things in the user’s physical surroundings in real time to provide new types of experiences.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A CGI dinosaur stands on a rocky field." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=328&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=328&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=328&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571805/original/file-20240129-25-4y9k16.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Vision Pro comes with an app that lets users get up close and personal with dinosaurs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2024/01/apple-tv-unveils-groundbreaking-immersive-originals-from-todays-biggest-storytellers-set-to-debut-on-apple-vision-pro/">Apple</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Vision Pro has big shoes to fill for new user experiences. The iPhone’s initial “killer apps” were <a href="https://www.macworld.com/article/183052/liveupdate-15.html">clear</a>: the internet in your pocket (including portable access to Google Maps), all your music on a touch screen, and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3j03bOOBwY">visual voicemail</a>”. </p>
<p>Sixteen years later, all three of these seem unremarkable. Apple has sold billions of iPhones, and some <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/">80% of humans</a> now use a smartphone. Their success has all but killed off earlier tools like paper maps and music CDs (and the ubiquity of text, image and video messaging has largely done away with voicemail itself).</p>
<h2>Killer apps</h2>
<p>We don’t yet know what the killer apps of spatial computing might be – if any – but here is where Apple is pointing our attention.</p>
<p>The first is entertainment: the Vision Pro promises “<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/01/apple-previews-new-entertainment-experiences-launching-with-apple-vision-pro/">the ultimate personal theatre</a>”.</p>
<p>The second is an attempt to solve the social problem of walking around with a weird headset covering half your face. An external screen on the goggles shows a constantly updated representation of your eyes to <a href="https://cavrn.org/the-identity-emotion-and-gaze-behind-apples-vision-pro/">offer important social cues about your gaze</a> to those around you. Admittedly, this looks weird. But Apple hopes it is less weird and more useful than trying to interact with humans wearing blank aluminium ski goggles.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A man sitting on a couch wearing a headset while an image of children playing floats in the air in front of him." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571806/original/file-20240129-27-kmnd7y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Reliving ‘memories’ with the Apple Vision Pro.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/">Apple</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The third is the ability to capture and and relive “memories”: recording and playback of 3D visual and audio from real events. Reviewers have found it striking: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>this was <a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/i-saw-my-iphone-spatial-movies-in-apple-vision-pro/">stuff from my own life</a>, my own memories. I was playing back experiences I had already lived.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Apple has <a href="https://www.patentlyapple.com/2023/10/a-new-vision-pro-patent-describes-its-3d-camera-allowing-users-to-relive-memories-add-notes-commentary-about-that-moment.html">patented</a> tools to select, store, and annotate digital “memories”. These memories are files, and potentially products, to be shared in “spatial videos” <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2023/12/apple-introduces-spatial-video-capture-on-iphone-15-pro/">recorded on the latest iPhones</a>. </p>
<h2>Biospatial surveillance</h2>
<p>There is already a large infrastructure devoted to helping tech companies track our behaviour in order to sell us things. Recent <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/each-facebook-user-is-monitored-by-thousands-of-companies-a5824207467/">research</a> found Facebook, for example, receives data from an average of around 2,300 companies on each individual user. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-surveillance-capitalism-and-how-does-it-shape-our-economy-119158">Explainer: what is surveillance capitalism and how does it shape our economy?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Spatial computing offers a step change to this tracking. In order to function, spatial computing records and uses vast amounts of intimate data about our bodies and surroundings. </p>
<p>One <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/kentbye/towards-a-framework-for-xr-ethics-kent-bye-awe-november-11-2021">study on headset design</a> noted no fewer than 64 different streams of biometric and physiological data, from eye tracking and pupil response to subtle changes in the body’s electromagnetic field. </p>
<h2>Your face tomorrow</h2>
<p>This is not “consumer” data like the brand of toothpaste you buy. It is more akin to medical data. </p>
<p>For instance, <a href="http://www.mkhamis.com/data/papers/abraham2022nordichi.pdf">analysing a person’s unconscious movements</a> can reveal their emotional state or even predict neurodegenerative disease. This is called “<a href="https://xrsi.org/definition/biometrically-inferred-data-bid">biometrically inferred data</a>” as users are unaware their bodies are giving it up.</p>
<p>Apple suggests it won’t share this type of data with anyone, and Apple has proven better than most companies on privacy. But biospatial surveillance puts more of ourselves in use for spatial computing, in ways that are expanding.</p>
<p>It starts simply enough in the pre-order process, where you need to scan your facial features with your iPhone (to ensure a snug fit). But that’s not the end of it.</p>
<p>Apple’s <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2023196257A1/en?oq=WO2023196257">patent about memories</a> is also about how to “guide and direct a user with attention, memory, and cognition” through feedback loops that monitor “facial recognition, eye tracking, user mood detection, user emotion detection, voice detection, etc. [from a] bio-sensor for tracking biometric characteristics, such as health and activity metrics […] and other health-related information”. </p>
<h2>Social questions</h2>
<p>Biospatial surveillance is also the key to Apple’s attempt to solve the social problems created by wearing a headset in public. The external screen showing a simulated approximation of the user’s gaze relies on constant measurement of the user’s expression and eye movement with multiple sensors.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A man wearing goggles with a screen that shows his eyess" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=312&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=312&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=312&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571865/original/file-20240129-21-5qnrow.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An external screen shows a representation of the user’s eyes.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://youtu.be/IY4x85zqoJM?feature=shared&t=57">Apple</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Your face is constantly mapped so others can see it – or rather see Apple’s vision of it. Likewise, as passersby come into range of the Apple Vision Pro’s sensors, Apple’s vision of them is automagically rendered into your experience, whether they like it or not. </p>
<p>Apple’s new vision of us – and those that surround us – shows how the requirements and benefits of spatial computing will pose new privacy concerns and social questions. The extensive biospatial surveillance that captures intimate biometric and environmental data redefines what personal data and social interactions are possible for exploitation.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221910/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Luke Heemsbergen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Apple’s plan for ‘spatial computing’ may redefine personal computing – and also facilitate trouble new kinds of surveillance.Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2136082023-09-15T14:42:16Z2023-09-15T14:42:16ZApple has switched from its Lightning connector to USB-C — we explain which is better and why they did it<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548509/original/file-20230915-27-pyondc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C24%2C8118%2C5432&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/bangkokthailandoctober-9-apple-iphone-13-pro-2055016577">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>After many years of designing and selling <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/12/23859659/apple-cable-history-iphone-15-usb-c-lightning-mac-thunderbolt">a variety of different cables</a> to power and charge its devices, Apple has slowly switched to USB-C chargers for all of its products.</p>
<p>The last device to swap is the iPhone, and it happened <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/apple-opposes-eu-plans-to-make-common-charger-port-for-all-devices">against Apple’s will</a>. In October last year, the European Commission <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/10/24/common-charger-eu-ministers-give-final-approval-to-one-size-fits-all-charging-port/">requested</a> all phones and laptop producers switch to the USB-C connector (which had earlier been agreed on as a common standard). </p>
<p>Apple could have chosen to ignore the request and stop selling in the EU, or to produce versions with USB-C for the European single market only. Instead, it chose to comply and <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-usb-c-charger-rule-shows-how-eu-regulators-make-decisions-for-the-world-184763">follow the EU rules everywhere</a>. The common charger for all devices is thus becoming a reality, at least until the world moves completely to <a href="https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/qi2-wireless-charging-announced-apple-magsafe-magnetic-wpc-ces-2023-3663028">wireless charging</a>.</p>
<h2>A better standard</h2>
<p>The Lightning charger was introduced by Apple in 2012 and first featured on the iPhone 5. It was the <a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-30-pin-dock-death">successor to the 30-pin dock connector</a> introduced in 2003 for the first iPods and iPhones. Arguably, the key visible innovation of the Lightning cable was <a href="https://www.phonearena.com/news/Apples-new-Lightning-cable-could-be-reversible-on-both-ends_id59443">reversible ends</a>. </p>
<p>This enabled the user to insert the charger into the dock without having to wonder whether it was oriented in the right way. It might seem trivial now, but this was not the case with any other charger. If you are using the standard USB port on your laptop now, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/aug/18/how-much-time-would-a-reversible-usb-cable-save">you are likely to spend a lot of time</a> plugging the cable in and taking it out in order to find the right orientation. You’re probably also complaining about how inconvenient it is. At least, that’s what I do. </p>
<p>The USB-C connector came out about two years after the Lightning. There was <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/4/5173686/usb-type-c-connector-specification-announced">nothing particularly novel</a> or remarkable about it compared to Apple’s cable. However, one notable feature was that it borrowed the Lightning connector’s reversibility.</p>
<p>USB-C is just the name of the connector, not the entire cable. The cable and connector are part of a bigger technical specification called <a href="https://www.usb.org/usb4">USB-4</a>. USB-4 outperforms Lightning in <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/usb-c-vs-lightning-5206813">every technical dimension conceivable</a>. It can transfer data much more quickly: up to 40Gbps (gigabits per second) for USB-4 versus 480Mbps (megabits per second) for Lightning. It also charges devices more swiftly, to the point that Apple <a href="https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_makes_usbc_to_lightning_cable_cheaper-news-31198.php">started selling</a> Lightning to USB-C adaptors.</p>
<p>The main difference between the two, however, is that UBS-C is not proprietary. It was developed by a consortium called the <a href="https://www.usb.org/">USB implementer forum</a>. This consortium is composed of companies such as Intel and Microsoft – and also Apple. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Apple logo." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548524/original/file-20230915-25-hcdydb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">There are several possible reasons why Apple held on to the Lightning connector as long as it did.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/frankfurtgermanymay-082017apple-store-logo-apple-inc-1156946404">Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>All of the USB standards can be used by any business. Apple, on the other hand, does not allow anyone else to use its proprietary accessories, unless they agree on a license. This means that USB-C is compatible with many more devices, including all recent Apple products, but not previously with the iPhone. </p>
<h2>When it pays to be different</h2>
<p>So, what’s so special about the Lightning connection that made Apple stick with it for so long, despite <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51208912">repeated promises</a> to join its competitors on a common standard? Why would Apple sabotage one of its own phones by keeping a substandard charging connection?</p>
<p>One possibility is that consumers are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352239918300216">inattentive</a> when they buy a phone, and do not directly factor in the cost of accessories such as chargers. If this is true, Apple would have needed these <a href="https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/120/2/585/1933948">add-ons</a> to remain proprietary and make sure no competitor could start offering them for a lower price. If so, forcing Apple to offer the better standard benefits all consumers.</p>
<p>The alternative explanation is that some consumers actually value the Lightning connection more. After all, the look is different, and Apple fans <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/usb-c-vs-lightning-5206813">argue that it may be harder-wearing</a> than other standards. It is also a signal of status and exclusivity.</p>
<p>We seem to have reached a stage in the market for smartphones where people who only care about everyday usage replace their device much less often. This is probably because technology is not evolving at the same pace it did in the past. Yet, it’s also the case that demand for high end phones <a href="https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366550137/Premium-shines-as-mid-to-low-end-smartphone-market-trends-down-in-H1">continues to increase</a>. </p>
<p>This could be because they cater to a subset of consumers who either greatly value a marginally higher quality of camera or slightly bigger storage. But mostly, expensive phones are a way to <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/b/elg/eebook/1508.html">signal social status</a>. </p>
<p>People buy the latest phone not only because they want to own it, but also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cb.1899">to be seen as owning one</a>. This is certainly a factor that has helped Apple thrive because the company offers products that are visibly different from the cheaper alternative. And another sign of status for Apple users is having different accessories, including the proprietary chargers.</p>
<p>Apple has not always been so keen to reject common standards. Not only is it one of the participants in the USB consortium, but it is also the company that <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3044088/apple-and-usb-a-history-of-adoption-acceptance-acquiescence">helped USB become the global standard</a> by offering it on its first generation of iMacs. </p>
<p>At the time, however, Apple <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-comeback-story-2010-10?r=US&IR=T">was the underdog</a> in the market for personal computers, facing off against the tech giant Microsoft. And a big reason why many people did not buy Apple computers at the time was their fear they would not be compatible with Microsoft products. </p>
<p>At one point, Apple even went <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/technology/apple-allows-windows-on-its-machines.html">as far as developing tools</a> to help users run Windows on their devices. At the time, it made sense to try to make your products as compatible as possible with those of the market leader. </p>
<p>In today’s smartphone market, Apple is a leader, and may <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.8.2.117">gain from not being compatible</a> with other standards and products. The big question, however, is whether consumers benefit. If exclusivity is a way to block competition, then they probably don’t. If consumers value exclusivity, or if it encourages Apple to innovate, then perhaps forced standardisation is not such a great idea.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213608/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Renaud Foucart does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Apple has been forced to switch connections in its iPhone after the EU adopted a single standard.Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2135492023-09-15T03:52:14Z2023-09-15T03:52:14ZiPhone switching to USB-C is a win for consumers and the environment – but to what extent?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548447/original/file-20230914-15-ceu4aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=237%2C342%2C3571%2C2237&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/0809-poland-europe-lighting-usbc-cable-2359875069">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>This week, technology news has been abuzz as <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/technology/everything-you-need-to-know-about-apple-s-new-iphones-20230908-p5e386.html">Apple introduced its latest iPhones</a> into the market. Among the usual new feature announcements, one stunning change has stood out in particular. The long-standing rumours are true – the new iPhone 15 series has USB-C standard charging ports.</p>
<p>The ditching of Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which was <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/apples-new-lightning-connector-what-it-does-and-doesnt-change/">first introduced in 2012</a>, means iPhone users will finally be able to recharge their phones with the same chargers they use for other devices.</p>
<p>But what does this major change really mean for Apple, consumers and the environment?</p>
<h2>Apple marched to its own beat until now</h2>
<p>Since the inception of Apple, the company has been well known to develop <a href="https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/76594-apple-cables-interfaces-connections/">various proprietary connectors</a> in lieu of adopting tech standards used elsewhere in the industry.</p>
<p>As one of the major players in the mobile market, the iconic brand has relied on the loyalty of its customers, dictating they have no choice but to use Apple’s proprietary cabling and charging technologies to run their products. As a result, they could retain control of their product ecosystem.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, there is also the USB (Universal Serial Bus), an industry standard designed to standardise the many connections we need on personal computers – to plug in a keyboard or a mouse, for example. The group that develops and maintains the standard <a href="https://au.pcmag.com/laptop/29054/what-is-usb-c-an-explainer">includes more than 700 tech companies</a>, including Apple, Microsoft and Samsung. USB-C is the latest iteration of this widely accepted standard.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-usb-c-a-computer-engineer-explains-the-one-device-connector-to-rule-them-all-213447">What is USB-C? A computer engineer explains the one device connector to rule them all</a>
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<p>Even while maintaining proprietary standards, in recent years Apple has also rolled out USB-C ports on several of its products, <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2022/07/26/five-apple-products-rumored-to-switch-to-usb-c/">most notably all Macs and several iPads</a>.</p>
<p>However, when the European Union proposed in 2020 that all consumer devices should use a universal standard charger, Apple <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/01/23/apple-says-a-common-charger-would-handicap-innovation-inflate-waste">hit back with claims</a> a single connector standard would stifle innovation and create further electronic waste or e-waste.</p>
<h2>The EU demands USB-C</h2>
<p>It is now apparent Apple lost that battle. The iPhone 15 switch to USB-C comes less than a year after <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220930IPR41928/long-awaited-common-charger-for-mobile-devices-will-be-a-reality-in-2024">the EU passed legislation</a> to require all smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and other small devices to support USB-C by the end of 2024.</p>
<p>The rules also impose a requirement for “<a href="https://www.engadget.com/eu-usb-c-port-charging-requirement-approved-141546579.html">fast charging</a>”, to ensure devices can be charged at the same speed no matter which charger is used.</p>
<p>The purpose behind the move is to mandate a single standardised port so consumers don’t need to carry different cables for different devices. It also means fewer cables need to be manufactured and supplied with new products, thus reducing the e-waste created by discarded electronic goods.</p>
<p>Given the size of the EU market, the new rules may lead to other countries introducing similar legislation. Some <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/european-parliament-rules-for-universal-charging-ports-on-all-portable-electronic-devices/">exceptions will exist</a> for devices that are too small to have a USB-C port, such as smart watches or health monitors.</p>
<p>Apple also has a history of removing popular ports, such as when it removed the headphone jack from the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/7/12823596/apple-iphone-7-no-headphone-jack-lightning-earbuds">iPhone 7</a>. However, it’s too early to know whether the USB-C port on the iPhone could suffer the same fate in favour of wireless charging in the future. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A pile of broken mobile phones" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/548473/original/file-20230915-27-9ds1y6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">E-waste is a growing problem, and limited repair options for consumer electronics are a contributing factor.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/electronic-scrap-different-phones-smartphones-not-1571752867">Shutterstock</a></span>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">Apple's iPhone 12 comes without a charger: a smart waste-reduction move, or clever cash grab?</a>
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<h2>How much of an e-waste savings is it, really?</h2>
<p>E-waste is one of the <a href="https://waste-management-world.com/resource-use/e-waste-recycling/">fastest growing waste streams globally</a>. This is due to the shortened lifespan of our electronic devices, limited repair options and growing consumer demand for the newest high-tech products.</p>
<p>The EU’s decision to demand USB-C is part of a greater effort to tackle e-waste. Ironically, it could generate more e-waste in the short term as individuals phase out their Lightning cables and old iPhones. However, the EU claims the new regulation could save almost <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/50321">1,000 tonnes of e-waste annually</a>.</p>
<p>On the grand scale, that’s actually not much, considering Europe <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219417/per-capita-ewaste-generation-europe-by-country/">generated 12 million tonnes of e-waste in 2019</a>.</p>
<p>The inclusion of a USB-C port probably will not be enough of an incentive for people to upgrade to the iPhone 15, but the move by Apple could in fact be more attractive for those consumers who have been resistant to the iPhone in the past over its charging limitations.</p>
<p>Since there are more than <a href="https://www.demandsage.com/iphone-user-statistics/">one billion iPhones and iPads</a> with Lightning ports in the world right now, you’re likely to find Lightning cables and accessories for a few years to come.</p>
<p>Depending on how long you’re planning on keeping your current iPhone, chances are Lightning chargers will be more difficult to find in the not-too-distant future.</p>
<h2>What can you do about e-waste?</h2>
<p>If you’ve switched to a new device with a different charging port, it renders your old collection of proprietary charging cables virtually useless. So, what should you do when it’s time to clean out the drawer full of old devices and cables?</p>
<p>In Australia, there is a <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/product-stewardship/products-schemes/television-computer-recycling-scheme">National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme</a> (NTCRS) to give “Australian households and small businesses free access to industry-funded collection and recycling services”, but the drop-off points may not be nearby.</p>
<p>In addition to the NTCRS, many state and local governments have their own recycling schemes or collection services. For example, the <a href="https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling-services/recycle-e-waste">City of Sydney Council</a> provides a free collection of all e-waste at recycling stations for residents.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.officeworks.com.au/campaigns/how-to-recycle-e-waste">Officeworks</a> have also been recycling e-waste with their “Bring It Back” policy, which provides consumers with the opportunity to drop off devices and cables at their stores. Other organisations like <a href="https://www.mobilemuster.com.au/">MobileMuster</a> offer a similar service where they will recycle mobile phones, chargers and accessories at no cost. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/if-you-buy-it-why-cant-you-fix-it-heres-why-we-still-dont-have-the-right-to-repair-203236">If you buy it, why can't you fix it? Here's why we still don't have the 'right to repair'</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213549/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tyrone Berger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Apple just announced its latest suite of iPhones will not use the proprietary Lightning charger. This isn’t a surprise due to EU regulations announced last year.Tyrone Berger, Lecturer in Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2134472023-09-13T23:54:51Z2023-09-13T23:54:51ZWhat is USB-C? A computer engineer explains the one device connector to rule them all<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548132/original/file-20230913-17-n62xiz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=4%2C9%2C3212%2C1943&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">With pressure from the European Union, Apple has thrown in the towel on its Lightning connector, left, in favor of the standard USB-C, right.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/charger-and-a-traditional-apple-lightning-charger-are-seen-news-photo/1659531079">Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Apple announced on Sept. 12, 2023, that it plans to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/iphone-15-and-15-pro-first-look-why-a-tiny-usb-c-port-is-a-huge-deal-d72fc419">adopt the USB-C connector</a> for all four new iPhone 15 models, helping USB-C become the connector of choice of the electronics industry, nine years after its debut. The move puts Apple <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/24/tech/eu-law-charging-standard/index.html">in compliance with European Union law</a> requiring a single connector type for consumer devices.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.usb.org/usb-type-cr-cable-and-connector-specification">USB-C</a> is a small, versatile connector for mobile and portable devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones. It transfers data at high speeds, transmits video signals and delivers power to charge devices’ batteries. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The C refers to the third type, following types A and B.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.usb.org/about">USB Implementers Forum</a>, a consortium of over 1,000 companies that promote and support USB technology, developed the USB-C connector to replace the older USB connectors as well as other types of ports like HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. The aim is to create a single, universal connector for a wide range of devices. </p>
<p>The key features and benefits of USB-C include a reversible connector that you can insert in either orientation. It also allows some cables to have the same connector on both ends for connecting between devices and connecting devices to chargers, unlike most earlier USB and Lightning cables. </p>
<p>USB-C’s widespread adoption in the electronics industry is likely to lead to a universal standard that reduces the need for multiple types of cables and adapters. Also, its slim and compact shape allows manufacturers to make thinner and lighter devices. </p>
<p>USB-C refers to the physical connector. Connectors use a variety of data transfer protocols – sets of rules for formatting and handling data – such as the USB and Thunderbolt protocols. USB-C supports USB and Thunderbolt, which makes it suitable for connecting laptops, smartphones, tablets, monitors, docking stations and many other devices.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/breaking-down-how-usb4-goes-where-no-usb-standard-has-gone-before/">latest USB protocol, version 4</a>, provides a data transfer rate of up to 40 gigabits per second, depending on the rating of the cable. The <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-thunderbolt-4-why-this-new-interface-will-matter-in-pcs-in-2021">latest Thunderbolt</a>, also on version 4, supports up to 40 gigabits-per-second data transfer and 100 watts charging. The <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/09/intel-confirms-thunderbolt-5-name-120gbps-tech-arrives-in-2024/">newly announced Thunderbolt 5</a> will support up to 80 and 120 gigabits-per-second transfer and 140 to 240 watts power transfer over a USB-C connector.</p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3-yM1IjuB0?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">What Apple’s shift to USB-C means.</span></figcaption>
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<h2>Why USB-C matters</h2>
<p>Due to the fragmented nature of technology evolution, computer users a decade ago were struggling with too many connectors: USB for data; power cables for charging; HDMI, DisplayPort or VGA for video; and Ethernet for internet. This called for an industrywide effort to convergence on an all-purpose connector.</p>
<p>Since its introduction in 2014, USB-C has gained widespread popularity and has already become the connector of choice for most non-Apple devices. Apple converted the iPad Pro to USB-C in 2018 and now is doing the same for the best selling Apple device, the iPhone. Some market forecasts suggest there will be close to 4 billion USB-C connector sales by 2025 and <a href="https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/usb-type-c-market">19 billion by 2033</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks to the industrywide adoption of USB-C, consumers soon won’t have to ask “Is this the right connector?” when they reach for a cable to charge or sync their portable devices. And if you’re an iPhone user and find yourself with a new model, you can <a href="https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/what-to-do-with-your-old-chargers-wires-and-cables/">recycle your no-longer-needed Lightning cables</a> by, for example, bringing them to an Apple store.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213447/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Shreyas Sen receives research funding from a variety of sources, including federal government, state government, and private enterprises. The full list can be seen from his CV at <a href="https://tinyurl.com/ShreyasSenVitae">https://tinyurl.com/ShreyasSenVitae</a>. He is the Founder and CTO of the startup, Ixana. Shreyas was a Research Scientist at Intel Labs from 2011 to 2015 where he was the recipient of an Intel Award for impact on USB-C. </span></em></p>With Apple’s capitulation on the latest iPhone models, USB-C is poised to become the standard connector for all devices.Shreyas Sen, Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2107892023-09-12T01:58:19Z2023-09-12T01:58:19ZApple wants to know if you’re happy or sad as part of its latest software update. Who will this benefit?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547417/original/file-20230911-19-suu0bm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=3%2C21%2C2049%2C1221&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/">Apple/screenshot</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Apple’s iOS 17 operating system is <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2023/06/apple-provides-powerful-insights-into-new-areas-of-health/">expected to drop</a> any day. The software update comes with several new features, including a tool for daily mood and emotion logging – a technique known to emotion researchers as “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000599">experience sampling</a>”.</p>
<p>Although there are caveats, certain <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717001659">mental health studies</a> have shown that regularly recording one’s feelings can be useful. However, given the vast amount of health data Apple already <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/apple-wants-users-to-store-their-health-data-on-their-devices-is-it-a-good-idea">allows its customers</a> to record, why does it also want to record their subjective feelings? And how helpful might this be for users?</p>
<h2>How it works</h2>
<p>With the latest software update, Apple’s in-built <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/">Health app</a> will allow iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users to record how they feel on a sliding scale from “very unpleasant” to “very pleasant”. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/541377/original/file-20230807-25-tiylg0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The emotion-tracking tool allows users to move a slider that changes the screen from purple (unpleasant), to blue/green (neutral), to orange (pleasant).</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Apple</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Users will then select from a list of adjectives to label their feelings and indicate which factors – including health, fitness, relationships, work, money and current events – have most influenced how they feel.</p>
<p>The goal is to give users daily and weekly summaries of their feelings, alongside data on factors that may have influenced them. Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/">claims this will</a> help users “build emotional awareness and resilience”. </p>
<h2>Why does Apple care about our feelings?</h2>
<p>Apple devices already collected copious amounts of health data prior to this update. The iPhone is equipped with an accelerometer, <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/gyroscope">gyroscope</a>, light meter, microphone, camera and GPS, while the Apple Watch can also record skin temperature and heart rate. Why does Apple now want users to log how they feel as well?</p>
<p>Driven by a range of potential applications – from fraud detection to enhanced customer experience and personalised marketing - the emotion detection and recognition industry is projected to be worth <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200213005614/en">US$56 billion (A$86.9 billion) by 2024</a>. And Apple is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emotient-m-a-apple-idUSKBN0UL27420160107">one of</a> numerous technology companies that have invested in trying to detect people’s emotions from sensor recordings.</p>
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<p>
<em>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/imagine-if-technology-could-read-and-react-to-our-emotions-51107">Imagine if technology could read and react to our emotions</a>
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<p>However, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00507-5">scientists are divided</a> over whether emotions can be inferred from such bodily signals. Research reviews suggest neither <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100619832930">facial expressions</a> nor <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000128">physiological responses</a> can be used to reliably infer what emotions someone is experiencing. </p>
<p>By adding self-report to its methodological toolkit, Apple may be recognising that subjective experience is essential to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2018.1515726">understanding human emotion</a> and, it seems, abandoning the goal of inferring emotions solely from “objective” data.</p>
<h2>The science behind experience sampling</h2>
<h1>Emotions versus moods</h1>
<p><br>
Apple’s new feature allows users to record their feelings “right now” (labelled emotions) or “overall today” (designated moods). Is this a valid distinction? </p>
<p>Although scientific consensus remains elusive, emotions are typically defined as being <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17540739221085573"><em>about</em> something</a>: I am angry <em>at</em> my boss <em>because</em> she rejected my proposal. On the other hand, moods are not consciously <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073909103594">tied to specific events</a>: I’m feeling grumpy, but I don’t know why.</p>
<p>Apple’s two reporting methods don’t neatly distinguish emotions from moods, even though they rely on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.6.934">different cognitive processes</a> that can produce divergent estimates <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000248">of people’s feelings</a>. </p>
<p>If the new feature allowed users to independently select both the time frame (momentary or daily) and type of feeling (directed emotion or diffuse mood) being experienced, this could help make users more aware of biases in how they remember feelings. It may even help people identify the often obscure causes of their moods. </p>
<h1>Dimensions of feeling</h1>
<p><br>
Apple’s feeling slider asks people how pleasant or unpleasant they feel. This captures the primary dimension of feeling, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000606">known as valence</a>, but neglects <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.02024.x">other essential dimensions</a>. </p>
<p>Moreover, scientists debate whether pleasantness and unpleasantness are opposite sides of a continuum, as the feature assumes, or whether they can co-occur as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.05.021">mixed emotions</a>. Measuring pleasant and unpleasant feelings separately would allow users to report mixed feelings, which are common <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145450">in everyday life</a>. </p>
<p>Some research also suggests knowing how pleasant and unpleasant someone is feeling can be used to infer the second fundamental <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000606">dimension of their feelings</a>, namely their <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613475456">level of arousal</a> – such as how “tense” or “calm” they are.</p>
<h1>Feeling categories</h1>
<p><br>
After they have rated the valence of the feelings, Apple’s feature asks users to label their feelings using a list of adjectives such as “grateful”, “worried”, “happy” or “discouraged”. </p>
<p>Do these options capture the breadth of human feelings? The number of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1702247114">unique emotion categories</a> – or whether discrete emotion categories <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2017.12.004">exist at all</a> – is a topic of ongoing <a href="https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/gbqtc">scientific debate</a>. Yet, Apple’s initial list of feeling categories provides pretty decent coverage of this space. </p>
<h2>What are the benefits?</h2>
<p>Apple’s claim that mood and emotion tracking may improve users’ wellbeing is not unfounded. Research has shown monitoring and labelling feelings enhances people’s ability to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.10.092">differentiate between emotions</a>, and helps them <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073917742706">cope with distress</a>. Both of these are key ingredients for healthy psychological functioning. </p>
<p>Beyond that, emerging research suggests that patterns of moment-to-moment fluctuations in people’s everyday feelings may be useful in predicting who is <a href="https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/k5n7c">at risk of developing depression</a> or other mental illnesses. </p>
<p>Apple’s history of <a href="https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-launches-major-mental-health-study-to-discover-insights-about-depression">research collaboration</a> offers hope that tracking people’s feelings on a massive scale may lead to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0121-1">scientific breakthroughs</a> in our understanding, treatment and prevention of common mental health disorders.</p>
<h2>What are the risks?</h2>
<p>At the same time, Apple is asking users to hand over yet more of their personal data – so we can’t overlook the potential pitfalls of the new feature.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/">Apple assures users</a> the Health app is “designed for privacy and security” with <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/pdf/Health_Privacy_White_Paper_May_2023.pdf">a range of safeguards</a>, including data encryption and user control over data sharing. It guarantees health data “may not be used for advertising, marketing, or sold to data brokers”.</p>
<p>This may sound encouraging, but Apple’s data privacy record is <a href="https://gizmodo.com.au/2022/12/10-apple-privacy-problems-that-might-surprise-you/">far from perfect</a>. The company was recently fined by French authorities for <a href="https://gizmodo.com.au/2023/01/apple-fined-us8-5-12-for-illegally-collecting-iphone-owners-data-for-ads/">using customers’ data</a> for targeted advertising without consent. </p>
<p>Detailed data on users’ self-reported moods and emotions could also potentially be used for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/17/emotion-ai-artificial-intelligence-mood-realeyes-amazon-facebook-emotient">advertising products and services</a>, although Apple’s policy currently <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/ios/health/pdf/Health_Privacy_White_Paper_May_2023.pdf">forbids third-party apps</a> from doing this. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://right.ly/our-views-and-opinions/how-your-mental-health-data-and-information-sold-advertisers/">potential for misuse</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/DtHt1BMpCXs">commodification</a> of sensitive mental health data is real, suggesting a <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/consumers-and-data/data-collection-and-use/how-your-data-is-used/articles/mental-health-apps">need for stricter regulation</a> over how companies collect, store and use customers’ data.</p>
<p>Before you dive into using mood and emotion-tracking features, we’d urge you to consider whether <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50585-1_6">the risks</a> outweigh the potential benefits for you.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Update: this article was updated following a response from an Apple spokesperson, to clarify that Apple does not access users’ Health data without their permission, and that third-party apps may not use users’ Health data for advertising or marketing</em>.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210789/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Koval has received funding from the Australian Research Council. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Greg Wadley receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Benjamin Tag and Xanthe Lowe-Brown do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The iPhone already has an accelerometer, gyroscope, light meter, microphone, camera and GPS. Why does Apple now want you to tell it how you’re feeling?Peter Koval, Associate Professor of Psychology, The University of MelbourneBenjamin Tag, Lecturer, Monash UniversityGreg Wadley, Senior Lecturer, Computing and Information Systems, The University of MelbourneXanthe Lowe-Brown, PhD Student, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2112632023-09-06T21:21:02Z2023-09-06T21:21:02ZYour iPhone will soon be able to track your mental health with iOS 17, but what are the implications for your well-being?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546529/original/file-20230905-19-uo066u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=157%2C44%2C4730%2C3263&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A new mood tracker will ask users to rate how they feel both daily and in random moments.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" allowtransparency="" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/your-iphone-will-soon-be-able-to-track-your-mental-health-with-ios-17-but-what-are-the-implications-for-your-well-being" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
<p>When Apple’s <a href="https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2023/06/apple-previews-new-features-coming-to-apple-services-this-fall/">latest software updates</a> drop this month, users will have access to mental <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/apple-provides-powerful-insights-into-new-areas-of-health/">health and wellness</a> features unlike anything currently available in a smartphone. With the Apple Watch and iOS health app, Apple has long striven to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-outlines-health-technology-strategy-new-report-2022-07-20/">cement itself in the health-care tech space</a>. But the new features go beyond the standard heart rate, sleep, calorie and fitness trackers that have become universal in smart tech. </p>
<p>A new mood tracker (dubbed “State of Mind”) will ask users to rate how they feel both in random moments (from unpleasant to pleasant) and daily. Mental health questionnaires will provide users with a preliminary screening for depression (using the <a href="https://doi.org/10.3928/0048-5713-20020901-06">PHQ-9 screening tool</a>) and anxiety (using the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092">GAD-7 screening tool</a>) that can alert them to their risk levels and connect them to licensed professionals in their area.</p>
<p>Finally, Apple is introducing a journaling app that can collect user data from photos, texts, music/gaming/TV history, location, fitness etc. to give users a holistic picture of each day. </p>
<p>Those who use Apple’s <a href="https://research-methodology.net/apple-ecosystem-closed-effective/">ecosystem</a> know that it’s <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/apple-wwdc-ios15-new-features-walled-garden.html">extensive and powerful</a>, and true Apple devotees will use an Apple product for nearly every digital experience they have.</p>
<p>This means Apple is in the position to arrive at unique insights about a user’s life. What they’re proposing in iOS 17 is to essentially hold a mirror up to their users, allowing them to see their lives through their interactions with technology. </p>
<h2>Tracking mental state</h2>
<p>As a philosopher of psychology who studies how technology is changing the way people relate to their mental health, and as an avid Apple fan, I wanted to try out these new features as soon as possible. I downloaded the public beta software in July and want to share my insights about how we might approach this new technology.</p>
<p>The State of Mind tool is simple to use. When opening the Health App after updating to iOS 17, I was prompted to start tracking my mental state. I can choose to log a state at a specific time (for example, how did I feel at 2:30 p.m. today?), or to log my mental state for the day. </p>
<p>The sliding scale of mental states is visually appealing. The screen turns blue when I slide to the “unpleasant” options and orange when I slide to the “pleasant” options. </p>
<p>After settling on a mental state, users are prompted to give some context. </p>
<p>First, there’s a predetermined list of emotions that might describe the user’s mental state (for example, “anxious,” “content,” “happy,” “excited”), and then a list of factors that might be contributing to that mental state (such as “work,” “friends,” “current events”). Here users can write in something specific that will be included in the log. </p>
<p>If they use it daily, users can access a calendar of daily mental states and a graph that visualizes the cycle of states over a given week, month or year. Clicking on any data point will pull up the details of that day, any momentary moods the user logged and the context the user provided. </p>
<p>The user interface functions similarly to the other health metrics Apple already logs. It is a minimalist design that offers easily digestible data. Users can access mental state metrics on the home screen of the app with their other health data. </p>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="A screenshot of the State of Mind graph presented with the author's exercise data over the past month." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=1299&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=1299&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=1299&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1633&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1633&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542365/original/file-20230811-25-7c96ld.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1633&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Mood data can be presented alongside exercise minutes, inviting users to draw conclusions about them.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Owen Chevalier)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When using the mental well-being features, I can’t help but think the introduction of them is a step closer to <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/enhancement">transhumanism</a>, which is the amalgamation of humans and technology, and eventual replacement of the human body with technology. </p>
<p>Instead of just measuring physical fitness (tracking workouts, counting calories), the iPhone and Apple Watch can be holistic measures of me as a person. They can define not only my active life but also my mental life. I can scroll through an Apple-branded definition of who I am. Eventually, I can become the Apple ideal version of myself. </p>
<p>On the surface, it is helpful to see that I often rate days more highly when I’m active and sleep enough (although it doesn’t take AI to know that). However, as a researcher I know that there’s a limit to what data can tell us, based on the measurements we use and our <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-knowledge-social/#SciSoc">biases as interpreters</a>.</p>
<p>I wonder how the average Apple user will interpret this data, and whether they will start shaping their lives to arrive at graphs that look desirable. </p>
<p>The late philosopher Ian Hacking describes a <a href="https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/2043/pba151p285.pdf">looping effect</a> between people and the labels they’re given. Looping effects are prominent in the algorithm-driven software we use. Researchers have found people’s TikTok feeds become <a href="https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2020i0.11172">reflections of their self-concept</a> as they begin to trust the insights AI draws from the feedback they’ve given. </p>
<p>However, TikTok algorithms are not blank slates for self-concept creation. They’re designed to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/05/business/media/tiktok-algorithm.html">put people into marketing categories to sell them to advertisers</a>.</p>
<p>Apple isn’t trying to <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/apple-privacy-data-collection">sell your data</a>; its <a href="https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/pdfs/apple-privacy-policy-en-ww.pdf">privacy policy</a> states, “Apple does not share personal data with third parties for their own marketing purposes.” But its health app reflects its corporate mandates and the world it wants to create. </p>
<p>In an <a href="https://time.com/5472329/apple-watch-ecg/">interview with <em>Time</em></a>, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “Apple’s largest contribution to mankind will be in improving people’s health and well-being.” </p>
<p>Apple is a company of ideals. Compared to traditional computer marketing, which highlights performance specs, Apple pioneered selling computers by advertising who a user can be with a Mac. This was the purpose behind their <a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/441206/today-in-apple-history-its-time-to-think-different/">“Think Different”</a> campaign. Even when Apple does discuss technical details of computer performance, their use of flashy visuals and vague language makes it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6g6rDDt9x8">difficult to accurately assess</a> their products against competitors.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Chart comparing the CPU Performance of Apple's M1 chip against other laptops." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=301&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=301&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=301&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=379&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=379&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545391/original/file-20230829-16-4esk5c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=379&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">While Apple provides graphs like these, they do not provide enough information to be valuable as a comparison tool. Instead, they reflect Apple’s branding and are marketed to users who may not be concerned with the details of computer performance.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2020/11/apple-unleashes-m1/">(Apple)</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The messaging is clear: An Apple user is not just someone who owns a piece of tech, but someone who is cool, creative, colourful and individualistic. Now they can be healthy and well-adjusted, too. </p>
<p>But corporate mandates can be hollow because at their core they exist to increase profits. Apple’s success as a company comes from its ability to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2013.06.003">own the consumer</a>. </p>
<p>With an airtight ecosystem, users become dependent on Apple for all their digital needs. By integrating health into that ecosystem, those users may be dependent on Apple for their well-being too. I’m not sure what happens when people incorporate their Apple self into their self-concept, but it might make them better consumers and more productive employees. Ultimately, this is the goal of <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ca/Documents/about-deloitte/ca-en-about-blueprint-for-workplace-mental-health-final-aoda.pdf">corporate mental health</a>. </p>
<p>Just as spa days and five-minute yoga breaks can only go so far in improving mental health, it’s not clear that iOS 17 is the medical revolution Apple hopes it will be.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211263/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Owen Chevalier does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>New features on Apple iOS 17 aim to give users insights into their mental health, but they may also shape how people see themselves.Owen Chevalier, PhD Student, Philosophy Department, Western UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2073812023-06-15T09:25:13Z2023-06-15T09:25:13ZSuccession is as much about technology as it is about money, power and family<p><em>Warning: the following article contains spoilers.</em></p>
<p>Technology is key to Succession’s tale of the Roy family media dynasty, with the drama playing out on screens within the show and in the homes of the viewers beyond it.</p>
<p>The final series is no exception. This is best illustrated in episode three, Connor’s Wedding. The siblings, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) – Connor (Alan Ruck), as always, is left out – find out through a phone call with Shiv’s husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) that their father Logan (Brian Cox) has suffered a heart attack and that they must say their goodbyes.</p>
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<p>Through technology – Roman’s iPhone and Tom’s Samsung, propped against Logan’s ear – the children share their emotional farewells. This proves one of the more emotional interactions with technology in a series otherwise littered with sterile, often absurd uses of technology. </p>
<p>This includes Kendall pinching to zoom in on a photo of his father’s will, heightening the drama as he seeks to ascertain whether his name has been underlined or crossed out as his successor.</p>
<p>And there are so many memorable tech moments. Gerri’s threat to publicly expose Roman’s “dick pics”. Kendall’s keynote at the Living Plus conference after his father’s death, where doctored footage of Logan haunts his presentation. </p>
<p>Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) stepping in for Tom to lay off ATN employees via Zoom with a brutal lightheartedness. Or PR executive Hugo (Fisher Stevens) being caught out chuckling at the ATN test reel of Kerry (Logan’s mistress), from behind a laptop screen. </p>
<h2>Technology and communication</h2>
<p>In the finale, scenes featuring technology operate in concert with one another. In episode five, Kill List, when the Waystar entourage travel to Norway to finalise the deal with Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård), the Swedes mock them in their native tongue, leaving them humiliated but in the dark.</p>
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<p>However, in the last episode, the tables are turned. Matsson and his sidekick are discussing Tom’s potential to replace Shiv as their future American CEO, not knowing that Greg is eavesdropping using a translation app. The tension is ramped up as Greg stares at the dot, dot, dot of the app while it translates sentence by sentence.</p>
<p>In a series where people rarely say what they think and second-guess everybody else, viewers delighted in the real time voice-to-text translation happening as the Swedes conversed. The dramatic irony is exquisite as the previous conversation, in which Tom makes his “pain sponge” pitch to Matsson, plays itself out. </p>
<p>This information bleeds into the subsequent scene in the Caribbean, where Kendall and Shiv have travelled to see Roman, who has retreated to his mother’s villa following his disastrous attempted eulogy at Logan’s funeral. Kendall receives a call from Greg confirming the intel about Shiv’s exclusion.</p>
<p>After confronting her with the news, she immediately phones Matsson, who does not answer. We listen to the dial tone in anticipation – the interface between information being passed and received, between digital and analogue, between Shiv’s potential triumph and her failure to become CEO.</p>
<p>United behind Kendall in their mission to sabotage the merger, the siblings join Connor at Logan’s apartment to claim his remaining possessions. They adjourn to a private room to review a video recording of their late father attending a dinner.</p>
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<p>A few minutes in, CFO Karl (David Rasche) sings Robert Burns’ Scottish folk melody <a href="http://www.robertburns.plus.com/greengrow.htm">Green Grow The Rashes O</a> – an aural symbol of Logan’s heritage, featured prominently in episode six of season two, Dundee. It is somewhat ironic, given Burns’ song’s message is that men who live only to pursue money and status do not live happy lives.</p>
<p>“You’re butchering it”, barks Logan across the table, as the camera pans to him and then back to Karl, capturing the Scotman’s emotional response in handheld camera work reminiscent of the footage of the opening credit sequence.</p>
<p>Teary-eyed, his children watch on. It’s an interface with the past, with the deceased, through a screen in a moment of nostalgia, reflection, commemoration and memory – for the characters and audiences alike.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/succession-and-scotland-logan-roy-and-the-art-of-nation-branding-204962">Succession and Scotland: Logan Roy and the art of 'nation branding'</a>
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<h2>Succession’s digital culture</h2>
<p>Every episode of Succssion has moments depicting characters interacting with technology such as these. And while technology is, from the start, both the narrative subject and a means of communication, it also plays a key role in forging and involving an online community of fans.</p>
<p>Succession’s digital culture is rife, evidenced by the 89,000 followers of <a href="https://instagram.com/kendallroylookingsad?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">@kendallroylookingsad</a> on Instagram, viral fan theories on TikTok (such as @gigiontherun’s 2021 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/succession-characters-tom-use-samsung-iphone-android-fan-theories-finale-2023-5?r=US&IR=T#:%7E:text=Some%20%22Succession%22%20viewers%20on%20Reddit,in%20the%20show%27s%20final%20season.">iPhone theory</a>), the analysis of the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SuccessionTV/comments/12i5rut/season_4_poster_significance/">season four promotional poster</a> on Reddit and the <a href="https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/458361243/Kendall-Roy-sad-mic">existence</a> of “sad Kendall” meme generators.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs09uTGNRjr/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<p>As I watched the series finale, I was constantly wondering which scenes would become memes, or inspire fan theories and new readings. More cynically, perhaps, I couldn’t help but ponder if the finale baited this very culture, whether through Matsson’s laidback “<a href="https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/succession-season-4-episode-5-lukas-matsson-alexander-skarsgard-style#:%7E:text=His%20uniform%20is%20one%20of,less%20Theranos%2C%20more%20Loch%20Ness.">gorpcore</a>” fashion or Tom placing a red-circle sticker on Greg’s forehead as a signal of ownership. </p>
<p>Checking Instagram on my phone the morning after the finale, there was one memorable standout from Instagram’s @kendallroylookingsad account, showing the defeated son looking out over New York harbour accompanied by the caption: “Sad because Kendall has looked sad for the last time.”</p>
<p>The post says it all – a singular example of technology being used to express feelings on a show which is about technology as much as it is about money, power and dysfunctional family. Succession’s spin-off digital culture is ultimately very meta, revealing how technology was not just a central theme of the show, but a means for fans to interact with it, even after its run has ended.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207381/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michael Samuel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>How technology is central to the show’s most dramatic and pivotal moments – and how it might define its legacy.Michael Samuel, Lecturer in Digital Film & Television, Department of Film and Television, University of BristolLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2015632023-05-25T20:01:06Z2023-05-25T20:01:06ZFriday essay: what the migrant workers who made my iPhone taught me about love<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525790/original/file-20230512-39256-ha5kei.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=63%2C0%2C3167%2C2148&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Ten years ago, a group of images on a popular Chinese <a href="http://fj.sohu.com/20130911/n386381112.shtml">website</a> caught my attention. They showed young rural migrant workers in intimate, though not overtly sexual situations: talking quietly, holding hands, kissing, embracing, or simply sitting close to each other with their limbs intertwined. </p>
<p>These intimate moments all take place in public spaces in the industrial areas of Dongguan, Guangdong Province, where these workers live and work – on the lawn of a park, on a bench by the roadside, at a table outside a snack bar, in a community library, in a public phone booth, on a city street. While some women in the photos wear casual or even sexy clothes, others wear factory uniforms.</p>
<p>As a cultural anthropologist who has spent 20 years studying rural migrant workers in China, I was immediately captivated by these images. I liked their realism. But what intrigued me were the polarised comments about them.</p>
<p>Some were one-liners such as “So sweet”; “How romantic”; “They are so pure and innocent”; “Love doesn’t discriminate against the poor”; “Life is beautiful because love exists.”</p>
<p>Others were harsh. One comment said that Shenzhen and Dongguan were full of “illicit love birds”. Criticism of such intimate acts was also implied in another post, which said “most of these couples are just after sex; love doesn’t really come into it.” One of the comments struck me as particularly judgemental:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>They’re not interested in learning, they have no souls, they give free rein to their bodily urges. They feel no responsibility for themselves, their family, and society. They’re after cheap sexual pleasure. What do they know about love?</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524324/original/file-20230504-23-3u85uq.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Wanning Sun’s decade-long journey into the intimate consequences of inequality among Shenzen’s migrant workers began with a series of photos.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Looking back, I realise it was my initial fascination with this group of photos that started me on a decade-long journey of exploring the intimate consequences of inequality.</p>
<p>I wanted to know what rural migrant workers themselves would make of these images and these polarised responses. I wanted to know what it feels like to go on yet another blind date arranged by their parents, to steal an intimate moment in compromised circumstances, and to endure the stigma of not being able to afford a wife.</p>
<h2>The iPhone and iPad workers of Shenzen</h2>
<p>Driven by these questions, I started my fieldwork in 2015 in the newly created industrial zone of Longhua District in Shenzhen – a manufacturing sector in the Pearl River Delta that is a major employer of China’s rural migrant factory workers.</p>
<p>From 2015 to 2017, I spent an average of one month each year talking to a total of 50 migrant men and women who worked for <a href="https://theconversation.com/foxconns-labour-union-elections-put-chinese-workers-rights-under-the-spotlight-12122">Foxconn</a> in Shenzhen – people who assembled the iPhones and iPads we use. In addition to these in-depth, one-off interviews, I also invited ten workers – five men and five women – to participate in my research over three years, so I could document the changes in their lives. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524328/original/file-20230504-23-v47tvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=523&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The production line at Foxconn, making iPhones and iPads.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kin Cheung/AP</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During this period, I met members of these workers’ families, and spent as much time as possible with them: chatting, cooking, eating, shopping and watching television, or simply “hanging out.” I closely followed the developments in their love lives in 2018 and 2019. To this day, I still communicate with them regularly via WeChat.</p>
<p>The main site of my fieldwork was Village Q, a “village within the city” enclave that lies outside Foxconn’s plant. Inside the village, the smell of food wafts in the street, as does the sound of popular songs lamenting the travails of unrequited love, betrayal and <a href="https://theconversation.com/loneliness-is-a-health-issue-and-needs-targeted-solutions-96262">loneliness</a>. </p>
<p>Spicy aromas of food from Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan fill the nostrils, ameliorating homesickness and gratifying the chilli-loving palates of large cohorts of workers from these provinces. Shops selling lottery tickets, mobile phone accessories and groceries line the streets, as do internet cafes, hair salons, and “accommodation” venues of a dubious nature, selling temporary intimacy at hourly rates. </p>
<p>The streets are littered with promotional material in the form of cards or leaflets advertising myriad goods and services, ranging from “factory girls” who are happy to spend a night with you for a reasonable fee, to clinics offering a “quick and painless abortion.” </p>
<p>Everything migrant workers need for subsistence can be found here. It’s all cheap and cheerful, catering exclusively to workers on a wage of around 3,000 yuan (approximately US$440) a month.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524327/original/file-20230504-23-icu5sy.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Shenzen’s ‘Village Q’</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Wanning Sun</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Each morning, around 7.30, I would see a steady stream of workers hurrying toward the northern and western gates of the Foxconn factory, breakfast in one hand and sleep still in their eyes, afraid to risk having their pay docked for being even a couple of minutes late. </p>
<p>At the same time, another stream of workers going in the opposite direction would emerge from the same gates, dragging their tired bodies after a 12-hour shift, looking pale and numb, heading for bed in their dormitory or rental accommodation. Everyone wore a lanyard with their Foxconn photo ID card hanging from it; no one was allowed to enter or leave the plant without swiping their card.</p>
<h2>‘A very modest dream’</h2>
<p>The rural migrant workers I talked to are often referred to as <em>nongmingong</em>, literally translated into “peasant worker”. Rural migrants can be found in the manufacturing sector, where I conducted this study. They are also in the <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442236776/Subaltern-China-Rural-Migrants-Media-and-Cultural-Practices">construction sector</a>, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Maid-China-Morality-Cultural-Boundaries/dp/0415592194">service and hospitality</a> sector, small businesses, and a wide range of other areas. </p>
<p>Chinese cities cannot function smoothly for a single day without rural migrants. The China’s so-called <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinas-economic-miracle-is-close-to-fruition-but-what-now-for-workers-10926">economic miracle</a> simply would not have been possible without the cheap labour they supply.</p>
<p><em>Nongmingong</em> have become part of urban life since the start of the economic reforms of the 1980s. China’s <a href="http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/202104/t20210430_1816933.html">National Bureau of Statistics</a> finds that as of 2020, there were up to 286 million “peasant workers”. That’s more than ten times Australia’s entire population.</p>
<p>The rural migrants I talked to were born in the 1980s and 1990s. They are the children of the rural migrants who went to the city to seek employment during China’s first two decades of economic reforms. Most of these younger workers have little or no experience in farming. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525800/original/file-20230512-36129-z3np5w.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Most rural migrants Wanning Sun spoke to harbour the ‘very modest dream’ of finding a life partner, and the chance for family and a better life.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>They tend to be better educated and more engaged with urban consumption culture than their parents, but they also feel more stuck, angry and disillusioned – unlike their parents, who had always intended to go back to the village, they generally want to remain in the city. However, they see little hope of doing so, and are often unwilling even to contemplate returning to their native villages.</p>
<p>Most rural migrants I talked to harbour what might seem to be a very modest dream: of finding a life partner, having the chance to start a family, and living with a little more dignity and less discrimination in their often bleak and harsh lives. </p>
<p>Since they still hold rural residential registration status, they have less access to a wide range of socioeconomic benefits – health care, education, housing and employment – than city folk do. This is despite the fact they have lived in the city all their lives, and have spent their youth and prime years contributing to <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-slower-chinese-economic-growth-inevitable-without-internal-reform-170277">China’s economic growth</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-china-does-valentines-day-129420">How China does Valentine's Day</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>‘Without betrothal gift, my family would be embarrassed’</h2>
<p>I first met WJ, a clerical employee at Foxconn, in August 201. WJ comes from a rural village in Henan Province, one of the biggest labour-sending counties in Henan. She was 27 years old, and had been away from home for more than ten years. </p>
<p>WJ’s mother was also a first-generation rural migrant worker. But several years of long hours and night shifts working in a garment factory finally took their toll, and WJ’s mother returned home, nursing a chronic high blood pressure condition. WJ’s only brother had just gotten married and was expecting a baby, so he was living at home for the moment. </p>
<p>At the age of 16, just after finishing middle school, WJ decided to “go out” (<em>chu qu</em> – leave her hometown), since there was nothing to do in the village, and there was no work. The small piece of farming land available to the family brought in little income.</p>
<p>WJ’s story exemplifies the dilemma of being caught between parental opinions and her own desires.</p>
<p>Born in 1988, WJ was aware that many women her age were already married with children. She liked someone she met online, but she was not sure how to proceed. In the eyes of her mother, this potential marriage partner had three strikes against him: he owned no property; he had two younger, unmarried brothers (so he may have needed to support them in the future); and his mother could not help with childcare. And to add the final straw, he may not have been able to afford a betrothal gift, even though the expected betrothal “fee” (<a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2015-11/23/content_22510352.htm"><em>caili</em></a>) from the groom’s family in WJ’s hometown is not high.</p>
<p>Then WJ met S, who had a university degree, and then worked in a company in Shenzhen. WJ hoped to find someone better educated or financially better off than she was.</p>
<p>This traditional preference to “marry up” on the part of female rural migrants explains why, despite the large number of male workers in Foxconn, women still report difficulty in finding “suitable partners”.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525782/original/file-20230512-33099-1sxqpo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">There is a traditional preference to ‘marry up’ on the part of female rural migrants.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even though WJ did not think S was very “handsome”, she felt what he lacked in looks was compensated for by his superior education. While WJ was keen on S, her mother disapproved. S’s mother was mentally ill, and there was not a marital house for the would-be couple. Furthermore, S’s family could not afford to pay betrothal money – an amount of about 100,000 yuan (more than AUD$20,000) – in WJ’s hometown.</p>
<p>The practice of giving “betrothal money” to the bride’s family has survived in China from a much earlier era. WJ was aware that paying a betrothal fee to the bride’s family was a bad “feudal” custom, but it had been done for generations and her family felt it should be followed:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Personally, I don’t care if he has no caili, but I know my family would be embarrassed. What would our neighbours think of us? Everybody else follows the tradition, and who are we to break it? People may say that your daughter is so cheap she’s prepared to go without any betrothal money.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>WJ’s mother put pressure on her to consider a young man who now had a small local business, and whose family was keen to cement the marriage with a handsome amount of betrothal money as well as an engagement ring. </p>
<p>WJ was not in the least interested in that man – “we have nothing in common” – but she was worried that her open defiance might further upset her mother’s health. So, while her mother went ahead and accepted the betrothal money and ring from the other suitor, WJ secretly continued seeing S.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-tv-dating-shows-helped-change-love-and-marriage-in-china-forever-60594">How TV dating shows helped change love and marriage in China forever</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>‘My daughter doesn’t want to talk to me anymore’</h2>
<p>In the married cohort I talked to, MB’s story was fairly common: parents arranging matchmaking, the couple getting married after a few meetings, the relationship falling apart soon after marriage. </p>
<p>After MB married this way and their daughter was born, she and her husband came to work at Foxconn in Shenzhen. Their daughter, four years old at the time I met MB for our first interview in 2015, was being cared for by MB’s mother-in-law back in the village.</p>
<p>At that meeting, MB told me she had not seen her daughter for a couple of years. She could only get leave during the Chinese New Year period, but she could not secure a train ticket because of the high demand during peak seasons. Once, she got up at 4am and queued for three hours, only to find that the tickets for her train home had sold out.</p>
<p>Social media platforms such as QQ and WeChat were useful to connect with her daughter, but only to a limited extent. Her mother-in-law did not know how to use QQ – she did not even have QQ on her phone – so MB could only see her daughter on QQ when her mother-in-law visited relatives. On average, she saw her daughter once every two or three months. But she was sad that her daughter no longer wanted to talk to her.</p>
<p>MB lived in Foxconn’s dormitory, whereas her husband lived in a small rented room near the factory. They seldom saw each other in the factory – it was a huge complex and they worked in different departments. MB went to visit him on Sundays when they both had a day off. She told me that she would help him tidy up his room, wash his clothes, and cook a meal. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525787/original/file-20230512-25-dozci7.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">MB (not pictured) lived in Foxconn’s dormitory and visited her husband in the small rented room where he lived on their shared day off.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>My first guess about their decision to live separately was that it was a way of saving costs. But it wasn’t until I met MB for a second face-to-face interview in the following year that she became more open about her conjugal problems.</p>
<p>They fought all the time, and could not agree on anything, even though she was quite sure there was no other woman in his life. The tension between the couple was not just due to an incompatibility of personalities. They also disagreed about the future. </p>
<p>MB believed they should work as hard as possible while they were still young, and save enough money so that they would not have to work so hard when they eventually went back home. At this stage of her life she also preferred to be living in the city, and did not want to go back home. In comparison, her husband was less enthusiastic about city living, and would not mind going back home.</p>
<p>MB has tried to engineer opportunities for her to talk with her husband.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>His rental room is small – only big enough for a bed – dark and stuffy, so one time I suggested we go out for a walk. So, we went for a walk, and I sensed he was in a much better mood, and for the first time, he talked about some things from his childhood. After that, whenever we had another fight, I’d suggest we get out of his room and go for a walk. But he wouldn’t do that anymore. He said, “That’s just your trick of getting me out so you can discuss our relationship.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>MB knew in theory that she needed to “communicate”, but she said she did not know how to in practice. Nor did she know how to communicate with someone who refused to engage.</p>
<p>MB echoed the sentiments of quite a few migrant women I spoke to, who were eager to talk to their husbands but did not know how to get through to them. An expression that came up frequently in my conversations with migrant women about their partners was “cold violence” (<em>lengbaoli</em>), referring to the absence of physical violence but the presence of aggressive and hostile refusals to engage – in effect, emotional abuse.</p>
<p>Last year, MB told me via WeChat, 11 years since I first spoke to her, that she was finally divorced. She is still working at Foxconn.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/hukou-and-what-birthplace-can-still-mean-for-marriage-in-china-75032">'Hukou', and what birthplace can still mean for marriage in China</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>‘You never get ahead by working hard’</h2>
<p>These conversations made me realise experiences in people’s intimate lives are shaped by differences in gender as well as socioeconomic status. ZB is one of the five men whose love lives I followed, but he was the only one who recently found someone and got married. </p>
<p>When I first met ZB in 2015, he was still single, and he offered this explanation why the odds were against migrant men like him “getting girls”:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>People like us come from the countryside, and we don’t own a house or car, and many of us can’t afford the cost of getting married, including caili. If you’re poor but good-looking, you may have a chance. But then again, if you are that good-looking, you wouldn’t be a worker at Foxconn, would you? </p>
<p>Also, girls like boys who have glib tongues and pay them a lot of attention and shower them with gifts, even though these boys may not have serious intentions. Younger people, those born in the 1990s, tend to have a more casual approach when it comes to girls. Older ones like me who were born in the 1980s are more serious. </p>
<p>I’ve seen too many boys who are honest and want to do the honourable thing by girls, but they’re shy and don’t know how to talk to them. That may not be a problem if you’re loaded with money; your money can talk on your behalf. But what chance do you have if you have no money, you look ordinary, and you don’t know how to talk to girls? Most of the men you see here fit that description, especially those born in the 1980s. </p>
<p>And let’s face it, girls like men who are confident and can sweet talk them, even though they may not be as dependable as the honest, quiet ones. That’s why you see so many lonely souls here – starving for love, sexually frustrated, and feeling lost.</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/525784/original/file-20230512-43932-eabman.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Wanning Sun followed some of China’s so-called ‘leftover men’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>JH is one of the so-called “leftover men” I followed. Born in 1986, JH grew up in a mountain village in southeast of China. When I first met him in 2015 in Shenzhen, he was working 12 hours a day, six days a week at Foxconn plant, assembling iPhones. “That’s one of the iPads we make,” he said, noticing mine.</p>
<p>JH frequently changed jobs during the period of my fieldwork. By August 2019, he was working as a security guard in a hotel. I asked him why he had left his last job making furniture. He told me the company had to lay off many people because of China’s trade war with the United States, and his company faced too much competition from inland factories in Chengdu and Jiangsu, so he had to work more for less pay. He could no longer make enough to support himself.</p>
<p>JH is tall and dark, with a well-chiselled face – my assessment of his good looks was shared by other workers, both male and female. But he had had no luck in finding a girlfriend. In my meetings with him, he was quiet, softly spoken and shy. He found it difficult to strike up a conversation with a stranger. But other migrants who knew him well all commented on his loyalty as a friend. </p>
<p>Unlike those glib-tongued men who “get girls easily”, JH would not ask a girl out even if he was attracted to her, because he feared rejection. Because of this, he lived with a constant sense of failure. Furthermore, he did not believe in wasting time on frivolous affairs:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If I like a girl and want to go out with her, I want to make sure she knows I’m serious. I don’t want to waste her time, or my time. Also, I want to behave responsibly toward the girl. I don’t want to take advantage of her, only to leave her later. I also don’t want to say and do nice things – such as buying her gifts – just to please her and get close to her, with no intention of marrying her. It’s not the right thing to do. I know I’m old-fashioned.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>JH was referring here to some younger rural migrant workers in their twenties, some even as young as their late teens, who “get girls” easily, but have no intention of staying in a relationship with them or getting married.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524341/original/file-20230504-27-e04xvs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Some younger rural migrant workers ‘get girls easily’, but have no intention of staying in a relationship or getting married.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zhan Youbing</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In addition to his loneliness, JH’s sense of failure is exacerbated by a feeling of guilt for letting his parents down:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>They [his parents] sacrificed so much to bring me up, and all they want to see is that I’m married. But I’m not able to give them that. They try not to put too much pressure on me, but I know they’re also under a lot of pressure from neighbours and relatives. I have two sisters and I’m their only son. So, they always try to set me up with a date when I go home. I feel I need to go along with these meetings, but nothing ever comes of them.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In the past, JH had believed that, as long as he was prepared to work hard, he might have been able to change his circumstances. After all these years of job hopping, he remains a source of disposable cheap labour. He earns enough money to survive on, but has nothing left to save, and certainly isn’t acquiring any certified professional skills. Now, he is adamant that “you never get ahead by working hard.”</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/pity-chinas-bare-branches-unmarried-men-stuck-between-tradition-and-capitalism-68592">Pity China's 'bare branches': unmarried men stuck between tradition and capitalism</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Love doesn’t conquer all</h2>
<p>One key message I got from my conversations with workers is that love does not conquer all, as we are often told. Instead, market logic and socioeconomic inequality largely determine the extent of success or failure in the pursuit of dreams and intimate desires on the part of the rural men and women in the study. </p>
<p>My research tells me that although people from all social classes experience “love troubles”, an individual’s capacity to ward off such troubles often depends on their socioeconomic position.</p>
<p>As shown in the polarised responses to the photos discussed earlier, inequality not only shapes how much access people in different classes have to intimacy, it also shapes how their intimate practices are talked about: both by themselves and in public narratives. </p>
<p>For instance, I talked to both young rural migrants and their educated urban counterparts about how they made decisions about wedding photography. Both cohorts considered wedding photography essential to their marriages, but they attached different meanings and significance to this ritual of consumption.</p>
<p>The love lives of the workers are not only personal and individual matters; they are closely related to how the Chinese state governs. Much government funding has gone into research about the lived reality of a large cohort of unmarried and sexually repressed rural migrant men in urban China: mainly because sexual frustration is usually believed to be a law and order issue, and may pose a serious threat to moral order and social stability. The aim, therefore, is largely to find ways of governing vulnerable communities and managing inequality.</p>
<p>I did get to ask workers to comment on those images of lovers in Dongguan: the ones that started me on my ten-year journey of discovery. Their responses were mostly along the lines of “So what?” </p>
<p>To them, what was represented in these pictures was simply their everyday lives: “These are very familiar to me; I see people like this everywhere, all the time.” Some even told me they had “been there and done that” and that “it’s nothing to make a fuss about.” </p>
<p>It’s clear that workers didn’t want people to romanticise their love lives – and nor did they wish to be patronised, judged or censured.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Wanning Sun’s new book, Love Troubles: Inequality in China and its Intimate Consequences, is published by <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/love-troubles-9781350329614/">Bloomsbury</a>, May 2023.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/201563/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>This study was funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant "Inequality in Love - Romance and Intimacy among China's Young Migrant Workers" (ARC DP150103544) </span></em></p>Wanning Sun spent nearly a decade talking to migrant workers at the Apple factory in China’s Shenzhen about their intimate lives – and how their relationships are affected by inequality.Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1905902022-09-14T12:23:49Z2022-09-14T12:23:49ZWhy Apple can hold the line on iPhone prices, as smartphones defy soaring inflation and keep getting relatively cheaper<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/484435/original/file-20220913-3906-odsi4i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=264%2C233%2C3552%2C2495&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Apple chose not to raise prices on its new iPhone.
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/AppleEvent/0f115ebea2b143abb160fad31758d497/photo?Query=iPhone%2014&mediaType=photo&sortBy=arrivaldatetime:desc&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=260&currentItemNo=0">AP Photo/Jeff Chiu</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-january-2022-11644452274">Inflation in the U.S. is surging</a> to near a 40-year high, with prices on food, fuel and pretty much everything seeming to rise more every month. </p>
<p>Smartphones may be an exception.</p>
<p>Apple, for example, recently announced its new versions of the iPhone and other gadgets, and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/07/apples-biggest-iphone-surprise-no-us-price-hikes.html">turned a lot of heads</a> when it said it wouldn’t charge more despite higher costs to make the devices. </p>
<p>This is puzzling because <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2022/05/02/companies-rush-to-raise-prices-while-they-still-can">companies typically raise prices</a> in line with inflation – or at least enough to cover the increased costs of making their products. </p>
<p>Consumer price data tells an even more befuddling story. The latest consumer price index data suggests <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm">smartphone prices are actually down</a> 20.4% in August from a year ago, according to an index released on Sept. 13, 2022. That’s the biggest drop of any detailed expenditure item the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks, and contrasts with the overall 8.3% increase in prices. </p>
<p>What’s going on? </p>
<p>As <a href="http://businessmacroeconomics.com/">an economist</a> teaching <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/">business school students</a>, I enjoy exploring and explaining these economic puzzles. I believe there are two basic explanations – one for the data and another for Apple. </p>
<h2>Why consumer prices on smartphones fell</h2>
<p>The story behind the consumer price index data is easier to explain, if a bit technical. </p>
<p>The 20% drop over the past year isn’t unusual for smartphones. In fact, according to the index, they almost always go down from month to month. Since the end of 2019, smartphone prices have come down a whopping 40%. </p>
<p><iframe id="Avb61" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Avb61/2/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>And though smartphones are showing the biggest drop in the index, tech gear more broadly – from computers to smartwatches – also tend to fall over time. In the previous 12 months, televisions are down 19% and what the government calls <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm">information technology commodities are down 8.8%</a>. </p>
<p>Part of the reason for their steady decline is found buried in the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/telephone-hardware.htm">Bureau of Labor Statistics website</a>. The consumer price index tries to measure a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cpi/data.htm">constant quality</a> of goods and services in the economy. This means it seeks to track the price changes of the exact same set of goods and services each month. It’s comparing the price today with the price of the exact same thing a month or year ago. </p>
<p>For most goods, it’s not really an issue because their quality doesn’t change much over relatively small periods of time. For example, an apple you bite into today is pretty much the same as an apple you ate a year ago. </p>
<p>Smartphones and other technology-heavy gadgets are different. Because smartphones <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/03/05/905500/smartphone-innovation-in-the-third-decade-of-the-21st-century/">are constantly improving in quality</a> – with the latest updates of an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/technology/27apple.html">awaited breathlessly</a> every year – it is more difficult to ensure you’re comparing prices of products of the exact same quality. </p>
<p>For rapidly improving items, the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses what are called “<a href="https://www.bls.gov/cpi/quality-adjustment/questions-and-answers.htm">hedonic regression models</a>” to estimate these changes in quality over time. Hedonic models measure the same amount of satisfaction. While this sounds complicated, the goal is simple: to figure out how much each new smartphone feature changes the price. </p>
<p>As a consumer, you are essentially doing this whenever you decide whether it is worth paying the extra money for that marginally <a href="https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/electronics/iphone-14-should-you-upgrade">better camera or extended battery life</a> when buying a new phone. </p>
<p>And so, the 20.4% drop doesn’t mean you’re going to pay less for a new smartphone. But it does suggest you’re getting 20% more bang for your buck versus the same phone a year earlier. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/08/iphone-14-hands-on/">Whether it’s worth it</a> is another question.</p>
<h2>Why Apple kept prices flat</h2>
<p>That brings us to why Apple didn’t change its prices, even as the quality of the iPhone improved and supply chain costs went up. </p>
<p>Beyond the quality issues, one of the main ways supply chain problems are affecting phones is in the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-08-19/the-chip-shortage-isn-t-over-quite-yet">shortage of computer chips</a>. If there is any product dependent on computer chips, it is smartphones. The shortage has resulted in <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/buying-a-car/global-chip-shortage-makes-it-tough-to-buy-certain-cars-a8160576456/">delays to produce cars, trucks</a> and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-21/chip-starved-firms-are-scavenging-silicon-from-washing-machines">many other consumer items</a>. </p>
<p>The shortage has also increased the price of semiconductor parts. The U.S. government’s producer price index shows the price of <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WPU11784711">semiconductor parts like chips and wafers</a> steadily rising since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, after falling for years. Chip prices <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/technology/articles/2022-05-13/samsung-in-talks-to-hike-chipmaking-prices-by-up-to-20-bloomberg-tv">are likely going up 20% in the next year</a>.</p>
<p>For these and other reasons, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/06/apple-iphone-14-pro-price-bump-expected-over-last-years-models.html">analysts were expecting</a> Apple to increase its prices. </p>
<p>Instead, Apple released its latest iPhone models at the same prices as the last two models, or <a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-14/">US$799 for the iPhone 14</a> and $999 for the pro version. Keeping prices constant during inflationary times means iPhones are getting relatively cheaper.</p>
<p>So why isn’t Apple increasing prices? Is it just being kind to its customers, who have fueled <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/apple-s-5-most-profitable-lines-of-business-4684130">tremendous profits</a> for the company <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/267728/apples-net-income-since-2005/">over the past decade</a>?</p>
<p>Probably not. </p>
<p>With a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/28/apple-price-hikes-and-services-growth-produced-a-42point5percent-gross-margin.html">gross profit margin of over 40%</a> – meaning that’s how much it makes over the cost of producing all its products and services – Apple can probably afford to absorb increased chip and other component costs. </p>
<p>My best guess, since the smartphone market is fairly competitive, is that Apple is keeping prices the same to build market share in the U.S. – <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2022/09/02/iphone-us-market-share/">beyond the record 50% it recently hit</a> – so the iPhone remains <a href="https://www.counterpointresearch.com/global-top-10-smartphones-2021/">one of the best-selling smartphones</a>.</p>
<p>So while the cost of almost everything we buy is rising, you can take some comfort in knowing at least one item is getting both better over time and not succumbing to an inflationary price spiral.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/190590/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jay L. Zagorsky does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Despite the highest inflation rates in 40 years, Apple chose not to raise prices on its gadgets. More bizarre, the consumer price index suggests smartphones are 20% cheaper than a year ago.Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical associate professor, Boston UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1831372022-06-29T00:56:48Z2022-06-29T00:56:48ZThe iPhone turns 15: a look at the past (and future) of one of the 21st century’s most influential devices<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471283/original/file-20220628-24-y2t4bx.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=46%2C0%2C5184%2C3453&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>It is 15 years since Apple released what’s arguably its flagship device: the iPhone. A decade and a half later, there are few products that have managed to reach a similar level of brand recognition.</p>
<p>Announced to an eager audience in 2007, the iPhone has revolutionised how we communicate and even how we live day to day. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MnrJzXM7a6o?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone on January 9 2007.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The large-screen revolution</h2>
<p>The iPhone was released in the United States in June 2007, and in a further six countries in November. </p>
<p>From the launch of Mac computers in the 1970s to the iPod in 2001, Apple already knew how to engage with its audience – and how to encourage extraordinary levels of hype when <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070629165202/">launching a product</a>. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/first-look-test-driving-iphone-102625">Early reviews for the iPhone</a> were almost universally glowing, applauding Apple’s attention to detail and style. The only problem flagged was network connectivity – and this was an issue with slow speeds on phone carrier networks, rather than the device itself.</p>
<p>Consumers’ appreciation of the iPhone’s style was no surprise. It was indicative of an emerging trend towards smartphones with large-format screens (but which still reflected the form of a phone). The Nokia N95 was another such example that hit the market the same year.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="A Nokia N95 with its keypad closed." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=896&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467214/original/file-20220606-16-2tf15.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1126&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The 2007 Nokia N95 had a slide-out keypad.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Asim18/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The original iPhone offered wifi, supported 2G EDGE connectivity and had internet download speeds below 500Kbps (compared to multi Mbps speeds today).</p>
<p>It was also limited to 4GB or 8GB models. This might sound pitiful compared to the 1TB options available today, but it’s enough to hold hundreds of songs or videos and was <a href="https://phys.org/news/2006-03-samsung-unveils-8gb-hard-disk.html">revolutionary</a> at the time. </p>
<h2>The Apple assembly line</h2>
<p>The iPhone 3G was rolled out across the globe in July 2008, with significantly improved data speeds and the addition of the <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/07/app-store-turns-10/">Apple App Store</a>. Even though it offered a mere 500 apps at launch, the app store marked a significant improvement in phone functionality. </p>
<p>And just as users started getting used to 3G, it was superseded by the 3GS about a year later.</p>
<p>This cycle of regularly pushing out new products was critical to Apple’s success. By releasing regular updates (either through whole product iterations, or more minor functionality improvements) Apple managed to secure an enthusiastic audience, eager for new releases each year.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A comparison of iPhone sizes from the iPhone 5S to the iPhone 12" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=165&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=165&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=165&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/467215/original/file-20220606-12-4fbmy9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">iPhone sizes got noticeably larger from the iPhone 5S release to the iPhone 12.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Tboa/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Also, since older products would often be passed down within families, Apple’s product pipeline helped it establish a multi-generational user base. This pipeline continues to operate today.</p>
<h2>New approaches to old ways</h2>
<p>The iPhone family has delivered size, speed and storage improvements over its 15-year history. Some of its “new” features weren’t necessarily new to the market, but Apple excelled at delivering them in highly integrated ways that “just worked” (as founder Steve Jobs would say).</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qmPq00jelpc?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">“It just works” – Steve Jobs (1955-2011)</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In 2013, the iPhone 5S introduced touch ID, which allowed users to unlock their phones with a fingerprint. While this had first been introduced with the <a href="https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/70394/docomo_pushes_handset_fingerprint_authentication/">Fujitsu F505i</a> back in 2003, Apple delivered a robust implementation of the feature. Of course, it wasn’t long before enterprising individuals learnt how to <a href="https://www.ccc.de/en/updates/2013/ccc-breaks-apple-touchid">bypass the mechanism</a>. </p>
<p>The iPhone 8, released in 2017, brought with it the face ID feature. This still had <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2019/08/08/face-id-bypassed-glasses-tape/">weaknesses</a>, but was at least immune to being unlocked with a photo.</p>
<p>Beyond security, the iPhone series has also produced year-on-year improvements in camera technology. While the original model sported a paltry two-megapixel camera, later models featured multiple lenses, with resolution boosted to 12 megapixels – rivalling many digital cameras on the market.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.air-charge.com/our-technology/wireless-charging-smartphone-compatibility/apple-iphone-wireless-charging">Wireless charging</a> was introduced with the iPhone 8 (although preceded by <a href="https://bishoprobeson.xyz/wireless-charger/">Samsung</a> as early as 2011). And the bezel-less design of the iPhone X, released in 2017, built on features found in the <a href="https://www.phonearena.com/news/history-of-the-notch-and-bezel-less-smartphone-design_id105800">Sharp Aquos S2</a> from the same year.</p>
<h2>Controversy</h2>
<p>Nonetheless, the iPhone has not been without problems. The introduction of the iPhone 7 in 2016 saw the removal of the standard 3.5mm headphone socket – and many weren’t happy.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1099022236978237443"}"></div></p>
<p>While an adaptor was initially provided for customers to connect their regular headphones, it was only free for about two years. After that it had to be purchased. In 2016 there were indications of a spike in wireless headphone <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/08/apple-faces-tough-sell-after-scrapping-iphone-7-headphones-jack">sales</a>. Perhaps somewhat conveniently, Apple <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/07/apple-unveiled-the-159-wireless-airpods/">launched its AirPods</a> (wireless Bluetooth earbuds) at the same time.</p>
<p>A similar change came in 2020 with the release of the iPhone 12. Arguing consumers had a multitude of spare devices – and perhaps trying to ride on the green re-use agenda – Apple <a href="https://au.pcmag.com/mobile-phones/83454/no-charger-in-the-box-everything-you-need-to-know-about-charging-the-iphone-12">removed chargers</a> from the unboxing experience.</p>
<p>Users still received a charge cable, but it was a USB-C to lightning cable, whereas previous iPhone chargers would have a USB-A socket (the standard USB port). </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Apple phone cable" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=595&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=595&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471276/original/file-20220628-13-ex91d0.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=595&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">When Apple stopped offering chargers it provided a USB-C to lightning cable, despite older chargers having a USB-A socket.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Apple</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The justification iPhone users would have a box full of old chargers overlooked the fact that none of them would be likely to support the newer and faster USB-C cable.</p>
<p>So you could use your old USB-A to lightning cable and charger to charge your shiny new phone, but you’d be limited to slower charging speeds.</p>
<h2>Future</h2>
<p>If the past 15 years are anything to go by, it’s likely the iPhone will continue with annual product releases (as we write this article many will be anticipating the iPhone 14 <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-14/">due later this year</a>). </p>
<p>These models will probably bring improvements in speed, weight, battery life, camera resolution and storage capacity. However, it’s not likely we’ll be seeing many <em>groundbreaking</em> innovations in the next few years. </p>
<p>The latest iPhones are already highly sophisticated mini computers, which means there’s limited scope for fundamental enhancement.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most radical change will be the shift from Apple’s proprietary lightning connection to USB-C charging, thanks to a <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220603IPR32196/deal-on-common-charger-reducing-hassle-for-consumers-and-curbing-e-waste">new European Union directive</a>. And while a common power connector standard is widely considered a positive move, Apple wasn’t convinced:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We believe regulations that impose harmonisation of smartphone chargers would stifle innovation rather than encourage it. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>As display technologies evolve, Apple may turn to the clam-shell phone design, with a fully <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2022/02/21/apple-exploring-20-inch-foldable-macbook/">foldable display screen</a>. </p>
<p>Samsung has already brought this <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/19/21142728/samsung-foldable-glass-galaxy-z-flip-explained-schott-corning">to the market</a>. But Apple, in true fashion, will likely wait until the technology (particularly the glass) has evolved to deliver an experience in line with what iPhone users have come to expect.</p>
<p>While we can’t predict what the iPhone will look like in another 15 years (although <a href="https://www.wrappz.com/blog/iphone-in-2040/">some have tried</a>), it’s likely the demand for Apple products will still be there, driven by Apple’s strong brand loyalty.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/new-usb-c-charger-rule-shows-how-eu-regulators-make-decisions-for-the-world-184763">New USB-C charger rule shows how EU regulators make decisions for the world</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/183137/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Despite its ‘innovator’ status, Apple usually wasn’t the first one to offer groundbreaking new features. But it knew how to adopt existing features in groundbreaking ways.Ismini Vasileiou, Associate Professor in Information Systems, De Montfort UniversityPaul Haskell-Dowland, Professor of Cyber Security Practice, Edith Cowan UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1789742022-03-28T12:37:04Z2022-03-28T12:37:04ZWhat’s the 411 on the new 988 hotline? 5 questions answered about a national mental health service<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/453115/original/file-20220318-17-4p79jz.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C38%2C8660%2C5717&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The 988 Lifeline will connect callers with specialists trained to assist with mental health crises, including psychotic symptoms and substance abuse. </span> </figcaption></figure><p><em>Beginning July 16, 2022, people struggling with mental health crises can now call 988, a new number focused on providing lifesaving suicide prevention and crisis services. But 988 is not just a shorter, easier-to-remember replacement for the current suicide hotline. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission also established the <a href="https://www.vibrant.org/988/?_ga=2.65114478.1173073332.1648067454-1183345611.1648067454">988 Lifeline</a> to address longstanding concerns in mental health care.</em></p>
<p><em>The Conversation asked Derek Lee, a PhD student at The Ohio State University in Counselor Education and Supervision and a therapist, to explain the new service and how it is different from the old hotline. Lee’s academic and research focus is on suicide, including training, intervention and prevention.</em></p>
<h2>What is 988?</h2>
<p>The three-digit number is part of a new national mental health program. In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/16/2020-16908/implementation-of-the-national-suicide-hotline-improvement-act-of-2018">designated 988</a> as the help line number, and Congress authorized funding <a href="http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=title:42%20section:290bb-36c%20edition:prelim">for the 988 Lifeline Program</a>.</p>
<h2>Can people still call 1-800-273-TALK?</h2>
<p>Sure. The soon-to-be old number has been <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Official_Gazette_of_the_United_States_Pa/LFQbAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=1800273TALK">operational since 2005</a>, but it will not be going away just yet. </p>
<p>July 16 is when 988 went live nationally and callers can also begin using it to call, text or chat.</p>
<h2>What’s wrong with the old number?</h2>
<p>The system behind it, including its <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/our-crisis-centers/">200 call centers</a> currently in the national crisis line network, according to a <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CallCenterMetrics_final.pdf">2019 report on the program</a>. </p>
<p>A major problem is that call centers don’t always have the staff or the technology to handle growing numbers of calls. </p>
<p>Calls that in-state centers are unable to answer get <a href="https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/04/07/988-suicide-prevention-hotline-expected-to-launch-amid-state-concerns/">rerouted to centers out of state</a> through the system’s backup network. This means that the operator may be less familiar with local crises, according to a spokesperson for Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit that administers the crisis line program. Or incoming calls might simply <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CallCenterMetrics_final.pdf">“bunch up,”</a> creating a telephone logjam, and leave callers waiting on hold “too long,” a time period the report does not define.</p>
<p>The report does note, however, that there isn’t a consistent standard for wait times, staffing or other operational aspects of the call centers. State governments regulate them, and they are <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/our-crisis-centers/#section-4">independently operated</a>. </p>
<h2>How will 988 be different?</h2>
<p>That’s unclear. Vibrant hasn’t released specific plans. Congress hasn’t either, but the Behavioral Crisis Services Expansion Act introduced last year requires call centers to “offer <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1902/BILLS-117s1902is.xml">air traffic control-quality</a> coordination of crisis care in real-time.”</p>
<h2>Where will the money come from to pay for all this?</h2>
<p>The shift to 988 comes with funding at the state and federal levels, as well as federal oversight to assure equitable access. Initial <a href="https://www.vibrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Vibrant-988-Planning-Grant-Announcement.pdf">funding is coming</a> through federal channels, including the American Rescue Plan, Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and President Biden’s proposed 2022 fiscal year budget. Most of the long-term funding will come from <a href="https://www.nashp.org/state-legislation-to-fund-and-implement-988-for-the-national-suicide-prevention-lifeline/">individual states</a>.</p>
<h2>Why is all this happening now?</h2>
<p>Much of the discussion began during the pandemic, which really brought <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm">mental health issues</a> to the forefront. A study of 8 million calls to help lines in 19 countries and regions found that call volumes jumped during the initial wave of coronavirus infections. At the six-week peak, the total number of calls was <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-03454-x">35% higher than before</a> the pandemic.</p>
<p>In the U.S., the <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/18/2020-05794/declaring-a-national-emergency-concerning-the-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak">coronavirus national emergency</a> and the widespread lockdown that followed brought nationwide increases in the number of people <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm">struggling with depression</a>, anxiety and other mental conditions. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113676">Alcohol use increased</a>, particularly among women and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14574">college students</a>. </p>
<h2>Who does 988 benefit?</h2>
<p>Anyone who needs help with their mental health, particularly people in crisis. A major goal of the 988 Lifeline is creating equity in mental health services, especially for those who have not always had consistent or reliable access to mental health care.</p>
<p>For example, Vibrant will provide operators who speak both English and Spanish and telephone interpreter service in over 150 additional languages.</p>
<p>One improvement experts would like to see is the implementation of virtual visits with mental health professionals for those who can’t travel to in-person appointments, like people with disabilities or those in rural areas.</p>
<p><em>Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Vibrant Emotional Health’s most recent plans for the 988 Lifeline.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178974/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Derek Lee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>New federally funded mental health help line features easier access and more consistent regulation.Derek Lee, Doctoral Student in Counselor Education and Supervision, The Ohio State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1740732022-02-04T13:28:21Z2022-02-04T13:28:21ZEconomic migration: the root problem is not smugglers but global inequality<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/444122/original/file-20220202-27-1adpxe1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=152%2C39%2C4262%2C2461&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A group of migrants crossing the Channel in a small boat headed in the direction of Dover, Kent.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.alamy.com/a-group-of-people-thought-to-be-migrants-crossing-the-channel-in-a-small-boat-headed-in-the-direction-of-dover-kent-image368232181.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=9CDCC76F-1374-4DA7-BBB3-62ED16187E58&p=309277&n=151&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3Dbar%26st%3D0%26sortby%3D2%26qt%3Dmigrants%2520crossing%2520uk%26qt_raw%3Dmigrants%2520crossing%2520uk%26qn%3D%26lic%3D3%26edrf%3D0%26mr%3D0%26pr%3D0%26aoa%3D1%26creative%3D%26videos%3D%26nu%3D%26ccc%3D%26bespoke%3D%26apalib%3D%26ag%3D0%26hc%3D0%26et%3D0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3D0%26loc%3D0%26ot%3D0%26imgt%3D0%26dtfr%3D20200126%26dtto%3D20240126%26size%3D0xFF%26blackwhite%3D%26cutout%3D%26archive%3D1%26name%3D%26groupid%3D%26pseudoid%3D70857%26userid%3D%26id%3D%26a%3D%26xstx%3D0%26cbstore%3D0%26resultview%3DsortbyPopular%26lightbox%3D%26gname%3D%26gtype%3D%26apalic%3D%26tbar%3D1%26pc%3D%26simid%3D%26cap%3D1%26customgeoip%3DGB%26vd%3D0%26cid%3D%26pe%3D%26so%3D%26lb%3D%26pl%3D0%26plno%3D%26fi%3D0%26langcode%3Den%26upl%3D0%26cufr%3D%26cuto%3D%26howler%3D%26cvrem%3D0%26cvtype%3D0%26cvloc%3D0%26cl%3D0%26upfr%3D%26upto%3D%26primcat%3D%26seccat%3D%26cvcategory%3D*%26restriction%3D%26random%3D%26ispremium%3D1%26flip%3D0%26contributorqt%3D%26plgalleryno%3D%26plpublic%3D0%26viewaspublic%3D0%26isplcurate%3D0%26imageurl%3D%26saveQry%3D%26editorial%3D%26t%3D0%26filters%3D1">Alamy Stock Photo</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Migration has always been a regular feature of human existence, but these days it is more visible – and politicised – than ever. <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2016/05/refugees-welcome-index-shows-government-refugee-policies-out-of-touch/">A 2016 survey</a> found the vast majority of people (80%) would welcome refugees, in agreement with the <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/uk/1951-refugee-convention.html">1951 UN refugee convention</a> that those fleeing wars or at serious risk of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion have the right to cross borders and seek asylum.</p>
<p>However, there is much less consensus about those fleeing poverty to seek a better future. We are all familiar with the <a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/shifting-uk-press-portrayals-of-eu-migrants/">negative narratives</a> about so-called “economic migrants”, “coming to steal our jobs”, “scrounge off the state”, “overburden the system”, or “undermine our culture and values”.</p>
<p>Even those who oppose such misplaced stereotypes may still be uncomfortable with easing border and visa restrictions because of economic concerns. Migrants who attempt to reach other countries by “illegal” means are also often <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-argue-asylum-seekers-arent-irresponsible-for-bringing-kids-to-the-us-15913325">branded “irresponsible”</a> for embarking on dangerous journeys with vulnerable children. </p>
<p>Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers, a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010ldl">recent BBC documentary</a>, looked at the 2019 case of 39 Vietnamese migrants who were found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex. The documentary repeated the popular notion <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-55403058">often promoted by politicians</a> that smuggling gangs are responsible for these tragic deaths. And certainly, migration brokers can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/dec/25/revealed-the-secret-forced-labour-migration-route-from-vietnam-to-the-uk">make a lot of money</a> by supplying illicit transport services in this highly problematic market.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnTBAHUi4Lg?wmode=transparent&start=1370" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>But in <a href="https://youtu.be/SnTBAHUi4Lg?t=1370">another documentary</a> interviewing the families of those victims back in Vietnam, one bereaved father gave a very different perspective. He stated that the reason his son was dead was “because of the currency difference. He went there just for that difference.”</p>
<p>In other words, while smugglers do contribute to undocumented migration, the root cause is actually <a href="https://mixedmigration.org/articles/the-free-market-paradox-is-migration-capitalisms-unfinished-business/">global inequality</a>. This inequality is reproduced and perpetuated by many multinational companies within a wider economic system that serves to directly benefit the most wealthy and, indirectly, industrialised countries, at the expense of others.</p>
<h2>Limited options</h2>
<p>As part of my <a href="https://www.isrf.org/fellows-projects/seb-rumsby/">ongoing research</a>, I have interviewed many undocumented Vietnamese migrants who come to the UK to find work and send money back home. Most of them are from rural provinces that have been “left behind” by the rapid development of Vietnam’s major metropolitan hubs. </p>
<p>A common option in Vietnam involves moving to a big city or industrial zone, to work very long, exhausting shifts at a mega-factory assembling electronics for a salary of around <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-vietnam-idUSKBN12E113">£7-£10 per day</a>. This is relatively well paid compared to the <a href="http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=236&loctype=1">average salary</a> for unskilled workers in Vietnam, which is around £110 a month. </p>
<p>But without a decent education or the right personal connections, it’s impossible to move up the social ladder. Interviewees described this situation as a “dead-end” with no hope for a better future for their children in Vietnam. </p>
<p><a href="https://ipen.org/news/samsung-workers-line%c2%a0unique-report-reveals-lives-vietnamese-women-workers-making-samsung-smart">A report from 2017</a> found workers at a Samsung factory in Vietnam reported extreme fatigue, fainting, dizziness and even miscarriages due to poor working conditions. Samsung has <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/samsung-responds-to-report-on-working-conditions-at-manufacturing-facilities-in-vietnam/">denied these claims</a>, stating that it “takes great care to provide a workplace environment that assures the highest standards of health, safety and welfare”. Following these allegations and an internal audit, Samsung also adopted a “corrective action plan”.</p>
<h2>The bigger picture</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="http://hanoitimes.vn/samsung-vietnam-generates-us43-billion-in-profits-in-2019-311239.html">Samsung has made huge profits</a> in Vietnam. This happens all across the world: multinational corporations take advantage of cheap labour in poorer countries through <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1024529418809067">global supply chains</a>. A 2011 <a href="https://webzoom.freewebs.com/phsworldhistory/AP%20WH%20Unit%20V/Value_iPad_iPhone.pdf">study of an iPhone factory in China</a>, for example, found that Apple only paid 1.8% of the finished product value to the factory workers, while the company reaped an enormous 58.5% in profits. </p>
<p>In response to <a href="http://sacom.hk/2012/05/30/investigative-report-sweatshops-are-good-for-apple-and-foxconn-but-not-for-workers/">separate allegations</a> raised about working conditions in iPhone factories, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49634866">Apple said</a>: “We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain … [and] insist that our suppliers treat workers with dignity and respect.” </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Distribution of value for iPhone." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=365&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=365&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=365&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=458&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=458&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434127/original/file-20211126-23-3mca5.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=458&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Distribution of value for iPhone, 2010.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Distribution-of-value-for-iPhone-2010_fig1_265187229">Kenneth L. Kraemer, Greg Linden, Jason Dedrick</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Since the late 1970s, the richest 1% have <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality">increased their share of global wealth</a> from 23% to <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/distribution-of-global-wealth-chart/">a staggering 43%</a> – with the <a href="https://inequality.org/facts/global-inequality/">wealthiest four people in the world</a> worth more than the entire country of Vietnam. Multinational corporations represent a continuation of historical exploitation and wealth flow from developing countries to <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Companies/HNZA71LNVNNVXQ1eaIKu6M/British-Raj-siphoned-out-45-trillion-from-India-Utsa-Patna.html">Europe under colonialism</a>, which funded the west’s dramatic rise to prosperity in the first place. </p>
<p>In an unequal world, it makes sense for those in poorer countries with limited options to follow the money to a more developed country, find a low-skilled job, work hard and then send some money back home. This may lead Vietnamese migrants to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany – or <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9290379/Dinghy-lands-Kent-coast-men-sling-life-jackets-dash-pebbles.html">all the way to the UK</a>. Such movement, however, is often forbidden, forcing people to risk potentially <a href="https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnamese-man-among-27-migrants-drowned-in-channel-4404632.html">deadly border crossings</a> under the radar. </p>
<h2>Economic migration as justice?</h2>
<p>In our interviews, Vietnamese migrants told me they can earn up to 10 times more by working in a UK nail shop than they could hope to earn back in Vietnam. So it’s not surprising that people would want to try their luck abroad. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Women sit at a nail salon." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/436958/original/file-20211210-92077-100i51m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Vietnamese nail salons have grown rapidly in recent years.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/professional-nail-technicians-performing-manicure-procedure-779132584">BearFotos/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In fact, considering the mass exploitation of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329278381_Migrant_Workers_for_the_Development_of_Industrial_Zones_in_Bac_Ninh_Province_Vietnam">Vietnamese labour</a> by foreign corporations (which has exacerbated global inequality), it could be argued that economic migration is a matter of justice and that it’s only fair and reasonable that migrants should seek a portion of the extracted labour value that should have stayed in Vietnam.</p>
<p>So if we really want to reduce migration, we must treat it as an inevitable by-product of inequality and address the root causes – instead of simply blaming smugglers or washing our hands of the migrants’ plight.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174073/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Seb Rumsby receives funding from the Independent Social Research Foundation.</span></em></p>Perhaps the best way to understand the reasons why people embark on these journeys is to put yourself in their shoes.Seb Rumsby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Politics and International Studies, University of WarwickLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1670352021-09-28T11:57:20Z2021-09-28T11:57:20ZCould Apple’s child safety feature backfire? New research shows warnings can increase risky sharing<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/423189/original/file-20210924-15-6mktob.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6016%2C4007&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Warning labels seem like a good way to keep kids from sharing risky photos, but research data suggests otherwise.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/asian-boy-with-smartphone-royalty-free-image/638004168">Clover No.7 Photography/Moment via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Apple’s plan to roll out tools to limit the spread of child sexual abuse material has drawn praise from some privacy and security experts as well as by child protection advocacy groups. There has also been an <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/08/apple-photo-scanning-plan-faces-global-backlash-from-90-rights-groups/">outcry about invasions of privacy</a>.</p>
<p>These concerns have obscured another even more troublesome problem that has received very little attention: Apple’s new feature uses design elements shown by research to backfire. </p>
<p>One of these new features adds a parental control option to Messages that blocks the viewing of sexually explicit pictures. The expectation is that parental surveillance of the child’s behavior will decrease the viewing or sending of sexually explicit photos, but this is highly debatable.</p>
<p>We <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RoPQHxEAAAAJ&hl=en">are</a> two <a href="https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=7uK_XIEAAAAJ&hl=en">psychologists</a> and a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=r42-hFIAAAAJ&hl=en">computer scientist</a>. We have conducted extensive research on why people share risky images online. Our recent research reveals that warnings about privacy on social media do not reduce photo-sharing nor increase concern about privacy. In fact, these warnings, including Apple’s new child safety features, <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9152698">can increase rather than reduce</a> risky sharing of photos.</p>
<h2>Apple’s child safety features</h2>
<p>Apple announced on Aug. 5, 2021 that it plans to introduce <a href="https://www.apple.com/child-safety/">new child safety features in three areas</a>. The first, relatively uncontroversial feature is that Apple’s search app and virtual assistant Siri <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/10/22613225/apple-csam-scanning-messages-child-safety-features-privacy-controversy-explained">will provide parents and children with resources and help</a> if they encounter potentially harmful material.</p>
<p>The second feature will scan images on people’s devices that are also stored in iCloud Photos to look for matches in a database of child sexual abuse images provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other child safety organizations. After a threshold for these matches is reached, Apple manually reviews each machine match to confirm the content of the photo, and then disables the user’s account and sends a report to the center. This feature has <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-child-protection-features-11628861782">generated much controversy</a>.</p>
<p>The last feature adds a parental control option to Messages, Apple’s texting app, that blurs sexually explicit pictures when children attempt to view them. It also warns the children about the content, presents helpful resources and assures them it is OK if they do not want to view the photo. If the child is 12 or under, parents will get a message if the child views or shares a risky photo. </p>
<p>There has been little public discussion of this feature, perhaps because the conventional wisdom is that parental control is necessary and effective. This is not always the case, however, <a href="https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/do-parental-controls-undermine-trust-kill-creativity-and-stifle-curiosity">and such warnings can backfire</a>.</p>
<h2>When warnings backfire</h2>
<p>In general, people are more likely than not to avoid risky sharing, but it’s important to reduce the sharing that does occur. An <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.5314">analysis of 39 studies</a> found that 12% of young people forwarded a sext, or sexually explicit image or video, without consent, and 8.4% had a sext of themselves forwarded without consent. Warnings might seem like an appropriate way to do so. Contrary to expectation, we have found that warnings about privacy violations often backfire. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZwVT6WnPQY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Teens talk about sharing nude photos.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In one series of experiments, we tried to decrease the likelihood of sharing embarrassing or degrading photos on social media by reminding participants that they should consider the privacy and security of others. Across multiple studies, we have tried different reminders about the consequences of sharing photos, similar to the warnings to be introduced in Apple’s new child safety tools. </p>
<p>Remarkably, <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9152698">our research often reveals paradoxical effects</a>. Participants who received warnings as simple as stating that they should take others’ privacy into account were more likely to share photos than participants who did not receive this warning. When we began this research, we were sure that these privacy nudges would reduce risky photo sharing, but they didn’t. </p>
<p>The results have been consistent since our first two studies showed that warnings backfired. We have now observed this effect multiple times, and have found that several factors, <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3411764.3445258">such as a person’s humor style or photo sharing experience on social media</a>, influence their willingness to share photos and how they might respond to warnings.</p>
<p>Although it’s not clear why warnings backfire, one possibility is that <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2411672">individuals’ concerns about privacy are lessened</a> when they underestimate the risks of sharing. Another possibility is reactance, or the tendency for seemingly unnecessary rules or prompts to <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2411672">elicit the opposite effect from what was intended</a>. Just as a forbidden fruit becomes sweeter, so too might constant reminders about privacy concerns make risky photo sharing more attractive. </p>
<h2>Will Apple’s warnings work?</h2>
<p>It is possible that some children will be more inclined to send or receive sexually explicit photos after receiving a warning from Apple. There are numerous reasons why this behavior may occur, ranging from curiosity – adolescents often <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1363%2Fpsrh.12053">learn about sex from peers</a> – to challenging parents’ authority and reputational concerns, such as being seen as cool by sharing apparently risky photos. During a stage of life when <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.08.002">risk-taking tends to peak</a>, it’s not hard to see how adolescents might find earning a warning from Apple to be a badge of honor rather than a genuine cause for concern.</p>
<p>[<em>Over 110,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletter to understand the world.</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/the-daily-3?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=100Ksignup">Sign up today</a>.]</p>
<p>Apple announced on Sept. 3, 2021 that it is <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-to-delay-iphone-update-that-could-scan-device-for-illegal-content-11630676309">delaying the rollout of these new CSAM tools</a> because of concerns expressed by the privacy and security community. The company plans to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these child safety features. </p>
<p>This plan is not sufficient, however, without also knowing whether Apple’s new features will have the desired effect on children’s behavior. We encourage Apple to engage with researchers to ensure that their new tools will reduce rather than encourage problematic photo sharing.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/167035/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bennett Bertenthal receives funding from NSF and DOD. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Apu Kapadia receives funding from NSF and DoD. He has also received two Google Faculty Research Awards.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kurt Hugenberg receives funding from the NSF and from the NIH.</span></em></p>Studies about warning labels aimed at protecting privacy raise red flags about Apple’s efforts to keep kids from sharing sexually explicit material.Bennett Bertenthal, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana UniversityApu Kapadia, Professor of Computer Science, Indiana UniversityKurt Hugenberg, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1657852021-08-10T18:17:26Z2021-08-10T18:17:26ZApple can scan your photos for child abuse and still protect your privacy – if the company keeps its promises<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/415327/original/file-20210809-13-86rvyi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4158%2C2763&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">If you have an Apple device and upload photos to iCloud, the company will use some clever math to sniff them for instances of child abuse – without actually looking at the photos.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/YF66WGnybqQ">Vinicius "amnx" Amano/Unsplash</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The proliferation of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/28/us/child-sex-abuse.html">child sexual abuse material</a> on the internet is harrowing and sobering. Technology companies send <a href="https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/gethelp/2020-reports-by-esp.pdf">tens of millions of reports per year</a> of these images to the nonprofit <a href="https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/csam">National Center for Missing and Exploited Children</a>. </p>
<p>The way companies that provide cloud storage for your images usually detect child abuse material leaves you vulnerable to privacy violations by the companies – and hackers who break into their computers. On Aug. 5, 2021, Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/child-safety/">announced a new way to detect this material</a> that promises to better protect your privacy.</p>
<p>As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lneZSfIAAAAJ">computer scientist</a> who studies cryptography, I can explain how Apple’s system works, why it’s an improvement, and why Apple needs to do more.</p>
<h2>Who holds the key?</h2>
<p>Digital files can be protected in a sort of virtual lockbox via encryption, which garbles a file so that it can be revealed, or decrypted, only by someone holding a secret key. Encryption is one of the best tools for protecting personal information as it traverses the internet.</p>
<p>Can a cloud service provider detect child abuse material if the photos are garbled using encryption? It depends on who holds the secret key.</p>
<p>Many cloud providers, including Apple, keep a copy of the secret key so they can assist you in <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487">data recovery</a> if you forget your password. With the key, <a href="https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/apple-scans-uploaded-content/">the provider can also match</a> photos stored on the cloud against known child abuse images held by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.</p>
<p>But this convenience comes at a big cost. A cloud provider that stores secret keys might <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5gk73/google-fired-dozens-for-data-misuse">abuse its access</a> <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/12/exclusive-extract-facebooks-engineers-spied-women/">to your data</a> or fall prey to a <a href="https://epic.org/privacy/data-breach/equifax/">data breach</a>.</p>
<p>A better approach to online safety is <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/glossary/end-end-encryption">end-to-end encryption</a>, in which the secret key is stored only on your own computer, phone or tablet. In this case, the provider cannot decrypt your photos. Apple’s answer to checking for child abuse material that’s protected by end-to-end encryption is a new procedure in which the cloud service provider, meaning Apple, and your device perform the image matching together.</p>
<h2>Spotting evidence without looking at it</h2>
<p>Though that might sound like magic, with modern cryptography it’s actually possible to work with data that you cannot see. I have contributed to projects that use cryptography to <a href="https://thebwwc.org/">measure the gender wage gap</a> <a href="https://www.usenix.org/system/files/soups2019-qin.pdf">without learning anyone’s salary</a>, and to <a href="https://www.mycallisto.org/">detect repeat offenders of sexual assault</a> <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ff5d891409193661a0718c0/t/604134db3f35b3501dabfa4a/1614886107693/callisto-cryptographic-approach.pdf">without reading any victim’s report</a>. And there are <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NT_vdxRC8YEPlkQa2KHw22ai9IshyU73/view">many more examples</a> of companies and governments using cryptographically protected computing to provide services while safeguarding the underlying data.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.apple.com/child-safety/pdf/Apple_PSI_System_Security_Protocol_and_Analysis.pdf">Apple’s proposed image matching</a> on iCloud Photos uses cryptographically protected computing to scan photos without seeing them. It’s based on a tool called <a href="https://blog.openmined.org/private-set-intersection/">private set intersection</a> that has been studied by cryptographers since the 1980s. This tool allows two people to discover files that they have in common while hiding the rest.</p>
<p>Here’s how the image matching works. Apple distributes to everyone’s iPhone, iPad and Mac a database containing indecipherable encodings of known child abuse images. For each photo that you upload to iCloud, your device <a href="https://www.apple.com/child-safety/pdf/Expanded_Protections_for_Children_Technology_Summary.pdf">applies a digital fingerprint</a>, called NeuralHash. The fingerprinting works even if someone makes small changes in a photo. Your device then creates a voucher for your photo that your device can’t understand, but that tells the server whether the uploaded photo matches child abuse material in the database.</p>
<p>If enough vouchers from a device indicate matches to known child abuse images, the server learns the secret keys to decrypt all of the matching photos – but not the keys for other photos. Otherwise, the server cannot view any of your photos.</p>
<p>Having this matching procedure take place on your device can be better for your privacy than the previous methods, in which the matching takes place on a server – if it’s deployed properly. But that’s a big caveat.</p>
<h2>Figuring out what could go wrong</h2>
<p>There’s a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLMDSjCzEx8">line in the movie “Apollo 13”</a> in which Gene Kranz, played by Ed Harris, proclaims, “I don’t care what anything was designed to do. I care about what it can do!” Apple’s phone scanning technology is designed to protect privacy. Computer security and tech policy experts are trained to discover ways that a technology can be used, misused and abused, regardless of its creator’s intent. However, Apple’s announcement <a href="https://twitter.com/mattblaze/status/1423474134202437637">lacks information to analyze essential components</a>, so it is not possible to evaluate the safety of its new system.</p>
<p>Security researchers need to see Apple’s code to validate that the device-assisted matching software is faithful to the design and doesn’t introduce errors. Researchers also must test whether it’s possible to fool Apple’s NeuralHash algorithm into changing fingerprints by <a href="https://twitter.com/yvesalexandre/status/1423293697152610314">making imperceptible changes to a photo</a>.</p>
<p>It’s also important for Apple to develop an auditing policy to hold the company accountable for matching only child abuse images. The threat of mission creep was a risk even with server-based matching. The good news is that matching devices offers new opportunities to audit Apple’s actions because the encoded database binds Apple to a specific image set. Apple should allow everyone to check that they’ve received the same encoded database and third-party auditors to validate the images contained in this set. These public accountability goals <a href="https://www.bu.edu/riscs/2021/08/10/apple-csam/">can be achieved using cryptography</a>.</p>
<p>Apple’s proposed image-matching technology has the potential to improve digital privacy and child safety, especially if Apple follows this move by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-fbi-icloud-exclusive/exclusive-apple-dropped-plan-for-encrypting-backups-after-fbi-complained-sources-idUSKBN1ZK1CT">giving iCloud end-to-end encryption</a>. But no technology on its own can fully answer complex social problems. All options for how to use encryption and image scanning have <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/alexstamos/status/1424054544556646407">delicate, nuanced effects</a> on society.</p>
<p>These delicate questions require time and space to reason through potential consequences of even well-intentioned actions before deploying them, through <a href="https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/io/content/e2ee-workshops">dialogue</a> with affected groups and researchers with a wide variety of backgrounds. I urge Apple to join this dialogue so that the research community can collectively improve the safety and accountability of this new technology.</p>
<p>[<em>The Conversation’s science, health and technology editors pick their favorite stories.</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/science-editors-picks-71/?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=science-favorite">Weekly on Wednesdays</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/165785/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mayank Varia receives research grant funding from the National Science Foundation and DARPA. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.</span></em></p>Apple will scan all photos uploaded to the cloud for child sexual abuse without actually looking at the photos. Privacy experts are concerned by the lack of public accountability.Mayank Varia, Research Associate Professor of Computer Science, Boston UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1638512021-07-22T12:27:39Z2021-07-22T12:27:39ZScreentime can make you feel sick – here are ways to manage cybersickness<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411955/original/file-20210719-15-1jltvrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=11%2C5%2C3982%2C3988&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Your devices can trigger symptoms similar to motion sickness.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/man-and-modern-technology-communication-royalty-free-illustration/1063800132">Bakal/Stock via Getty Images Plus</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Do you ever feel like the light of your computer screen is burrowing into your eyes and making your head pulse? Or feel dizzy or nauseous after looking at your phone? While you might think these sensations are just <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146">eye strain</a> or fatigue from looking at your screen for too long, they’re actually symptoms of a condition called <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F107118139704100292">cybersickness</a>.</p>
<p>These issues may seem like a necessary evil with the rise of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-021-09945-9">work from home</a>, remote learning and days spent endlessly scrolling online. But I can assure you as a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Angelica-Jasper">researcher in human computer interaction specializing in cybersickness</a> that there are ways to anticipate and avoid feeling sick from your screens.</p>
<h2>What is cybersickness?</h2>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F107118139704100292">Cybersickness</a> refers to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327108ijap0303_3">cluster of symptoms</a> that occur in the absence of physical motion, similar to motion sickness. These symptoms fall into three categories: nausea, <a href="https://www.nature.com/subjects/oculomotor-system">oculomotor</a> issues and general disorientation. Oculomotor symptoms, like eye strain, fatigue and headaches, involve overworking the nerve that controls eye movement. Disorientation can manifest as dizziness and vertigo. And several cybersickness symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating and blurred vision, overlap categories. These issues can persist for hours and affect sleep quality. </p>
<p>People can experience symptoms of cybersickness through everyday devices like computers, phones and TV. For instance, Apple released a <a href="https://www.macworld.com/article/221315/inside-the-technology-behind-ios-7s-parallax-effect.html">parallax effect on iPhone lock screens</a> in 2013 that made the background image seem like it floated or shifted when a user moved their phone around, which many people found extremely uncomfortable. As it turns out, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/488817">this was because it triggered cybersickness symptoms</a>. <a href="https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/principles/web-design/best-practices-for-parallax-websites/">Parallax scrolling</a> on websites, where a background image remains static while foreground content moves as you scroll, can also elicit these symptoms. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uTIzW5fZn_4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">The parallax effect, commonly deployed in many websites and games to give an illusion of depth, can lead to cybersickness symptoms.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There isn’t total agreement among researchers about why people experience cybersickness. One prevailing idea, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59342-1">sensory conflict theory</a>, hypothesizes that it’s from a mismatch of information perceived by the parts of the body that regulate vision and balance. Your eyes receive information that tells them you’re moving even though your body isn’t. Everyday technology design can trigger this conflict between visual perception and physical experience.</p>
<h2>Cybersickness in virtual and augmented reality</h2>
<p>Cybersickness symptoms tend to be more intense with <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/wired-guide-to-virtual-reality/">virtual reality</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-augmented-reality">augmented reality</a>.</p>
<p>VR refers to technology that entirely blocks your view of the real world and replaces it with an immersive, artificial environment. It’s widely commercially available through popular gaming platforms like Facebook’s Oculus devices and Sony PlayStation VR. VR can result in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00096">severe levels of nausea</a> that increase with duration of use. This can make certain applications and games unusable for many individuals. </p>
<p>AR, on the other hand, overlays a simulated environment onto the real world. These could include head-mounted devices that still allow you to see what’s in front of you or something like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/26/21269862/niantic-pokemon-go-reality-blending-ar-features-release-update">Pokémon Go</a> on your phone or tablet. AR tends toward <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2020.602954">more severe oculomotor strain</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Hand holding up phone playing Pokémon Go" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411946/original/file-20210719-13-ykmglo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">AR games, like Pokémon Go, can cause oculomotor symptoms like eye strain, fatigue and headaches.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Am1io6KusFM">David Grandmougin/Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even if you haven’t used VR or AR devices before, chances are you will <a href="https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5240209/extended-reality-xr-market-by-component">within the next 10 years</a>. A rise in the popularity of AR and VR use will likely trigger a rise in cybersickness symptoms. Market research firm Research and Markets estimates that adoption of these technologies for work, education and entertainment may <a href="https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5240209/extended-reality-xr-market-by-component">grow over 60% and reach over US$900 billion by 2027</a>.</p>
<h2>Cybersickness symptoms could be dangerous</h2>
<p>While cybersickness symptoms may initially appear benign, they can have enduring effects <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0018720811428734">lasting up to 24 hours after device use</a>. This may not seem like a big deal at first. But these lingering symptoms could affect your ability to function in ways that could prove dangerous.</p>
<p>For instance, symptoms like severe headache, eye strain or dizziness could affect your coordination and attention. If these side effects persist while you’re operating a vehicle, it could lead to a car accident. It’s unclear whether the user, software company or some other party would be <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/03/31/tort-lawsuits-against-vrar-companies-when-users-physically-injure-outsiders/">responsible</a> for <a href="https://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2021/01/what-are-the-harmful-effects-of-virtual-reality/">injuries</a> potentially caused by device use and <a href="https://pipself.blogs.pace.edu/2017/02/25/foreseeable-lawsuits-for-virtual-reality/">cybersickness symptoms</a>.</p>
<p>Not much is currently known about how chronic cybersickness affects daily life. Just as there is extreme variability on who is more prone to motion sickness, with some up to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-4008-8">10,000 times more at risk</a>, some people may be more prone to cybersickness than others. Evidence suggests that <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2020.582108">women</a>, those who <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2020.582108">don’t play video games often</a> and people with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/00005537-200403000-00036">poor balance</a> may experience more severe cybersickness.</p>
<h2>Dealing with cybersickness symptoms</h2>
<p>If you are struggling with cybersickness symptoms because you’re using your computer or phone for longer periods, there are ways to help relieve the discomfort. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00332.x">Blue light glasses</a> are designed to block out some of the blue light waves emitted by your device screen that can lead to eye strain and sleep irregularities. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cxo.12798">Zooming in on a screen or using larger font sizes</a> may also help reduce eye strain and make daily work more sustainable. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Person wearing extended reality headset in a library." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/411962/original/file-20210719-19-1cf3jll.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">More people may begin to experience cybersickness symptoms as VR and AR devices become more common in everyday use.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/AplbmIMHwAE">stem.T4L/Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If you’re interested in trying VR and AR applications but are prone to motion sickness, warning indicators, like <a href="https://developer.oculus.com/policy/store-policies/">Oculus Comfort Ratings</a>, can help you know what to expect. Always make sure to <a href="https://www.automate.org/tech-papers/enabling-display-measurement-within-augmented-and-virtual-reality-headsets">visually calibrate devices</a> so your eyes are as comfortable as possible, and use devices only in <a href="https://www.classvr.com/health-and-safety/">open spaces</a> to minimize the risk of injury if you get dizzy and lose your balance. <a href="https://www.classvr.com/health-and-safety/">Take breaks</a> if you start to feel any discomfort.</p>
<h2>Using new technology safely</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-021-09945-9">work-from-home movement</a> has grown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have replaced 9-to-5’s and commutes with sweatpants, bedhead and Zoom meetings. Though the convenience is undeniable, it has also come with an increasing awareness of how difficult it can be to stare at a screen for 40-plus hours a week.</p>
<p>But don’t let cybersickness get you down. As researchers continue to find ways to mitigate and prevent cybersickness across all devices, people may one day be able to enjoy advancements in innovative technologies without feeling dizzy.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/163851/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Angelica Jasper works for Design Interactive, Inc. as a Research Associate. </span></em></p>If you ever felt nauseous, fatigued or disoriented after using your phone or computer, you may be experiencing a condition similar to motion sickness.Angelica Jasper, PhD, PhD Candidate in Human Computer Interaction, Iowa State UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1609942021-05-25T23:44:05Z2021-05-25T23:44:05ZWhat is ‘Other’ in my iPhone storage, why is it taking up so much space and how do I clear it?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/402543/original/file-20210525-17-17ldg34.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6000%2C3988&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>If you’re an iPhone user, check your storage now by selecting Settings, then General and then iPhone Storage.</p>
<p>You’ll probably see a lot of recognisable categories eating up your storage — apps, photos, and so on. But there is one, often rather large category, that may raise concerns: “Other”.</p>
<p>It’s shaded light grey and often represents a significant proportion of the overall storage available.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="iPhone Storage Summary" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=334&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=334&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=334&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401941/original/file-20210520-17-c1dozm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=420&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">There is one, often rather large category, that often raises concerns: ‘other’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What is ‘Other’?</h2>
<p>For more detail, scroll down and tap the “Other” category (right at the end). It doesn’t say much — just that it includes caches, logs and other resources in use by the system. Not very illuminating.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="iPhone Other Storage" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=355&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=355&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=355&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=446&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=446&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401942/original/file-20210520-13-1b3de1d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=446&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Not very illuminating.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Logs are records of actions undertaken on, or by, our phones. A phone may, for example, log that it connected to a WiFi network, established a Bluetooth connection with a device, backed up some data or opened a web page. In most cases, the log files are simple records that do not occupy much space — often only a few megabytes.</p>
<p>Caches, however, can be a much greater problem for clogging up your “Other” storage.</p>
<p>When we stream media such as movies and music on an iPhone, the phone will download as much of the content as possible. One of the main reasons for this is to minimise the dreaded spinning wheel you see when content is buffering.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Buffering media screenshot" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=267&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=267&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=267&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=336&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=336&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/402230/original/file-20210523-13-opaviv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=336&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Nobody wants to see the buffering wheel spin.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>All this content (referred to as a “cache”) needs to be stored somewhere and it rapidly fills up your device.</p>
<p>This cached content extends to a wide range of applications including your web browser (such as Safari, Chrome or Firefox) and apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.</p>
<h2>Why is it taking up so much space?</h2>
<p>While cached data may not seem to need much space, it is surprising how large streamed media content can be – not to mention the image-rich social media apps we love so much.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Facebook app storage" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=181&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=228&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=228&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401944/original/file-20210520-15-14hey4z.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=228&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Here, you can see Facebook is consuming 2.17GB.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Looking through the list of apps and their storage allocations will quickly show how storage is being consumed. In this screenshot above, for example, you can see Facebook is consuming 2.17 gigabytes.</p>
<p>However, if we look on the App store, it says the Facebook app only requires 255.4 megabytes. So somehow the app is occupying an additional 1.9GB. Where is this extra 1.9GB coming from? It’s likely caches of images, videos and other content your phone had to store in it’s own memory storage so you could scroll through Facebook without encountering the dreaded “buffering” spinning wheel.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Facebook app storage requirement" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401945/original/file-20210520-21-1rl1wmb.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=433&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Facebook app only requires 255.4MB.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How do I clear ‘Other’ or get rid of it?</h2>
<p>The most effective solution is also the most radical. To truly minimise “Other” storage, you would need to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-restore-iphone">backup your phone, reset it and, finally, restore</a> your phone from the backup.</p>
<p>This process will remove most of the “Other” storage being used on your iPhone, but takes a bit of time and effort. </p>
<h2>How can I stop it getting so large in the future?</h2>
<p>Unfortunately, cached files will be recreated with most common iPhone usage. But there are some things you can do to reduce storage consumption.</p>
<p>If you’re not keen to reset, try exploring the apps using up cache space on your iPhone.</p>
<p>Social media apps are a good starting point as they often cache lots of images and videos. While most don’t provide an option to delete their cached data, removing and reinstalling the app will remove all cache files.</p>
<p>Another likely culprit is your web browser (typically Safari on most iPhones).</p>
<p>From the Settings menu, scroll down to Safari and select “Clear History and Website Data”. This will remove most cached data associated with your web browser.</p>
<p>If you’re using another browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, repeat the steps with that browser in Settings.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Safari options" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=383&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401946/original/file-20210520-19-hf50f0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=481&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">From the Settings menu, scroll down to Safari and select ‘Clear History and Website Data’</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Great. Any other iPhone storage tips and tricks?</h2>
<p>If you want to keep going, consider removing old SMS and iMessages. </p>
<p>Standard written text messages occupy minimal storage, but photos and videos shared between family and friends can consume significant storage over time. </p>
<p>Under Settings, scroll down to Messages, then to the Message History option. The default is to keep messages “forever”. Changing this to a shorter duration can reduce space requirements considerably.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Messages history options" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=353&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401947/original/file-20210520-21-1em1zza.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The default is to keep messages ‘forever’. Changing this to a shorter duration can reduce space requirements considerably.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A final option is to consider offloading apps. Modern iPhones let you remove infrequently used apps. While this will not necessarily reduce your use of cache storage, it can free up valuable space.</p>
<figure class="align-Centre ">
<img alt="Offloading apps" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=252&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=252&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=252&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/401948/original/file-20210520-19-stk18d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A final option is to consider offloading apps.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There is no simple solution to managing iPhone storage usage. Minimising photos and videos will help, but there is a lot of space allocated to apps and their cached data. </p>
<p>But with careful tending, we can try to keep on top of unexpected storage usage without having to wipe our devices</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/160994/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The most effective solution is also the most radical.Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean (Computing and Security), Edith Cowan UniversityPatryk Szewczyk, Senior lecturer, Edith Cowan UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1568712021-03-11T18:02:52Z2021-03-11T18:02:52ZScrewed over: how Apple and others are making it impossible to get a cheap and easy phone repair<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388980/original/file-20210311-18-1or88po.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=26%2C44%2C5964%2C3952&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>If Apple and other tech companies have their way, it will only become harder to have our phones and other devices repaired by third-party businesses.</p>
<p>Smartphones and many other tech devices are increasingly being designed in ways that make it challenging to repair or replace individual components.</p>
<p>This might involve soldering the processor and flash memory to the motherboard, gluing components together unnecessarily, or using non-standard <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone">pentalobe screws</a> which make replacements problematic.</p>
<p>Many submissions to an Australian “right to repair” <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/submissions#initial">inquiry</a> have called on tech manufacturers to provide a fair and competitive market for repairs, and produce products that are easily repairable. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/issues/repair-issues.pdf">right to repair</a> refers to consumers’ ability to have their products repaired at a competitive price. This includes being able to choose a repairer, rather than being forced by default to use the device manufacturer’s services. </p>
<p>But it seems Apple doesn’t want its customers to fix their <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/evmeya/apple-iphone-right-to-repair-california">iPhones</a> or <a href="https://www.inputmag.com/culture/apples-repair-policies-are-utterly-shameful-and-shouldnt-be-allowed-e-waste-recycling-macbooks-t2">Macbooks</a> themselves. The company has <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/nz85y7/apple-is-lobbying-against-your-right-to-repair-iphones-new-york-state-records-confirm">lobbied against</a> the right to repair in the United States and has <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns">been accused of deliberately slowing down</a> iPhones with older batteries.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/10/16/tech-giants-fight-digital-right-to-repair-bills">Opposition</a> against the right to repair from tech companies is to be expected. Cornering consumers into using their service centres increases their revenue and extends their market domination.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/apple-google-and-fortnites-stoush-is-a-classic-case-of-how-far-big-tech-will-go-to-retain-power-144728">Apple, Google and Fortnite's stoush is a classic case of how far big tech will go to retain power</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>In its defence, Apple has said <a href="https://time.com/4828099/farmers-and-apple-fight-over-the-toolbox/">third-party repairers</a> could use lower quality parts and also make devices vulnerable to hackers. </p>
<p>It also defended its <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/14/apple-defends-iphone-unauthorized-battery-warning-as-a-safety-feature/">battery warning indication</a> as a “safety” feature, wherein it started to alert users if their phone’s replacement battery hadn’t come from a certified Apple repairer. </p>
<p>In the US, Apple’s <a href="https://support.apple.com/irp-program">independent repair provider program</a> grants certain providers access to the parts and resources needed to fix its devices. Independent repair shops in <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-expands-iphone-repair-services-to-hundreds-of-new-locations-across-the-us/">32 countries</a> can now apply, but the scheme has yet to extend outside the US.</p>
<h2>Impact on users</h2>
<p>With the iPhone 12 — the latest iPhone offering — Apple has <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/45921/is-this-the-end-of-the-repairable-iphone">made it even harder</a> for third-party repairers to fix the device, thereby increasing users’ reliance on its own services. </p>
<p>Apple has hiked its <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">repair charges</a> for iPhone 12 by more than 40%, compared with the iPhone 11. It is <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">charging</a> more than A$359 to fix an iPhone 12 screen outside of warranty and A$109 to replace the battery. </p>
<p>Historically, third-party repairers have been a cheaper option. But using a third-party repairer for an iPhone 12 could render some phone features, such as the camera, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/30/21542242/apple-iphone-12-third-party-repairs-ifixit-camera-module-replacement">almost inoperable</a>.</p>
<p>According to reports, fixing the iPhone 12’s camera requires <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/30/iphone-12-camera-repair/">Apple’s proprietary</a> system configuration app, available only to the company’s own authorised technicians. </p>
<p>It’s not just Apple, either. <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/samsungs-galaxy-s20-ultra-is-unsurprisingly-difficult-to-repair">Samsung’s</a> flagship phones are also quite tricky for third-party repairers to fix.</p>
<h2>Impact on environment</h2>
<p>When certain parts for repairs aren’t available, manufacturers will produce new phones instead, consuming <a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking-news/how-do-smartphones-affect-the-environment/48339">more energy and resources</a>. In fact, manufacturing one smartphone <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/science/article/pii/S095965261733233X">consumes</a> as much energy as using it for ten years.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Pile of smashed, discarded smartphones" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388981/original/file-20210311-17-71ym2b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">With smartphones and computers becoming harder and more expensive to repair, consumers may be more likely to dispose of their device when something goes wrong.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As smartphones become harder to repair, electronic waste will grow. Apple and Samsung both cited environmental benefits when they announced they would no longer ship <a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">chargers</a> with their phones. </p>
<p>Yet, they’ve turned a blind eye to the environmental damage that would arise from completely cornering the repair market.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">Apple's iPhone 12 comes without a charger: a smart waste-reduction move, or clever cash grab?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The average Australian home has <a href="https://thinktv.com.au/facts-and-stats/australian-homes-are-experiencing-a-screen-explosion/">6.7 devices</a>, including televisions, personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With diminishing opportunities for repair, the environmental burden from disposing of these devices will increase.</p>
<h2>What is being done?</h2>
<p>Phone giants make it tough for third-party repairers to do their job in a variety of ways. This includes constantly changing designs, adding hurdles to the repair process, and restricting access to parts, diagnostic software and repair documentation. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, consumers are left with broken phones and huge repair bills — and repairers are left with less business.</p>
<p>The fight to remove barriers to repair is gaining momentum outside Australia, too, in countries including <a href="https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/when-will-canadians-have-right-repair">Canada</a>, the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-to-repair-means-spare-parts-for-household-appliances-mr5gmkjxr">United Kingdom</a> and the <a href="https://www.repair.org/legislation">United States</a>. Legislative reforms have been introduced in the <a href="https://repair.eu/news/european-parliament-calls-for-ambitious-right-to-repair/">European Union</a> and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wy8v/newly-passed-right-to-repair-law-will-fundamentally-change-tesla-repair">Massachusetts</a>.</p>
<p>France has introduced a <a href="https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/indice-reparabilite">Repairability Index</a> requiring electrical and electronic equipment companies to inform consumers about their products’ repairability on a scale of one to ten. </p>
<p>This takes into account the ease of repairability, availability and price of spare parts and availability of technical repair documents.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=244&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=244&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=244&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=307&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=307&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388956/original/file-20210311-17-y7ixtf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=307&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">France’s Repairability Index tool is designed to help consumers make informed choices about which device they purchase.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">France Ministry of Ecological Transition</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The path moving forward</h2>
<p>Until the push for right to repair legislative reform gathers pace globally, consumers will have little choice but to pay up to big companies to access their authorised repair services. </p>
<p>If they don’t, they may risk losing their warranty, ending up with a non-functional device and even <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e449c8c3ef68d752f3e70dc/t/5ea8a6d93b485d0feb9b5d6b/1588111098207/Report_RightToRepair_HanleyKellowayVaheesan-1.pdf">infringing</a> upon the manufacturers’ software copyrights.</p>
<p>Ideally, phone companies (and others) would assist users with the repair process by providing replacement parts, repair documentation and diagnostic tools to third-party repairers. </p>
<p>This would also help <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/07/apple-commits-to-be-100-percent-carbon-neutral-for-its-supply-chain-and-products-by-2030/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/environment/">Samsung</a> reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their environmental goals.</p>
<p>Although the way things are going, it’s unlikely tech companies will be able to escape their self-inflicted repair obligations. In the past, Apple CEO Jeff Williams has <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/08/apple-offers-customers-even-more-options-for-safe-reliable-repairs/">said</a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>we believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>But with only so much workforce available even to Apple, sharing the load with smaller repairers will help. </p>
<p>And for consumers’ benefit, the right to repair legislation must be taken seriously, with consistent repairability scores developed across the globe.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/156871/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ritesh Chugh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>By adding excessive hurdles to the repair process and restricting access to parts, big device manufacturers leave both the customer and small repair businesses disadvantaged.Ritesh Chugh, Senior Lecturer – Information Systems and Analysis, CQUniversity AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1555742021-02-18T20:10:03Z2021-02-18T20:10:03ZThe science-fiction scenario of an artificial planet is already here<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385052/original/file-20210218-15-rr16c3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">file gi skg</span> </figcaption></figure><p>On December 9, 2020, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel published a study in the journal <em>Nature</em> titled <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-3010-5">“The global mass produced by man exceeds all living biomass”</a>. The article summary sets the scene:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“We find that Earth is exactly at the crossover point; in the year 2020 (±6), the anthropogenic mass, which has recently doubled roughly every 20 years, will surpass all global living biomass.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Looking around us over a large part of the planet, this observation is not so surprising. There are more than 1 billion automobiles on Earth, several billion smartphones, computers and tablets. There are buildings and roads absolutely everywhere, not to mention the colossal mass of clothing… 7 billion humans, massively equipped, against 3,000 billion trees without any possession.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly then, but to have it scientifically quantified sets off major alarms. The authors drive the point home:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“This quantification, based on its mass, of human enterprise gives a quantitative and symbolic characterisation of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-anthropocene-belongs-to-earth-system-science-64105">Anthropocene era</a> induced by man.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>“Symbolic” may be because weighing the presence of man on the planet through his tracks, his production and his waste has the same effect as weighing oneself: facing a precise and unavoidable figure, without any possible negotiation.</p>
<h2>A tipping point</h2>
<p>The comparison between these two masses, that of the living and that of our objects, warns of the growing domination of humans on the planet. But analysing the importance of mass in this “inert artificial” and living comparison is perhaps not so simple. Mass is not everything: the total mass of all the SARS-CoV-2 viruses in all the human bodies on the planet remains a negligible quantity. Viruses are characterised neither by their mass, nor by their energy, both of which are ridiculous: yet they have major consequences.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, this study has put a tipping point in front of us. This is a new paradigm. Decades ago, we had the comfortable vision of a planet Earth whose infinite resources and spaces would allow it to receive and dilute all types of pollution without damage. Apogee of this conception has probably been with the atmospheric explosion of nuclear weapons in the middle of the 20th century.</p>
<p>The evolution described by this study adds to the list of major changes brought about by environmental upheavals to reveal that we have entered another world, that of the Anthropocene. As British researchers Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams point out in their <a href="https://theconversation.com/anthropocene-human-made-materials-now-weigh-as-much-as-all-living-biomass-say-scientists-151721">article</a> published last December in The Conversation, “the science-fiction scenario of an artificial planet is already here”. This vision of a planet devoured by humans, is common in science-fiction literature and cinema, and underpins many masterpieces: Trantor in Isaac Asimov’s <em>Foundation</em> trilogy, the Death Star in <em>Star Wars</em>, and Alpha in Luc Besson’s <em>Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets</em>.</p>
<h2>Humanity is inseparable from the biosphere</h2>
<p>The world of our constructions and productions does not generate life. It is outside the biosphere. Plants, on the other hand, produce life from inert matter and are at the origin of the food chains on which we depend. To this day, we still eat living species and to stay alive and to nurture children, we cultivate crops and raise livestock.</p>
<p>We have managed to control life on a massive scale in oversimplified situations, in the context of intensive and industrial agriculture and breeding, built on chemistry and technology. But at the same time, we know that essential pollinators are destroyed by our very activity. Yet some people still dream of a future where humanity would control and manipulate life on earth at large scale and in detail, therefore down to the molecular scale. This would complete the ongoing transformation of living species into human resources. But despite our efforts in this direction, we have not managed to emancipate ourselves from living things. The Covid is a proof of this. We will always belong to the biosphere, which will continue to invite itself into our artificial world without our permission.</p>
<h2>Donald Trump and the Covid, the boomerang effect</h2>
<p>The bacteria and viruses that cause pandemics evolve rapidly at the molecular level, and we powerlessly scrutinise their mutations, unable to control the immense complexity of living things.</p>
<p>The return to reality forced by the living was perhaps one of Donald Trump’s greatest surprises during his time as president – he had probably never before experienced such implacable opposition to his will. Of course, there is no intention in a virus, only chemical reactions. Trump is one of the people who had the easiest access to material human power, which is also characterised by an unprecedented global consumption of fossil fuels of more than <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/energy">150,000 TWh per year</a>.</p>
<p>This has not been enough in the face of this virus, on the contrary. Donald Trump didn’t believe the scientists, so the epidemic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWHjWm6Q9lM&ab_channel=KHOU11">deeply frustrated him</a>. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an advisor on the pandemic, had a different point of view: power and influence games in the human world were futile and insignificant because the game was being played in the biosphere.</p>
<h2>Exponential acceleration</h2>
<p>We now have most of the established knowledge we need to look to the future. The <em>Nature</em> publication as well as the studies on climate and the evolution of the biosphere clearly show that this artificial runaway will go quickly – on the scale of human generations. There won’t be any great surprises, at least not on the good-news side. Scientific work will certainly intensify even more under the growing pressure of the consequences: ever more heat waves, ever more violent storms, killer pandemics, mega-fires, water shortages, and dramatic impoverishment of biodiversity…</p>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic has confronted us with the brutality of exponential growth. That of the anthropogenic mass is another. The almost infinitely produced materials began to grow exponentially after World War II. Cars, airplanes, household appliances and digital tools invaded the world at an incredible speed. This progression continues, at a rate that is clearly unsustainable for future generations.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/155574/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Joël Chevrier ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.</span></em></p>A study published in the journal Nature reveals that global mass of goods produced by humankind now exceeds that of all life on earth. This is a stark warning on our growing domination of the planet.Joël Chevrier, Professeur de physique, Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1548232021-02-08T06:11:47Z2021-02-08T06:11:47ZGot an implantable defibrillator or a pacemaker? Keep your iPhone 12 in your trouser pocket, not your shirt<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/382931/original/file-20210208-13-xlbql8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=53%2C0%2C6000%2C3988&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shuttertock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>There are <a href="https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(20)31227-3/fulltext">increasing concerns</a> the new Apple iPhone 12 could interfere with implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers, presenting a risk for people with heart problems.</p>
<p>The issue relates to a particular feature of the iPhone 12 — a new magnetic charging technology called <a href="https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/complete-guide-magsafe-3607036/">MagSafe</a> — which uses magnets to attach wireless charging accessories to the phone. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1357738018363355137"}"></div></p>
<p>Patients with implantable cardiac devices are being warned keeping their iPhone 12 too close to their chest, such as in a shirt pocket or handbag, could cause temporary disruptions to their cardiac device’s functions.</p>
<p>So how does this happen, and what do you need to know if you’ve got both an implanted cardiac device and an iPhone 12?</p>
<h2>First, some background</h2>
<p>Pacemakers, and another type of implantable cardiac device called implantable cardioverter defibrillators, are both used widely in health care.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.svhhearthealth.com.au/procedures/procedures-treatments/pacemaker">Pacemakers</a> have traditionally been used to regulate a person’s heartbeat, particularly if it’s slow.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.svhhearthealth.com.au/procedures/procedures-treatments/implantable-defibrillator">Implantable cardioverter defibrillators</a> regulate the heart’s rhythm in people who experience heart rhythm disorders, such as ventricular arrhythmias. These devices can also deliver <a href="https://heart.bmj.com/content/104/3/230.abstract">defibrillation</a> (a shock) to restore a normal heart rhythm in the event of a sudden, life-threatening arrhythmia.</p>
<p>Implantable cardioverter defibrillators have been shown to improve survival for people with heart rhythm problems, and they’re becoming <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/209/3/implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator-therapy-australia-2002-2015">more common</a> in Australia.</p>
<p>Around <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/may/cardiac-rhythm-management-devices#:%7E:text=There%20are%20approximately%20200%2C000%20pacemakers,cause%20for%20an%20MRI%20scan.">200,000 Australians</a> have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted. It’s also now common to have a dual-function implantable cardioverter defibrillator and pacemaker.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">Apple's iPhone 12 comes without a charger: a smart waste-reduction move, or clever cash grab?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So what’s going on?</h2>
<p>MagSafe was developed with a view to removing the need for charging cables between the phone and the charger. Instead, a ring of <a href="https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/complete-guide-magsafe-3607036/">magnets built around a charging coil</a> inside the back of the iPhone connects the phone magnetically with various charging accessories.</p>
<p>Implantable cardiac devices work by sending electrical impulses to the heart. Magnetic and electrical fields are related — electrically charged particles that <a href="https://www.livescience.com/32633-how-do-magnets-work.html">align in the same direction</a> generate a magnetic field. </p>
<p>Most magnets are made from materials called alloys. Variations in the combination of alloys creates <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/magnet.htm">different types of magnets</a> with different strengths. Ceramic magnets, such as those we use on the fridge, are not particularly strong, so won’t interfere with cardiac devices.</p>
<p>But the magnets inside the iPhone 12 and MagSafe accessories contain <a href="https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/iphone/iPhone_12_PER_Oct2020.pdf">100% recycled rare-earth elements</a>. <a href="https://www.magnetsource.com/pages/rare-earth-magnets">Rare-earth magnets</a> are the strongest type of hard magnets on the market today — and strong enough to cause an interaction between the phone and the cardiac device.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/in-cases-of-cardiac-arrest-time-is-everything-community-responders-can-save-lives-126491">In cases of cardiac arrest, time is everything. Community responders can save lives</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Implantable defibrillators are designed to react with magnets</h2>
<p>When clinicians need to deactivate implantable cardiac devices, they generally use magnets. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators, for example, <a href="https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/179990/ACI-Deactivate-ICDs.pdf">may be deactivated for a range of reasons</a>, including because it’s the patient’s preference, or when they’re nearing the end of their life.</p>
<p>Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators have an inbuilt switch that reacts to externally applied magnetic fields. So clinicians can apply a clinical ring magnet to temporarily deactivate the device. We call this “magnet mode”.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="An x-ray showing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/382960/original/file-20210208-13-11eoqzb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Implantable cardioverter defibrillators can save someone from a life-threatening arrhythmia. But the iPhone 12 could interfere with the device’s functions.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It appears proximity to an iPhone 12 also causes “magnet mode” to kick in. Recently, <a href="https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(20)31227-3/fulltext">a team of cardiologists</a> tested the interaction between the iPhone 12 and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. They noted immediate suspension of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which persisted as long as the iPhone was placed over the left side of the chest, in a shirt pocket. </p>
<p>When an implantable cardioverter defibrillator is in “magnet mode”, it’s reprogrammed to manufacturer settings, and the arrhythmia detection and treatment functions are deactivated or disabled. Temporary pacing modes are not affected, so the implantable cardioverter defibrillator can still increase heart rate if it’s slow. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.medtronic.com/au-en/patients/electromagnetic-guide/frequently-asked-questions.html">Removing the magnet</a> (the iPhone) should return the implantable cardioverter defibrillator to its previous program settings. But even a temporary disruption to this technology could potentially be dangerous.</p>
<p>We haven’t been able to find information describing any real-world cases of interference caused by the iPhone 12, and scientists are yet to test the effect of an iPhone 12 on a pacemaker.</p>
<p>But the evidence we have so far has prompted experts to draw attention to the issue.</p>
<h2>Advice for people with implantable defibrillators and pacemakers</h2>
<p>The Heart Foundation and the Australian and New Zealand Cardiac Device Advisory and Complication Committee have both <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/fresh-warnings-on-apple-iphone-12-magnets-and-implants/news-story/9f091f66d124c74071c6b821af5c0d4b#:%7E:text=Two%20Australian%20cardiac%20focused%20bodies,to%20external%20chargers%20and%20accessories.">warned</a> iPhone 12 users with these implants to avoid placing the iPhone 12 in a top shirt pocket. </p>
<p>Apple has <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211900">acknowledged the issue</a>, recommending iPhone 12 users keep their iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from their implantable cardiac devices. They specify 15cm apart, or more than 30cm apart if the phone is wirelessly charging. </p>
<p>Apple has also recommended patients consult their doctor and device manufacturer for device-specific recommendations.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-diagnosis-how-your-smartphone-or-wearable-device-could-forecast-illness-102385">Digital diagnosis: How your smartphone or wearable device could forecast illness</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>If you have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or a pacemaker, avoid storing your iPhone 12 in the left-hand shirt pocket or in a handbag on your left arm. A pocket in your pants will be safer.</p>
<p>And it’s a good idea to speak with your health-care professional about magnetic sensitivity and your device during your next visit.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/154823/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Caleb Ferguson receives funding from the National Health & Medical Research Council and the Heart Foundation.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rochelle Wynne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The new magnetic charging technology which is a feature of Apple’s iPhone 12 could wreak havoc with implantable cardiac devices. Here’s what we know.Caleb Ferguson, Senior Research Fellow, Western Sydney Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre, Western Sydney Local Health District &, Western Sydney UniversityRochelle Wynne, Director, Western Sydney Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre, Western Sydney UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1481892020-10-16T06:32:25Z2020-10-16T06:32:25ZApple’s iPhone 12 comes without a charger: a smart waste-reduction move, or clever cash grab?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363875/original/file-20201016-15-xi755k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=2%2C25%2C995%2C624&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Apple has released its new smartphone, the iPhone 12, without an accompanying <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/14/21516121/apple-iphone-earpods-wired-headphones-wall-charger-prices-cut-10-dollars">charger or earbuds</a>. Users have <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8840611/Apple-customers-outraged-learning-799-iPhone-12-NOT-include-charger-EarPods.html">harshly criticised</a> the company for this move and will have to purchase these accessories separately, if needed.</p>
<p>While some see it as cost-cutting, or a way for Apple to profit further by forcing customers to buy the products separately, the technology giant said the goal was to <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/10/apple-introduces-iphone-12-pro-and-iphone-12-pro-max-with-5g/">reduce its carbon footprint</a>.</p>
<p>This is the first time a major smartphone manufacturer has released a mobile without a charger. Earlier this year, reports emerged of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/8/21317304/samsung-smartphone-chargers-2021-cost-environment">Samsung</a> considering a similar move, but it has yet to follow through.</p>
<p>But even if abandoning chargers is a way for Apple to save money, the action could have a significant, positive impact on the environment. </p>
<p>Australians, on average, buy a new mobile phone every <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-chuck-that-old-mobile-phone-theres-gold-in-there-52074">18-24 months</a>. In Australia, there are about 23 million phones <a href="https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/phones/">sitting unused</a> — and therefore likely a similar number of accompanying chargers.</p>
<p>Just as single-use shopping bags contribute to plastic waste, unused and discarded electronic appliances contribute to electronic waste (e-waste).</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-chuck-that-old-mobile-phone-theres-gold-in-there-52074">Don't chuck that old mobile phone, there's gold in there</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>You can reuse a shopping bag, so why not your phone charger?</h2>
<p>Just over a decade ago, Australia started to ban single-use plastic bags, starting with South Australia. Today, <a href="https://www.environmentlawinsights.com/2020/04/30/moves-towards-banning-single-use-plastics-in-australia/">every</a> state and territory in Australia has enforced the ban except New South Wales — which intends to do so by the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-to-join-all-other-states-in-banning-single-use-plastic-bags-20200308-p5480b.html">end of 2021</a>. </p>
<p>Since South Australia implemented its ban in 2008, state government estimates <a href="https://www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au/_literature_165559/Life_cycle_analysis_of_plastic_bag_alternatives_(2009)">suggest</a> it has avoided 8,000kg of marine litter each year — and abated more than 4,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>The benefits for the environment have been clear. So, why are we so hesitant to do the same for e-waste? </p>
<h2>E-waste is a real, but fixable, environmental issue</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195925505000466">E-waste</a> includes different forms of discarded electric and electronic appliances that are no longer of value to their owners. This can include mobile phones, televisions, computers, chargers, keyboards, printers and earphones.</p>
<p>Currently there are about 4.78 billion mobile phone users globally (61.2% of the world’s <a href="https://www.bankmycell.com/blog/how-many-phones-are-in-the-world">population</a>). And mobile phone chargers alone generate more than <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20140307IPR38122/meps-push-for-common-charger-for-all-mobile-phones">51,000 tonnes</a> of e-waste per year. </p>
<p>On this basis, the environment would greatly benefit if more users reused phone chargers and if tech companies encouraged a shift to standardised charging that works across different mobile phone brands. </p>
<p>This would eventually lead to a reduction in the manufacturing of chargers and, potentially, less exploitation of natural resources.</p>
<h2>Who needs a charger with an Apple logo anyway?</h2>
<p>Citing an increase in e-waste and consumer frustration with multiple chargers, the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2020-0070_EN.html">European Parliament</a> has been pushing for standardised chargers for mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers, smart cameras, wearable electronics and other small or medium-sized electronic devices. </p>
<p>This would negate the need for users to buy different chargers for various devices. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Electronics 'sprout' from the ground." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363893/original/file-20201016-21-1jg67wf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Digital consumption is on the rise and unlikely to slow down any time soon. Recycling is one option, but how else can tech companies innovate to reduce environmental harm?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Of course, there’s no doubt phone companies want people to regularly buy new phones. Apple themselves have <a href="https://www.vox.com/2017/12/22/16807056/apple-slow-iphone-batteries">been</a> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/02/apple-agrees-to-settlement-of-up-to-500-million-from-lawsuit-alleging-it-throttled-older-phones/">accused</a> of building a feature into phones that slows them down as they get older. Apple responded by saying this was simply to keep devices running as their batteries became worn down. </p>
<p>But even if this is the case, Apple’s decision to ship phones without chargers would still reduce the use of precious materials. A smaller product box would let Apple fit up to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR0g-1hnQPA">70%</a> more products onto shipping pallets — reducing carbon emissions from shipping. </p>
<p>However, it remains to be seen exactly how much this would assist in Apple’s environmental goals, especially if many consumers end up buying a charger separately anyway. </p>
<p>Apple equates its recent “climate conscious” changes to the iPhone 12 with removing <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/10/apple-introduces-iphone-12-pro-and-iphone-12-pro-max-with-5g/">450,000 cars</a> from the road annually. The company has a target of becoming <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-commits-to-be-100-percent-carbon-neutral-for-its-supply-chain-and-products-by-2030/">carbon-neutral</a> by 2030. </p>
<h2>Are wireless chargers the answer?</h2>
<p>It’s worth considering whether Apple’s main incentive is simply to cut costs, or perhaps push people towards its own wireless charging devices.</p>
<p>These concerns are not without merit. Apple is one of the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/19/apple-reaches-2-trillion-market-cap.html">richest companies in the world</a>, with most of its market capital made with <a href="https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/07/apple-q3-2020-results-everything-up/">hardware sales</a>. </p>
<p>Without a shift to a standardised plug-in charger, a wireless charging boom could be an environmental disaster (even though it’s perhaps <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/05/15/2034383/0/en/The-Global-Wireless-Charging-Market-size-is-expected-to-reach-25-6-billion-by-2026-rising-at-a-market-growth-of-28-4-CAGR-during-the-forecast-period.html">inevitable</a> due to its convenience). Wireless charging consumes around <a href="https://debugger.medium.com/wireless-charging-is-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen-48afdde70ed9">47%</a> more power than a regular cable. </p>
<p>This may be a concern, as the sustainability advantages of not including a charger could come alongside increased energy consumption. Currently, the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector is responsible for about <a href="https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/467/20130107/ict-sector-account-2-percent-global-carbon.htm">2% of the world’s energy consumption</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Unused electronic devices in a pile." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363889/original/file-20201016-21-9a8omy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">How many unused devices do you have lying around the house?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The case for a universal plug-in charger</h2>
<p>Perhaps one solution to the dilemma is device trade-in services, which many companies already offer, including Apple and <a href="https://www.samsung.com/au/tradeup/">Samsung</a>.</p>
<p>Apple gives customers a discount on a new device if they <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/trade-in/">trade in their older model</a>, instead of throwing it out. Similar services are offered by third parties such as <a href="https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/deals/trade-in">Optus</a>, <a href="https://www.telstra.com.au/plans-devices/trade-in">Telstra</a>, <a href="https://mobilemonster.com.au/">MobileMonster</a> and <a href="https://www.boomerangbuyback.com.au/">Boomerang Buy Back</a>.</p>
<p>Ultimately, however, the best solution would be for tech giants to agree on a universal plug-in charger for all small or medium-sized electronic devices, including mobile phones. </p>
<p>And hopefully, just as we all now take reusable bags to the grocer with us, in a few years we’ll be able to use a common charger for all our devices — and we’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/apple-releases-fast-5g-iphones-but-not-for-australia-and-were-lagging-behind-in-getting-there-148102">Apple releases fast 5G iPhones, but not for Australia. And we're lagging behind in getting there</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148189/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Apple’s newest release comes without a wall charger and earpods. While the shift could reduce the company’s carbon footprint, users shifting to wireless charging will use more energy.Michael Cowling, Associate Professor - Information & Communication Technology (ICT), CQUniversity AustraliaRitesh Chugh, Senior Lecturer/Discipline Lead – Information Systems and Analysis, CQUniversity AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1481052020-10-15T14:15:16Z2020-10-15T14:15:16ZYoung Nigerians rise up to demand a different kind of freedom<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363397/original/file-20201014-13-yctmvu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Matthew Chattle/Barcroft Media via Getty Image</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Two days after Nigeria celebrated its <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/nigeria-turns-60-hope-despite-anger-over-corruption-poverty">sixtieth</a> year of independence, a <a href="https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/video-how-sars-officials-killed-man-fled-with-his-car-in-delta/">video</a> of a young man brazenly killed by a member of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad or SARS caught the attention of netizens. The Twitter user who posted the viral video claimed the man’s body had been left at the side of the road and his Lexus stolen. It sparked a wave of protests across most of Nigeria’s urban metropolises. Under the moniker <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23EndSARS&src=typed_query">#ENDSARS</a>, the protests have garnered support from Nigerian celebrities, Nigerians in the diaspora and even international <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/13/africa/global-end-sars-protests-nigeria-intl/index.html">stars</a> such as John Boyega, Mesut Özil, Kanye West and Cardi B.</p>
<p>The protests could be said to fit neatly into the ongoing global campaign against police brutality, especially against black people. One could even argue that the restrictive context of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/africa/covid-19">COVID-19</a> pandemic contributed to tensions behind this sudden civil eruption. Whatever the case, one thing is sure: Nigerians have been driven up the wall by an autocratic political system disguised as a liberal democracy. </p>
<p>I argue that the protest placards demonstrate the idea that #ENDSARS on social media and on the streets is as much an expression of a will to modernity by Nigerian youths as it is a yearning to be treated with dignity.</p>
<h2>(Young) Nigerian lives matter</h2>
<p>As a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, SARS was <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-disbanding-the-notorious-anti-robbery-squad-wont-stop-bad-policing-in-nigeria-147934">set up</a> in 1992 to stem armed robbery, car snatching and kidnapping. It appears to have metamorphosed into a <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr44/4868/2016/en/">pernicious</a> force, called out by Amnesty International as early as 2016. In fact, the #ENDSARS hashtag had been in circulation since <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/251453-endsars-nigeria-police-threaten-leader-of-campaign-against-notorious-anti-robbery-squad.html">at least 2017</a> and the Nigerian government has reportedly disbanded and reinstated SARS <a href="https://qz.com/africa/1915472/endsars-young-nigerian-protest-rogue-police-unit/">four times</a> in the past four years. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A young man with a beard displays a placard reading, 'To be young and Nigerian should not be a crime #ENDSARSNOW' as protesters move past in the background." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1008&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1008&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363427/original/file-20201014-13-op5l91.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1008&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Placards highlight young people’s issues.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Akintunde Aiki</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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</figure>
<p>Amid fury at SARS brutality and killings, protesters and <a href="https://endsars.com/experiences-new">online accounts</a> also accuse the police unit of unfairly profiling young Nigerians – especially those who use iPhones, drive luxury cars and wear brands such as Nike or Adidas. The squad is also accused of having maltreated young people with piercings, tattoos and dreadlocks. In other words, Nigerian youths (once scornfully referred to as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3gzjsIcOk">lazy</a> by the nation’s president) are at the forefront of the #ENDSARS revolution precisely because they are commonly the main targets of SARS’ violence. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A man holds up a square white placard reading, '#To be Modern is Not A Crime'" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363457/original/file-20201014-15-1fqm0j6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></span>
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<p>Many of the #ENDSARS placards contain phrases such as, “To be modern is not a crime”; “iPhone, laptops, styled hair and living fresh isn’t a crime”; “We are techies not thieves”. </p>
<p>It is quite absurd that people get arrested and tortured simply because of how they look or what gadgets they possess, but this is the daily reality of many young Nigerians. In my view, the iconic #ENDSARS protest placards flooding social media have wider implications. One of these is that they reveal Nigeria’s ongoing and deep-seated struggle to establish itself as a modern democracy. They also point to a new generation of Nigerians (the ENDSARS generation?) rising to take their place in national affairs. This seemingly courageous and woke crop of young Nigerians use social (and traditional) media to make their voices heard to fight for their country’s endangered democracy.</p>
<h2>To be modern is not a crime</h2>
<p>The placards raise many questions: Why is being modern criminalised in 21st century Nigeria? Why is it so important that Nigerian youths claim their right to be modern? What and whose modernity are they alluding to? These questions may seem peripheral in the face of the daily lived violence young Nigerians are subjected to but they are, in the long run, important.</p>
<p>The demand for the decriminalisation of modern sensibilities in the protests is not necessarily a demand for periodised modernity because, by many standards, Nigeria is a modern country. Also, it is not that SARS is pre-modern in its operation but rather that it is anti-modern in its persuasions. Hence, the expression of the will for modernity in the context of the protests is an ideological and ontological quest for freedom, rationalisation, professionalism and representative democracy as well as rejection of tradition. </p>
<p>The fact that SARS reportedly preyed on signs of ostentatiousness among young people is reflective of Nigeria’s still prevalent embrace of oppressive orthodoxies. It reflects paternalistic social relations and work culture – which extends to the entire Nigerian civil service – that fuel the infantilisation of Nigerian youths. It also partly explains the blanket disavowal of post-traditionalism and the demonisation of the technology and fashion of progressive youth culture. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUjy4Ajny6","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<p>Put differently, the #ENDSARS movement is symbolic of many things, one of which is a generational divide in ideological posturing. The older generation seems intractably establishmentarian while the younger generation is becoming increasingly radical.</p>
<p>Also, at the heart of the issue is the policing of appearance and mannerism. In my view, SARS officers and the Nigerian government in general conflate the aesthetics of modernity – displayed among young Nigerians – with vices such as scamming, debauchery and insolence. The #ENDSARS protest is, among many other things, a yearning by young people to be respected as full human beings. It is also a wilful engagement in acts of civil disobedience as a way of fashioning a truly civil society.</p>
<h2>‘A freedom to be, to do’</h2>
<p>As I write, SARS has been <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/11/africa/nigeria-police-sars-intl/index.html">dissolved</a>. The victory for the protesters came at a price. Some were <a href="http://saharareporters.com/2020/10/12/despite-president-buharis-promise-police-kill-sarsmustend-protester-lagos?fbclid=IwAR3e5MpZwWN6GsSw0M_eIOz5ebBVrdL5g3n8_3deCKaJgpFGbOutFFXG5-4">reported</a> dead and countless others <a href="https://www.trtworld.com/africa/nigerians-protesting-police-brutality-met-with-tear-gas-40453">injured</a> at the hands of the police during the protests. </p>
<p>However, one cannot be celebratory when one considers that SARS has a history of reinventing itself. As we speak, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), a replacement for SARS, has been <a href="https://guardian.ng/news/igp-announces-new-squad-swat-to-replace-sars/">announced</a> to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54531449">displeasure</a> of many Nigerians. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-disbanding-the-notorious-anti-robbery-squad-wont-stop-bad-policing-in-nigeria-147934">Why disbanding the notorious anti-robbery squad won't stop bad policing in Nigeria</a>
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</em>
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<p>The #ENDSARS revolution attests to the idea that the Nigerian people, especially young Nigerians, are capable of challenging the systemic failures and deteriorating public services that plague their country. The #ENDSARS protests (arguably the <a href="https://www.zikoko.com/life/citizen/why-the-endsars-protests-have-been-so-successful/">biggest</a> civil revolt in Nigeria since the time of the last military regime in 1999) are still unfolding. Many hope they will form a social movement that marks the genesis of a long walk to radical change in the structures of governance in Nigeria. </p>
<p>Watching the protests, I am reminded of a scene in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s <a href="https://www.chimamanda.com/book/purple-hibiscus/"><em>Purple Hibiscus</em></a>, a novel which allegorically portrays the repressive regimes of former leaders Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida in Nigeria. In it, the young protagonist, Kambili, longs for a different kind of freedom, “a freedom to be, to do”. In the same manner, the #ENDSARS protest is a yearning for freedom, a freedom to be, a freedom to do.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148105/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sakiru Adebayo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>For young Nigerian protesters on social media and on the streets, #ENDSARS is as much an expression of a will to modernity as it is a yearning to be treated with dignity.Sakiru Adebayo, Research assistant professor, University of British ColumbiaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1481022020-10-15T05:44:19Z2020-10-15T05:44:19ZApple releases fast 5G iPhones, but not for Australia. And we’re lagging behind in getting there<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363599/original/file-20201015-21-1tqph2s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Following in the footsteps of Samsung, Apple has <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-14/apple-iphone-12-launch-5g-charger-headphone-cost-australia/12764668">released</a> its first high-spectrum 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12. But only US customers will benefit.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L01016">High-spectrum 5G</a> uses millimetre-wave frequencies in the 26GHz range (25.1GHz to 27.5GHz). But Australia’s mobile phone networks, although they can access the mid-range 5G spectrum, don’t have access to these high frequencies. </p>
<p>Unlike the US version, the iPhone 12 model for Australia <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/apple-unveils-four-iphone-12-models-with-5g-capability/news-story/00b2f77c5f9b41f4807b83ba6d053f45">lacks</a> the distinct millimetre-wave antenna necessary to access them. In other words, Australians who purchase an iPhone 12 wouldn’t be able to access high-spectrum 5G even if it was available here.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1316123522335412227"}"></div></p>
<p>This is another stark reminder of the effort needed to enable Australia’s “<a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/funding-and-incentives/industry-40">fourth industrial revolution</a>”. Not having high-spectrum 5G available for the public and businesses right now is a letdown and will set the country back as it struggles to recover from a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53994318">recession</a>.</p>
<h2>How did we fall so far behind?</h2>
<p>Using millimetre waves such as the 26GHz frequency range allows massive data transfer capacity over short <a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/weve-smashed-another-speed-record/">distances</a>. </p>
<p>Millimetre waves are what will help US iPhone 12 users reach speeds of up to 4Gbps (gigabits per second). The extra bandwidth will be especially useful in public spaces that require higher data capacity <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/10/apple-announces-iphone-12-and-iphone-12-mini-a-new-era-for-iphone-with-5g/">throughput</a>, such as shopping centres and sport stadiums.</p>
<p>In the US, Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/samsung-galaxy-s20-ultra-review-5g-100x-zoom-camera-120hz-display.html">launched</a> in March, both support millimetre-wave frequencies. But telcos AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile had rolled out the network even before the millimetre wave 5G-capable smartphones were released. Meanwhile, individual customers and businesses in Australia are still limited to 5G in the sub‑6 GHz range.</p>
<p>The higher-frequency 5G technology is currently only available in the US, but has also been assigned in Italy and Finland. Several other <a href="https://www.rcrwireless.com/20200430/5g/global-outlook-mmwave-5g-2020">countries are planning</a> to upgrade soon, including Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Local licenses are also available in the UK. </p>
<p>According to a European Commission report, 15 of the European Union member states, as well as the UK, have already completed at least one <a href="http://5gobservatory.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/90013-5G-Observatory-Quarterly-report-8_1507.pdf">26GHz spectrum auction</a>. And at least one spectrum auction was scheduled for this year for 25 countries, as well as the UK. </p>
<p>On the other hand, the Australian government is planning to <a href="https://www.communications.gov.au/departmental-news/spectrum-allocation-limits-released-5g">auction off</a> the use of the 26GHz frequencies in March next year, for the first time ever. </p>
<p>This leaves us trailing behind. The longer the delays in bringing the millimetre wave spectrum to Australia, the longer we’ll have to wait before benefiting from it.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/no-5g-radiation-doesnt-cause-or-spread-the-coronavirus-saying-it-does-is-destructive-135695">No, 5G radiation doesn't cause or spread the coronavirus. Saying it does is destructive</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Sold to the highest bidder</h2>
<p>Following next year’s scheduled auction, Australians may not be able to experience any 5G millimetre wave connectivity until late 2021, or even <a href="https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/5g-in-australia-what-you-need-to-know">early</a> <a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/weve-smashed-another-speed-record/">2022</a>.</p>
<p>The result will depend on the best business cases put forth by mobile companies during the auction, as well as how they allocate the bandwidth between individuals and business customers. The spectrum will likely be prioritised for industrial use first, before it’s rolled out to residential customers. </p>
<p>That said, if businesses such as manufacturers, sports stadiums, shopping malls, offices and high-rise residential buildings benefit, then individual customers are likely to benefit as well. This is because costs would likely drop and prices would follow. </p>
<p>This was the strategy followed in the US and which Optus has indicated it’s also <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Optus_31.pdf">likely to follow</a>.</p>
<h2>What speed tests in Australia reveal</h2>
<p>During isolated tests in Australia, non-millimetre wave 5G speeds were recorded to be at least 3.9 to 4.6 times faster than 4G, for Optus and Telstra. But this is still slower than the 1Gbps speeds usually associated with <a href="https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2020/08/australia/mobile-network-experience-5g">5G</a>.</p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/world-first-5g-trial-data-call-over-26ghz-mmwave-spectrum/">Telstra report</a> from last month, millimetre-wave tests conducted by the company promised speeds of 4.2Gbps. While this was for a <a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/weve-smashed-another-speed-record/">data call</a>, as opposed to wifi access, these results are positive and on par with what Apple is promising for new iPhone 12 users in the US (but not <a href="https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2020/10/13/21515128/iphone-12-mini-pro-max-mmwave-5g-antenna-window">yet</a> the UK). </p>
<p>Telstra claims it already has live mobile sites that can support millimetre-wave frequencies on its network, ready for deployment. It says it has spent the past 18 months laying the foundations for a millimetre-wave 5G <a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/weve-smashed-another-speed-record/">network</a> to come into use once the frequencies become available.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Apple iPhone 12 promo photo." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/363596/original/file-20201015-23-mdloc0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Apple’s iPhone 12 allows super-fast 5G capability, but so far only in the US.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Apple</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>We’re letting ourselves down</h2>
<p>In today’s age, compounded by a global pandemic and severe economic downturns the world over, it matters whether or not a nation has millimetre-wave 5G. </p>
<p>This technology has been available in the US <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/what-is-5g-heres-what-verizon-att-sprint-and-t-mobile-offer.html">since 2019</a> and its adoption is separating the world’s trailblazers from those trailing behind.</p>
<p>Millimetre-wave frequencies are important for advanced <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308274354_Industrial_wireless_communications_over_the_millimeter_wave_spectrum_Opportunities_and_challenges">manufacturing</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/millimeter-wave">processes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/robot-take-the-wheel-waymo-has-launched-a-self-driving-taxi-service-147908">self-driving vehicles</a>, factory automation and reliable <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/millimeter-wave">communications</a> across hospitals and the (now heavily remotely-operated) educational sector. These are just some areas in which high data capacity is a necessity. </p>
<p>Once millimetre wave-enabled industrial applications are rolled out, we should see customers in high-density public places prioritised for such services, before this trickles down to individuals at home. A focus on boosting business will likely underpin this sequence. </p>
<p>Australia wants to upscale its emerging technologies, research and <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/manufacturing-vision-drives-scott-morrisons-blueprint-for-future/news-story/a877d47e2e39768e48fdc5de15f52765">manufacturing</a> capacity, with a focus on the COVID-19 bounce back. But to do this, we’ll need an even speedier resolution than under normal circumstances. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-5g-the-next-generation-of-wireless-explained-96165">What is 5G? The next generation of wireless, explained</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/148102/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stanley Shanapinda does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Next year’s ‘spectrum auction’ will give telcos a chance to bid for access to high speed, millimetre-wave 5G. But big businesses are likely to be prioritised, not you.Stanley Shanapinda, Research Fellow, La Trobe UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1462272020-09-15T13:38:48Z2020-09-15T13:38:48ZApple is starting a war over privacy with iOS 14 – publishers are naive if they think it will back down<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358122/original/file-20200915-18-kzhy8k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Ten four, let's go to war!</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/new-iphone-apple-installation-screen-ios-1774247336">DANIEL CONSTANTE</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>iPhone users are about to receive access to Apple’s latest mobile operating system, <a href="https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-14-preview/">iOS 14</a>. It will come with the usual array of shiny new features, but the real game-changer will be missing – at least <a href="https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=hx9s63c5&1599152522">until January</a>. </p>
<p>For the first time, <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-14/">iOS 14 is to require</a> apps to get permission from users before collecting their data – giving users an opt-in to this compromise to their privacy. </p>
<p>This caused a major backlash from companies that rely on this data to make money, most notably Facebook. So why did Apple decide to jeopardise the business models of major rivals and their advertisers, and will the postponement make any difference?</p>
<h2>The backlash</h2>
<p>The opt-in is not the only change in iOS 14 that gives users more privacy protection, but it has attracted the most attention. Privacy campaigners will applaud the move, but the reaction from the media business has been mixed. The likes of American online publishing trade body Digital Content Next <a href="https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/mail-online-and-facebook-blast-new-apple-privacy-policy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-08-28&utm_source=PG+Daily+2020+NEW+DESIGN">thought it would</a> potentially benefit members.</p>
<p>But <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/news/preparing-our-partners-for-ios-14-launch">Facebook warned</a> the opt-in could halve publishers’ revenues on its advertising platform, while some publishers are loudly concerned. The owner of UK news site Mail Online, DMG Media, <a href="https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/mail-online-and-facebook-blast-new-apple-privacy-policy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-08-28&utm_source=PG+Daily+2020+NEW+DESIGN">threatened to delete its app</a> from the App Store.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Facebook logo with a silhouette of a padlock" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358123/original/file-20200915-24-u4mkld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=491&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">You are the product.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/london-uk-february-5th-2018-facebook-1018754929">Ink Drop</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Whether publishers win or lose very much depends on their business model and customer base. Publishers’ model of selling their product to consumers and selling space to advertisers has been badly damaged by the internet. All the free content online drove down physical sales, which in turn eroded advertising income. </p>
<p>A few publications, like The Times in the UK, managed to convert readers into online subscribers, but the majority didn’t. Consequently online advertising revenues have <a href="https://digiday.com/media/digiday-research-changing-business-model-publishers-five-charts/">become very important</a> for most publishers – particularly behavioural or targeted advertising, which displays different ads to different viewers of the same page according to factors like their location, browser, and which websites they have visited. The adverts they see are decided by an ad trader, which is often Google. </p>
<p>Despite the importance of behavioural advertising to online publishers, they receive <a href="http://fipp.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/DIS2017_HarvardBusinessSchool_GregPiechota.pdf">under 30%</a> of what advertisers pay. Most of the remainder goes to <a href="https://platformobservatory.eu/app/uploads/2019/10/An-overview-of-the-Programmatic-Advertising-Ecosystem-Opportunities-and-Challenges.pdf">Google and Facebook</a>. </p>
<p>These two companies’ power comes from ad-trading, and because they own many platforms on which publishers’ content is consumed – be it Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or the Google search engine – and sell advertising on the back of the user data. To increase behavioural advertising income on their own sites, publishers are left with either attracting lots of viewers via clickbait or inflammatory content, or attracting difficult to reach, valuable customers via niche content. </p>
<p>Clickbait tends to upset customers, especially highly educated ones, while niche content tends to be too smalltime for large media publishers. The reason some publishers welcome Apple’s move is that it could give them more control over advertising again, not only through selling more traditional display ads but also by developing <a href="https://digiday.com/media/digiday-research-changing-business-model-publishers-five-charts/">other streams</a> such as subscriptions and branded content. </p>
<p>For instance, the New York Times saw <a href="https://digiday.com/media/gumgumtest-new-york-times-gdpr-cut-off-ad-exchanges-europe-ad-revenue/">its ad revenues increase</a> when it ditched targeted ads in favour of traditional online display in Europe in 2018 to get around the <a href="https://theconversation.com/gdpr-comes-with-teeth-here-are-the-winners-and-losers-96375">GDPR data protection</a> restrictions. Conversely, DMG Media’s reaction to iOS 14 is because it collects and sells customer data on the Mail Online app, and also uses content with shock value to attract visitors and advertisers.</p>
<h2>Privacy politics</h2>
<p>Another important factor is the growing signs of <a href="https://hbr.org/2018/01/ads-that-dont-overstep">a pushback</a> against highly targeted advertising. With online users becoming increasingly concerned about online privacy, they are likely <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022435914000669?via%3Dihub">to engage less</a> with ads, which reduces’ publishers’ income. They might also stop visiting sites displaying the targeted ads. </p>
<p>This is particularly true of more educated users, so curbing data collection could help publishers who serve these people. Online advertising <a href="https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/99170">also attracts</a> more clicks when users control their data, so this could be a selling point to advertisers. </p>
<p>More generally, making traditional display advertising more important will benefit large publishers, since they have bigger audiences to sell to advertisers; but also those with clearly defined niche audiences (the Financial Times, say), since they offer a great way for advertisers to reach these people. </p>
<p><a href="https://investor.fb.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2020/Facebook-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2019-Results/default.aspx">Online advertising represents</a> 99% of Facebook revenues, so its resistance is not surprising. Online advertising is <a href="https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/20200204_alphabet_10K.pdf?cache=cdd6dbf">also important</a> to Google revenues, though less so, and Google is also betting on the growing importance of consumer privacy by <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/14/google-wants-to-phase-out-support-for-third-party-cookies-in-chrome-within-two-years/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALxiytyq7EgjPx_JIGGIaCiep8zmgulNkxBjs3xgsss_1-NcKZQo23uvO20hbGHYV8MR7H8ALxSoES7f272SDQtrzV2nKoMtj_5DPkyf4p-_KQXWhF7XF07L6Yx-qt96iVY2woo-gwKpXnFGj7Kv5mJjljA2jJXHAmIoYZF4PGLd">limiting data collection too</a> – for instance, by third-party websites on the Chrome browser. </p>
<h2>Apple’s perspective</h2>
<p>Apple has little to gain here in the short term. It may even lose out if the likes of Mail Online leave the platform. But this is not a short-term move.</p>
<p>Apple wants to be known for a few things, such as user-friendly interfaces. It is also known for not aggressively collecting and exploiting user data, and standing up for consumer privacy. </p>
<p>Following the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cambridge-analytica-scandal-facebooks-user-engagement-and-trust-decline-93814">Cambridge Analytica scandal</a>, which exposed Facebook’s lax privacy practices, Apple CEO <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/apple-ceo-tim-cook-cambridge-analytica-mark-zuckerberg-data-865500">Tim Cook famously said</a> his company would never monetise customers’ information because privacy was a human right. The <a href="https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-14-preview/">iOS 14 uneviling</a> fits this approach. It helps Apple differentiate from competitors. It protects the company from privacy scandals. And it helps develop customer trust. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Tim Cook standing below a sign that says 'liberal'" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/358124/original/file-20200915-22-dta8e2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Privacy pays.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/before-sign-reading-liberal-tim-cook-1071699395">John Gress Media Inc</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Moreover, Apple doesn’t need to exploit customers’ data. <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-reports-third-quarter-results/">Apple’s revenues</a> derive mostly from hardware products and software licences. This business model requires large upfront investment and constant innovation, but is difficult to copy (due to patents, technical capacity and talent) and creates high barriers to entry.</p>
<p>Therefore Apple’s decision to postpone the opt-in until January is not a sign that it might backtrack on the feature. Privacy is core to Apple, and the company’s share of the app market is such that ultimately it is unlikely to feel threatened by some publishers withdrawing. The delay simply makes Apple look reasonable at a time when it is fighting accusations of <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/free-fortnite-faq">monopolistic behaviour</a> and <a href="https://digitalcontentnext.org/blog/2020/08/20/taking-a-bite-out-of-apples-trust-worthy-talking-points/">unfair practices</a>. So publishers should get ready for significant changes in the app ecosystem, whether they like it or not.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/146227/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ana Isabel Domingos Canhoto does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Facebook relies on targeted ads for a large proportion of its income, and reacted with fury over Apple’s new privacy opt-in.Ana Isabel Domingos Canhoto, Reader in Marketing, Brunel University LondonLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1457002020-09-13T19:49:26Z2020-09-13T19:49:26ZBehind the new Samsung Fold: how the quest to maximise screen size is driving major innovation<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357642/original/file-20200911-22-apy4aa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=40%2C209%2C1360%2C702&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Samsung</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>To enlarge a phone, or not to enlarge a phone? That is the question. In the world of flagship smartphones, there seems to be one clear trend: bigger is better. </p>
<p>Manufacturers are trying to strip away anything that might stand in the way of the largest possible slab of screen. There is also growing demand for thinner phones with diminishing <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/bezel-4155199">bezels</a> (the area surrounding a screen). </p>
<p>This trend has now culminated in the latest innovation in smartphone design, the <a href="https://www.t3.com/au/news/best-folding-phones">foldable screen phone</a>. These devices sport thin <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/what-is-oled">OLED</a> self illuminating screens that can be folded in half.</p>
<p>The newest release is the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21427462/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-2-review">Samsung Galaxy Z fold 2</a> – a device that is almost three-quarters screen and has extravagant overtones rivalled only by a hefty <a href="https://www.samsung.com/au/smartphones/galaxy-z-fold2/buy/">A$2,999 price tag</a>.</p>
<p>But to prevent the phones themselves from growing to unwieldy size, manufacturers are having to find ways to balance size with usability and durability. This presents some interesting engineering challenges, as well as some innovative solutions. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A giant, old-style phone" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=472&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357605/original/file-20200911-22-1vlsst9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=593&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Why do we love large phones?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Pixabay</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Internal design complexities of folding phones</h2>
<p>Modern phones still typically use a thin LCD or plastic OLED display covered by an outer glass panel. </p>
<p>Folding displays are a new category that exploit the flexibility of OLED display panels. Instead of simply fixing these panels to a rigid glass panel, they carefully engineer the panel so that it bends – but never quite tightly enough to snap or crack. </p>
<p>Internal structural support is needed to make sure the panel doesn’t crease, or isn’t stressed to the point of creating damage, discolouration or visible surface ripples. </p>
<p>Since this is a mechanical, moving system, reliability issues need to be considered. For instance, how long will the hinge last? How many times can it be <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20898484/samsung-galaxy-fold-folding-test-failure-durability">folded and unfolded</a> before it malfunctions? Will dirt or dust make its way into the assembly during daily use and affect the screen?</p>
<p>Such devices need an added layer of reliability over traditional slab-like phones, which have no moving parts.</p>
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Read more:
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<h2>Large screen, thin phone: a recipe for disaster?</h2>
<p>Each generation of smartphones becomes thinner and with smaller bezels, which improves the viewing experience but can make the phone harder to handle. </p>
<p>In such designs, the area of the device you can grip without touching the display screen is small. This leads to a higher chance of <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/study-19-percent-of-people-drop-phones-down-toilet/">dropping the device</a> – a blunder even the best of us have made. </p>
<p>There’s an ongoing tussle between consumers and manufacturers. Consumers want a large, viewable surface as well as an easily portable and rugged device. But from an engineering point of view, these are usually competing requirements. </p>
<p>You’ll often see people in smartphone ads holding the device with two hands. In real life, however, most people use their phone with <a href="https://www.smartinsights.com/mobile-marketing/mobile-design/research-on-mobile-interaction-behaviour-and-design/">one</a> <a href="https://alistapart.com/article/how-we-hold-our-gadgets/">hand</a>. </p>
<p>Thus, the shift towards larger, thinner phones has also given rise to a boom in demand for assistive tools attached to the back, such as <a href="https://www.androidcentral.com/best-popsockets">pop-out grips and phone rings</a>.</p>
<p>In trying to maximise screen size, smartphone developers also have to account for interruptions in the display, such as the placement of cameras, laser scanners (for face or object identification), proximity sensors and speakers. All are placed to minimise visual intrusion.</p>
<h2>Now you see it, now you don’t</h2>
<p>In the engineering world, to measure the physical world you need either cameras or sensors, such as in a fingerprint scanner. </p>
<p>With the race to increase the real estate space on screens, typically these cameras and scanners are placed somewhere around the screen. But they take up valuable space.</p>
<p>This is why we’ve recently seen tricks to carve out more space for them, such as <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/this-is-the-worlds-first-smartphone-where-half-the-screen-is-a-fingerprint-scanner">pop up</a> cameras and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=phone+screen+hole+for+camera&source=lmns&bih=598&biw=1280&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU871AU871&safe=active&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXvcyoveDrAhUwhUsFHXvqBYMQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA">punch-hole</a> cameras, in which the camera sits in a cutout hole allowing the display to extend to the corners. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Front view of Samsun Galaxy Note 10." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=439&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=439&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=439&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357640/original/file-20200911-18-r1bxyk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Samsun Galaxy Note 10 has a centered punch hole front-facing camera.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Samsung</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But another fantastic place for sensors is right in front of us: the screen. Or more specifically, under the screen.</p>
<p>Samsung is one company that has suggested placing selfie-cameras and fingerprint readers behind the screen. But how do you capture a photo or a face image through a layer of screen? </p>
<p>Up until recently, this has been put in the “too hard basket”. But that is changing: Xiaomi, Huawei and <a href="https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/262497-samsung-patent-shows-phone-camera-inside-display">Samsung</a> all have patents for <a href="https://www.phonearena.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s21-s30-under-display-camera_id125174">under-display cameras</a>.</p>
<p>There are a range of ways to do this, from allowing a camera to see through the screen, to using <a href="https://www.rp-photonics.com/microlenses.html">microlenses</a> and camera pixels distributed throughout the display itself – similar to an insect’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect/Nervous-system#ref250944">compound eye</a>. </p>
<p>In either case, the general engineering challenge is to implement the feature in a way that doesn’t impact screen image quality, nor majorly affect camera resolution or colour accuracy.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Close up of an insect's compound eyes" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/357639/original/file-20200911-20-1vwk072.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Insects have compound eyes. These are made up of repeating units called the ommatidia, sometimes with thousands in each eye. Each ommatidia is a separate visual receptor.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Laptops in our pockets</h2>
<p>With up to 3.8 billion smartphone users <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/">expected by 2021</a>, mobile computing is a primary consumer technology area seeing significant growth and investment.</p>
<p>One driver for this is the professional market, where larger mobile devices allow more efficient on-the-go business transactions. The second market is individuals who who <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/779/mobile-internet/"><em>only</em> have a mobile device</a> and no laptop or desktop computer.</p>
<p>It’s all about choice, but also functionality. Whatever you choose has to get the job done, support a positive user experience, but also survive the rigours of the real world.</p>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/145700/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Andrew Maxwell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2 is almost three-quarters screen. And while that’s convenient, it’s important to actually be able to hold the phone. As design evolves, how do manufacturers adapt?Andrew Maxwell, Senior Lecturer, University of Southern QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1412932020-06-25T03:40:19Z2020-06-25T03:40:19ZLatest updates: Apple is trying to reclaim its major innovator status (by making you wash your hands)<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/343901/original/file-20200625-190498-1f76hks.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=2%2C5%2C1954%2C1094&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Apple</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Market commentators view Apple’s announcements at this week’s <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2020/">Worldwide Developers Conference 2020</a> (WWDC) as one of the company’s most <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-stock-rises-to-yet-another-record-as-focus-on-integration-across-products-cheered-2020-06-23">important</a> strategic moves of the past decade. </p>
<p>Among the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21299042/apple-wwdc-2020-recap-biggest-announcements-ios-ipados-macos-silicon-chips-mac">key announcements</a> were details of the watchOS 7 – with a pandemic-inspired handwashing detection feature – and plans to end Apple’s reliance on Intel for Mac processing chips.</p>
<p>While Apple still views itself as an <a href="https://time.com/5857500/apple-wwdc-2020/">innovator</a>, critics point out many of its product innovations in recent years have been incremental – with calls for an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2019/06/07/at-its-core-apple-is-no-longer-innovative/#364681e7196d">entire new product category</a>. And consumers have been finding it increasingly hard <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21299641/apple-ios-14-vs-android-11-features-beta-iphone-google?fbclid=IwAR0fwR_qMJAy9AAL4wVtIBNTIhJa6gemS43agYUSULWhXcsZfggUnfIFAwA">to distinguish</a> between Apple and competitors like Samsung. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1275189963378786307"}"></div></p>
<p>Will we ever again see something from Apple that truly changes the market?</p>
<p>We think Apple’s newest updates may be early signs it is, in fact, looking to get back on the map as a “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0312896215587315">business model innovator</a>”. This describes how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value through business activities. </p>
<p>As University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School professor <a href="https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/apple-innovation-edge/">Raffi Amit explains</a>, Apple has renewed its business model many times – from changing the music industry with Apple Music, to creating a community of independent app providers through the App Store.</p>
<h2>A pro-hygiene smartwatch</h2>
<p>In today’s COVID-19 world, Apple’s new watch OS7 (expected to be released <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/watchos-7-release-date">later this year</a>) will offer automatic handwashing detection. </p>
<p>Motion sensors, the microphone (which will listen for water sounds) and on-device machine learning will detect when a user is washing their hands. The watch will then start a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21299042/apple-wwdc-2020-recap-biggest-announcements-ios-ipados-macos-silicon-chips-mac">20-second timer</a>. </p>
<p>By monitoring the frequency and duration of handwashing, preventative health care will be in the hands of users. </p>
<p>Apple uses its wealth of consumer trend data, combined with advances in machine learning, data and analytics to offer an intensely human experience to suit users’ lifestyles. By focusing on the customer’s journey, Apple is in a unique position to create products with superior customer value. </p>
<p>For the WatchOS 7’s handwashing feature, the customer journey starts by reminding users to wash their hands when they get home. The health app monitors the process, even detecting if a user stops prematurely. By focusing on each step of this “journey”, Apple aims to provide peace of mind and address customer anxieties during the pandemic.</p>
<p>In the market of fashionable wearables, Apple’s smartwatch dominates. Last year, the Apple Watch <a href="https://news.strategyanalytics.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Strategy-Analytics-Apple-Watch-Outsells-the-Entire-Swiss-Watch-Industry-in-2019/default.aspx">outsold</a> the entire Swiss watch industry.</p>
<p>In line with a strong trend towards personalisation, Apple’s WatchOS 7 also offers customisable watch faces, sleep tracking, improved workout apps with dancing and several built-in acoustic health features such as monitoring ambient sound levels.</p>
<h2>Breaking up with Intel</h2>
<p>Apple’s <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-02/apple-is-said-to-plan-move-from-intel-to-own-mac-chips-from-2020">long-awaited breakup</a> with Intel was confirmed at the WWDC 2020. Chief executive Tim Cook announced the company’s plans to transition to using its own Apple silicon processors for Macs.</p>
<p>Currently, Mac computers operate with Intel’s x86 desktop chips. By <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/apple-plans-to-announce-move-to-its-own-mac-chips-at-wwdc">2021</a>, these will be replaced with the custom-designed processors Apple has already been using in newer iPhones and iPads – spelling the end of a 15-year partnership between Apple and Intel. </p>
<p>The move is part of Apple’s continued strategy to gain as much control as possible over its product ecosystem and development processes. It could also be seen as a reaction to Intel’s hesitance to meet its requirements. </p>
<p>Intel has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/technology/apple-intel-breakup.html">fallen behind</a> in the industry’s race to miniaturise and has experienced production delays and shortages. Apple’s new processors promise more power efficiency, are lighter and have superior performance for 3D graphics and for apps using artificial intelligence.</p>
<p>Similar to other <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/technology/apple-intel-breakup.html">tech giants</a>, Apple is expanding its capabilities not just through acquisition, but also by developing its inhouse capabilities. </p>
<p>And while the Apple-Intel partnership only amounted to 5% of Intel’s overall sales, the breakup will still impact Intel’s image as a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/100214/inside-intel-look-mega-chipmaker.asp">market leader</a> in chip manufacturing. </p>
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<h2>An insulated ecosystem</h2>
<p>It’s likely the decision from Apple signals their intent to exert more control over developers, suppliers and customers through the Apple product ecosystem. Indeed, Apple’s tendency to entrench its customers in this <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/01/why-people-keep-buying-apple-products.html">ecosystem</a> has raised concerns. </p>
<p>For instance, larger players like <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/31/netflix-stops-paying-the-apple-tax-on-its-853m-in-annual-ios-revenue/">Netflix</a>, Spotify and Amazon Kindle have been fighting back against Apple’s policy of forcing users to use Apple pay to purchase their apps, which sees Apple collect up to 30% of the revenue <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/apple-developer-rage-30-percent-app-store-tax-2020-6?r=US&IR=T">up front</a>.</p>
<p>While companies such as Netflix can reach users independently through online marketing, smaller app developers are forced to pay the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/31/netflix-stops-paying-the-apple-tax-on-its-853m-in-annual-ios-revenue/">Apple tax</a> of 15-30%. </p>
<h2>Still a leading innovator?</h2>
<p>At the WWDC, Cook framed the newest announcements as evidence of Apple’s ongoing commitment to innovation. </p>
<p>For many consumers, the most exciting updates will be Apple’s new internet-based technologies. These include spatial audio for <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/airpods-pro-will-soon-automatically-switch-between-apple-devices-and-have-spatial-audio/#:%7E:text=But%20Apple's%20new%20spatial%20audio,delivering%20more%20convincing%20surround%20sound.">AirPods Pro</a>, a feature that creates a more realistic surround sound experience and the new <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/06/apple-reimagines-the-iphone-experience-with-ios-14/">CarKey</a> function which will be compatible with 2021 BMW 5 Series. This will let drivers unlock and drive their car using their iPhone, thanks to a specialisied NCP (network co-processor) chip inside the phone.</p>
<p>It seems Apple does want to excel as a business model innovator. The company’s innovations – even when incremental – still drive product value. And this is used to turn profits which can then be reinvested into broader business model innovation. </p>
<p>This may be why shareholders and enthusiasts remain <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/01/apple-reports-record-first-quarter-results/">confident</a> about Apple’s future.</p>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/141293/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A range of announcement were made at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, including the new ‘CarKey’ feature, and Apple’s decision to part ways with chip manufacturer Intel.Margarietha de Villiers Scheepers, Senior Lecturer Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of the Sunshine CoastMartie-Louise Verreynne, Professor in Innovation and Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.