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2.2 Other Portable Devices That Can Enhance Your Educational Experience

Smartphones have the potential to be both time wasters and time savers. You can distract
yourself for hours with a wide range of games and social media applications. On the other
hand, apps are available that allow you to log in to your online class, send e-mail, deposit
checks, identify where the cheapest gas in the neighborhood is sold, and read reviews of
nearly every business in town. While it is easy to access some of your course materials through
your phone, it is not recommended that you complete tasks related to your classes on a smart-
phone. The small screen limits functionality and may inhibit your ability to produce thorough,
accurate work.

A Closer Look: Augmented Reality

To augment reality means to add to or improve it. How could a smartphone improve
your reality? Augmented reality is a term used to describe an experience in which a
device such as a smartphone is used to add sound, video, graphics, or GPS data to the
physical world around you, in real time.

Imagine you are walking around Times Square in New York City for the first time, and
you are lost. You take out your smartphone and enter the augmented reality mode. You
aim your smartphone at various buildings, and the phone displays information about
each of them. Once you get your bearings, you realize you are hungry. You speak a com-
mand into the phone, such as “nearest pizza.” In the blink of an eye, directions to the clos-
est pizza shops appear on your screen, along with user reviews and recommendations.

You follow your smartphone to the front door of a nearby restaurant. You sit down at a
booth, enjoy a slice of authentic New York pizza, and observe the busy street outside.
You smile, take a selfie, and upload your photo and GPS coordinates to Facebook. Your
friends, who are also lost several blocks away, can now easily track you down. While you
enjoy your pizza, you use your smartphone to purchase theater tickets, reserve a room
for the night, and e-mail your parents that you are having a fabulous time. You have just
augmented your reality.

Technology such as this illustrates how we rely on electronic devices to maximize our
experiences, solve problems, and enhance our lives.

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