The Digital Generation: Comparing and Contrasting Smartphone Use in the Digital Age

Abstract

This paper investigates the use and application of smartphones amongst predominantly young Taiwanese users of this new technology. Using online tools such as Facebook and Google Forms it was possible to quickly illicit detailed information about 127 smartphone users from six countries. This dataset was then utilized to preview trends in the marketplace and draw comparisons and contrasts between different platforms and operating systems. The main conclusions are that users enjoy the freedom to customize their devices and whether they use Android or iOS operating systems, seems to make little difference in terms of functionality. Screen size appears to be the biggest hurdle to successfully using these types of devices and this will force users to become more creative in how they arrange their icons and folders.