What the “father of the cell phone” wants you to know
The inventor of the mobile phone has shared his candid opinion about the obsession with smart devices.
Martin Cooper, an American engineer dubbed the “father of the cell phone”, invented the very first mobile phone 50 years ago in 1973.
Back then, the weighty block of wires and circuits were only used to make calls, a far cry from having the world at your fingertips with smartphones today.
Cooper believes that despite all the good that can come from modern technology, the world has become a little obsessed with smart devices.
“I am devastated when I see somebody crossing the street and looking at their cell phone. They are out of their minds,” the 94-year-old told AFP from his office in Del Mar, California.
“But after a few people get run over by cars, they’ll figure it out,” he joked.
Mr Cooper also indulges in the latest gadgets, as he wears an Apple Watch and uses a top-end iPhone, flicking intuitively between his email, photos, YouTube and the controls for his hearing aid.
Despite keeping up with all the latest apps, updates and upgrades, he confessed that sometimes it can all seem a little overwhelming.
“I will never, ever understand how to use the cell phone the way my grandchildren and great grandchildren do,” he said.
“Each generation is going to be smarter … they will learn how to use the cell phone more effectively,” he said.
“Humans sooner or later figure it out.”
Image credits: Getty Images