In Japan, the first mobile phones of a compact size resembling modern mobile phones (compared to the previous shoulder-type or handy-type) arrived in 1989 (the Motorola MicroTac). Following that, the compact NTT DoCoMo mova device went on sale in 1991. In 1995, the PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) came on the scene, and it was particularly popular with youths, given its cheap units and carrier charges. In particular, the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol became useable from the PHS in 1996, and in 1997 SMS became possible with mobile phones as well. In 1999, the first use of Internet services on mobile phones became possible.
Published in Chapter:
Mobile Phone Use during Class at a Japanese Women's College
Yuuki Kato (Sagami Women's University, Japan) and Shogo Kato (Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Japan)
Copyright: © 2016
|Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9667-9.ch021
Abstract
A questionnaire survey was conducted with university students from a women's university in Japan on the use of mobile phones during a lecture. Topics specifically investigated included (1) whether students put their mobile phone on their desk during the lecture, (2) the reasons why students put their phone on their desk during the lecture, (3) responses to incoming calls during the lecture, and (4) the psychological impact on students of setting rules regarding the use of mobile phones during the lecture. Students were divided into two groups according to their responses to item (1): those who said they put their phone on their desk and those who said they did not do so. These groups were compared in terms of items (3) and (4). As a result, it was found that over 60% of students put their mobile phone on their desk during the lecture and that these students were more likely to use their mobile phone during the lecture. The survey suggested that students today are aware of mobile phone etiquette with respect to lectures, and are especially aware that communication etiquette conflicts with lecture etiquette.