We’ve probably all heard the hype from a few years back about how cell phones were supposedly destroying our brains via radiation or EM pulses or something. We all probably just sort of ignored that news, assuming that it was merely the ramblings of some sort of Luddite group, or perhaps the cell phone-hating lobby. To be sure, there isn’t conclusive evidence yet that suggests a connection between cell phones and, let’s say for example, brain cancer.

However, for some people, cell phones and other modern technology can literally make them ill.

You see, cell phones, Wi-Fi devices, cordless phones and communications towers all put out varying levels of electromagnetic radiation. You can’t hardly walk down the street without being bombarded by this electromagnetic radiation. It’s inside of malls, hospitals, courthouses, and even your local fast food establishment.

For most folks, the electromagnetic radiation isn’t something to be worried about. It’s harmless in the doses that people receive. However, some folks have a condition in which they are especially vulnerable to this sort of thing.

Those people have a condition known as “electrical hypersensitivity,” sometimes called “electrosensitivity.” When you have this condition, you can have some specific physical symptoms when you’re exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Some of the symptoms can include short-term memory loss, dizziness, trouble sleeping and a difficulty with focus.

To be sure, electrosensitivity is somewhat controversial. There is a relatively small amount of research that’s been done in the area, and many physicians and medical organizations don’t yet recognize electrosensitivity as something to be concerned about.

Much of the information about this condition has been, to this point, anecdotal. A patient may visit a doctor with these kinds of symptoms, and the doctor isn’t able to diagnose their cause. The patient then removes devices like cell phones, wireless routers or cordless phones from their home and starts to feel better.

One of the problems with this type of condition is that there isn’t much out there in the way of long-term research on the effects of electromagnetic radiation. Because devices like cordless phones and cell phones and WiFi are relatively new environmental factors, researchers haven’t yet had the opportunity to really see what they do over the long term. The long-term studies that have been done so far have yet to yield conclusive results. Some studies suggest problems or risks, while others produce no such results.

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Pretty much ever since cell phones first hit the market, kids have thought that it would be cool to own one. After all, the idea that you could talk to your BFF any time and from anywhere is appealing to young folks. Like so many other technologies, cell phones promise a distraction to kids, and offer them something to do when they’re not being entertained by television or video games.

Just because kids ask for something, however, doesn’t mean they get it. For years, that’s been the case with cell phones. Kids as young as 8 or 10 sit on Santa’s lap, and parents cringe when their tot asks for the latest iPhone or Blackberry. As recent as 2004, less than one in five 12 year-olds had a cell phone, suggesting that Mom and Dad have more say over what little Johnny gets than what Santa does. After all, they’re the ones that have to pay the monthly bill.

That’s changed dramatically, however. In 2009, around 60 percent – or three in five – kids aged 12 or younger had cell phones. Research from the Pew Center’s Internet & American Life Project suggests that most kids get their cell phone by the age of 12 or 13.

Dropping land lines

One of the most common reasons that parents are more open to cell phones for their young children is the trend toward dropping land line telephones. If a household doesn’t have one centralized number to call, it stands to reason that the individuals in that household might have their own lines, even if they’re children.

Big dangers for parents

One of the biggest concerns that parents have had over the years has been the idea of cost. If a child spends hours on a cell phone or sends thousands of text messages or downloads gigabytes of data, parents can find themselves on the hood for massive cell phone bills. Fortunately, technology has kept pace and most cell phone providers now offer parental control options that will let parents limit just how much their kids text, talk and download.

A connected generation

Even more interesting in this trend is the overall idea that kids today are much more connected than in generations past. With the growth of social networking sites and even online gaming communities aimed specifically at young children, the idea of each person in a household having their own cell phone is likely to become a long-term trend.

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According to a report this year from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cell phones have a significant impact on traffic accidents and even deaths. According to the data in this report, cell phones use was related to the cause of accidents frequently. Among traffic deaths that were caused by distracted driving, cell phones were responsible for those distractions in 18 percent of cases.

Staggering figures

During 2009, there were 5,474 people killed in accidents related to distracted driving. Of those incidents, 995 deaths were believed to have had a cell phone involved. In addition to these deaths, it’s estimated that 448,000 people were injured in accidents related to distracted driving.

Not just the kids

You might assume that all of these traffic fatalities due to cell phone use were because of teeny-boppers and their crazy texting habits. Believe it or not, however, the group who experienced the largest percentage of these accidents were actually adults in the 30 to 39 year-old range. (Teenagers were the second largest percentage, coming in just behind the thirty-somethings.)

Motorcycles and cell phones don’t mix

Another thoroughly interesting aspect of this data was the information regarding motorcycles. Motorcycles make up of only two percent of the registered vehicles in the country. However, six percent of all the cell phone-related distracted driving fatalities involved a motorcycle.

Of course, data wasn’t available regarding which party was using the cell phone. It isn’t likely that the vast majority of motorcyclists are out there using cell phones. It’s much more likely that cell phone use by passenger vehicle drivers causes them to be less attentive, making it more likely that they will miss seeing a smaller vehicle (like a motorcycle) while they’re talking on the phone. Someone who’s paying attention to their phone is likely to miss a motorcycle nearby, resulting in an accident.

Because of the NHTSA report, the U.S. Department of Transportation is mulling over the possibility of banning the use of cell phones in vehicles from coast to coast. This kind of move could be a hard sell, however, as both consumers and special interest groups are likely to fight the move. Add in the fact that many states already have specific distracted driving laws in place that relate to cell phone use, and it’s not entirely clear if a federal mandate is really necessary, or even effective. Regardless, the report shows just how serious a problem that cell phone use can be while driving.

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Technology has changed our world in countless ways, and cell phones have been a significant part of that process. Cell phones change the way we interact with one another, how we see ourselves in terms of connectedness with others, and even the way that we schedule our lives. The latest news from Georgia suggests that cell phones are even changing the way that inmates in prisons protest their living conditions.

The days when inmates would simply bang a tin cup on the bars of their cell are apparently long gone. Last weekend, inmates at as many as seven prisons in the state of Georgia used cell phones – none of which are legal to have in those prisons – to form a nonviolent strike. The inmates are asking for better living conditions, as well as to be paid for the work that they do while they are in the prisons.

According to reports, cell phones have been commonly smuggled into prisons for several years. In fact, even a high-profile notorious prison inmate like Charles Manson was recently discovered with a cell phone just this month. This is a disturbing trend, to say the least, as officials are concerned that inmates may use cell phones to attempt to coordinate escape attempts.

This particular incident, however, has been building for some time. Different groups and factions within the prison populations have been coordinating for months now to organize this strike. These groups – which very rarely work together and are more likely to be opposed to one another – used cell phones to call and text message others in order to coordinate the strike.

Inmates in those prisons indicated that they would not perform any of the duties normally required of them, including chores or jobs that many have via the industrial department of the Corrections Department. They also protested by not shopping at prison commissaries.

The protesters were asking for specific changes, including getting paid for the work that they do, improved quality of prison food, greater educational opportunities, and even changes to sentencing rules.

According to an interview with an inmate that was conducted via cell phone, this kind of networking among prisoners is becoming commonplace. Most of the prisons involved have one or two key individuals who serve as contact points who then keep the rest of the inmates at that particular prison up to speed with what’s being planned.

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The question of whether or not to get insurance on your cell phones depends on a number of factors. One of the most important, of course, is the actual amount that it would cost to replace a phone. A new smartphone such as the iPhone or BlackBerry, for example, would cost several hundred dollars to replace. A few dollars a month in cell phone insurance makes sense, in that type of case.

However, depending on your carrier and the type of phone you have, insurance may not be an option, or it may not seem worth the money. If that’s the case, here are some alternatives you can consider:

• Go without. If you have a cell phone contract and are somewhere near time to upgrade, you might be better off waiting it out and just getting a new phone when you have the opportunity to upgrade. When you get the opportunity to renew your contract, you can save money on a new device. Typically, you can save half the cost of the phone or even more by upgrading.
• Self-insure. You can set aside a few dollars a month into an envelope or a savings account. Statistically speaking, you’re not likely to break or lose more than 1 in 3 phones you own, so setting aside $5 should make it so you’ve always got a little extra cash to buy a phone with in an emergency.
• Look at other insurance coverage. In some cases, your other insurance policies may include your cell phone. For example, your homeowners insurance policy may cover up to a certain amount of electronics devices. The obvious issue here will be the deductible, of course, as it’s likely that the deductible on your homeowner’s policy will be higher than the cost of a new cell phone, but it’s still worth a look.
• Be willing to deal with outdated tech. If your phone dies, you may be able to purchase a used phone or a basic phone to continue using on your plan. It means fewer features, and once you’re eligible for an upgrade on your contract you can get back into the kind of phone you want.

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Cell phones have come a long way from the giant bricks they started out as. Now these marvels of technology can give you directions, order a pizza, play games, and stream movies all at the same time. All of these great features are due to the great innovations behind the operating systems that power them. In a sea of cell phones, five operating systems are fighting for your attention.

1. BlackBerry. One of the first cell phones to sport a hefty OS is the RIM BlackBerry. When BlackBerry first hit the cell phone market, it was aimed squarely at the business user. BlackBerry connected to corporate email and made it easy for business types to stay connected in an ever increasingly connected world. BlackBerry is now shifting gears and looking to win consumers. They may be loosing their top spot, but they are not going down without a fight. Most notable in this fight is a new tablet device that is soon to hit the market.

2. WebOS. Palm was once the pinnacle of handheld personal information managers. The PalmPre Cell phone challenged the market in times that continue to see cell phones get bigger and bigger. The modding and home programmer currently loves WebOS. This is mainly due to how easy it is to develop a small application and get it onto PalmPre devices. Though Palm is now part of HP, the WebOS continues to grow and expand. HP is now looking to move the WebOS from the cell phone market to the tablet market with the imminent release of the HP Slate.

3. Window Phone 7. Microsoft has never really been a huge player in the cell phone market. Sure, they have had cell phone operating systems before, but they were always second best to the like of RIM and Palm. Now Microsoft has a new phone OS that changes the game for this software giant. Taking several queues from the Zune software, Windows Phone 7 is all about connectivity. The OS connects to the Zune market place opening up a huge library of music choice. It also connects to Xbox Live, thus giving games access to the gaming network with XBL games slowly finding their way to the phone. This is an ambitious project from Microsoft and the battle will be a hard fought one for this company.

2. Android. Android is an OS developed by Google. When Android first hit the market, it was met with a large amount of negativity and dislike. Google pressed on, and now they have a cell phone OS that is quickly taking over the world. Android runs on an abundance of cell phones on every carrier. Android has also been through a porting process and is now being incorporated into tablet devices. Android is an open platform, thus giving cell phone companies and developers the freedom to do as they please with this OS.

1. iOS. Welcome to the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Apple once said they would never enter the cell phone market. Yet here we are, and they have created a cell phone and OS that has developed a huge fan base. iOS has gone from novelty to an OS that everyone from consumer to fortune 500 companies is embracing. The biggest setback to this OS is the fact that it is locked into one cell phone carrier. Speculation is that this will soon change, and customers everywhere eagerly await iOS phones to march into more cell phone carrier stores.

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Smartphones are slated as one of the most wanted gifts this year. If you are one of the few great gift givers about to give a loved one a new cell phone, you should consider a few things as side gifts. These items don’t come on a hefty cell phone contract, but are essential to the phone experience. Those accessories you may want to consider are:

1. Car chargers. Keeping a cell phone charged no matter where you are is essential to enjoying it. Car chargers keep phones charged during long trips, between work and home, and in emergency situations. A few considerations do come with car chargers. The first is that if you already own a car charger, it just might work for that new cell phone. The second consideration is to shop around for car chargers. Sure, the store you are purchasing the new cell phone maybe great to just add on a charger, but unless the store is offering some sort of discount, it is often cheaper other places.

2. Extra batteries. If you happen to be buying a cell phone that has a swappable battery, it may be a great idea to purchase an extra battery. An extra battery is beneficial for those heavy phone users who do a ton of travel. Nothing sucks worse than using a cell phone for entertainment on a long plane ride, only to have the battery die half way to your destination. A spare battery, or two, can go a long way to keeping folks entertained.

3. Insurance plans. Those who are giving a cell phone to someone who is hard on electronics just might have a grand benefit to an insurance plan. Yeah, this accessory is not cool and fun, but it comes in handy when the heavy user breaks their new cell phone the very first day they have it. This may not be an accessory for everyone, but if you are bestowing an expensive cell phone upon someone prone to breaking electronics, this insurance plan can be a lifesaver.

4. Phone cases. After spending a pretty penny on that cell phone, you want to make sure your recipient has a way to protect it. Giving a nice cell phone case can go a long way to keep that new toy looking great over months of use and abuse. A benefit to spending a pretty penny on a good case is that some even come with battery packs. This means those phones without swappable batteries get the most benefit of having more go juice.

5. App Store gift cards. If this new cell phone has a marketplace attached to it, a gift card is a great way to allow the recipient to purchase their favorite games and apps at no cost to them. Many cell phones now come with marketplaces filled to the brim with great entertainment choices. Even a $25 gift card to the online stores can go a long way to enriching the value to that new toy.

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Cell phone contracts are quickly becoming a part of everyday life. Many people may never take the time to read all the legal jargon that fills the pages of a cell phone contract. Yet, there are a few items to consider before you slap your John Hancock down on the dotted line and commencing playing with your new toy. Some of these items consist of:

• What are the early termination conditions? Knowing how, when, and what constitutes early termination can go a long way to saving yourself cell phone bill headaches. Many cell phone contracts have ways for you to break your contract, yet there are often heavy fees associated with breaking your contract. The little known fact is that there are ways to break a contract without having to deal with these hefty fees. Before you sign the dotted line, be sure to ask what contract breaks come with fines, and what ways are a free out.
• Duration of the contract. The most common cell phone contracts span two years. These contracts are most often tied to Smartphones that come with subsidized pricing. Things like the $200 iPhone are an example here. Yet, you can get one year and no contract cell phone plans as well. You may pay more for the cell phone up front, but you are not locked into a contract for two long agonizing years.
• What does the company guarantee? As sad as it may seem, cell phone service is not always guaranteed. If you read the fine print in your contract, you may find that a company only guarantees a percentage of up time. You will also find that cell phone companies don’t guarantee that your phone will work in every area you travel to. It’s key to know what your cell phone provide guarantees as this can be what stops you from being reimbursed on your bill if you happen to lose service.
• International Charges. This may not be for everyone, but knowing what the cell phone company charges for international usage is necessary for those heavy travelers. Those of you who sit close to your countries borders need to be weary of this a swell. Often times, data charges skyrocket if you happen to connect to a tower in another country. Even if that tower is just across the street. Many cell phone companies have international plans for those who travel, but they are expensive.
• Roaming. Yeah, there are still times you maybe roaming. Though this is not something customers even consider anymore, it is still in your cell phone contract. A cell phone provider can actually drop you as a customer if you spend too much time making phone calls while roaming. While you are setting up your new contract, be sure to find out what the company considers roaming territory.

Cell phone contracts maybe long, boring, and hard to understand, but that is what customer service is there for. These are but a few items you should consider asking about before you agree to any contract.

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The holiday shopping season is in full swing now. This means long lines, great deals, stress, and insane amounts of time spent in stores. However, your cell phone can go to great lengths to making shopping this holiday season that much better. No, your cell phone may not automatically send you to some Caribbean island where it is warm and all this shopping stress is taken care of by the pool boy. However, a few key ways that pocketable pool boy is going to help you is:

1. Comparison shopping the easy way – If you happen to have a smartphone with Amazon, your comparison-shopping just got a whole lot easier. You can hit the stores with the best deal, scan in the barcode, and see ratings, prices, and other valuable information. This simple process not only saves you money on the item you are about to purchase, but it keeps you from having to return to the store several times as you compare if this is truly a good deal or not.

2. No more paper lists – The days of incomprehensible shopping lists is quickly going the way of the dinosaur. Now shopping lists can be typed up on a computer, and then emailed off to your cell phone. This process is enhanced by the ability of some cell phone apps allowing you to attach pictures of the gift you need to acquire. This means no more debating if you needed Zombie Alien Killers 1 or Zombie Alien Killers 2: The Next Invasion.

Electronic lists have another massive benefit, and that is one list synchronization amongst multiple family members. No matter how well you try to plan out shopping lists and give one person a specific set of presents to buy, inevitably one item sees multiple purchases. Now, lists can be maintained online, sent to cell phones and people can see exactly who has purchased what.

3. Plan your attack – Those of you whom love to shop all over town know how rough it can be getting from store to store in the most efficient manner. Cell phones can now plan your routes, thus saving you time and headaches from sitting in traffic. Apps like Google Maps can take in multiple destinations and spit out an efficient method to hit everything without the running in circles that so many shoppers are accustomed to. You can even map out public transportation, or even better, route for walking and biking between stores.

4. Entertainment – Let’s face it, standing in a long line to buy Barbie’s Magical Kitchen is rather boring. How many times have you wished you could get in a quick game of solitaire, read a chapter of your favorite book, or even just drown out the world to your favorite music? Cell phones are your saving grace in those lines of boredom. Just fire up your favorite version of Angry Birds and watch as time flies and you are checking out in a matter of no time.

The gift-giving season is stressful enough as it is. Why not put your cell phone to some good use and save you a few trips to the drug store for some Excedrin.

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Just when you think cell phones are finally out of the lime light in bad press, a new set of studies comes along to walk all over these devices. These studies are claiming that some people are actually allergic to their phone, and prolonged use is having some adverse affects on them.

Now before you go running to the laundry room to bleach your cell phone, this is not a cleanliness issue. This issue has to do with the metals that are inside the phone. Particularly, this has to do with the nickel in your cell phone. Just about every cell phone, with the exception of a few of the green phones, has nickel in it somewhere.

Now this may start sounding like a bunch of hogwash, but keep in mind that roughly three percent of men and twenty percent of women suffer from a nickel allergy nation wide. For the folks whom suffer a nickel allergy, prolonged use on a cell phone can lead to rashes and other unsightly reactions around the ears, cheeks, and mouth where the phone would normally lie on the face. Think about it this way, have you ever been on the phone so long it warmed up and started to radiate an odd smell? This is enough to cause an allergic reaction in some people.

While this is not a fatal reaction to people, it does have consumers concerned. It is unclear at this point how many people develop allergic reactions to their phones. What is known is that folks whom developed a strange rash on the side of their face that is commonly used for cell phone use had phones which contained nickel. When these users were given phones that were nickel free, the rash cleared up.

Researchers have found that roughly, 40 – 50% of all cell phones on the market contain Nickel in them. Those of you worried about your phones should look online or contact the manufacturer to find out if your phone contains nickel.

Therefore, what can you do if your phone has nickel in it? First, if you are a heavy cell phone user and you have not had a reaction yet, you most likely don’t have a nickel allergy. You should go to an allergist to find out for sure though. If you want to continue to use your phone, but don’t want to deal with potential issues you have a few options:

1.    Use a hands free headset. This will keep the phone away from your face and helps deter any future allergic reactions.

2.    You can try to use a phone cover. This maybe hard in the day that smartphones rein supreme, but this is an option you can look into.

3.    Make use of the speakerphone. Do look out for your fellow human and try to keep the speaker phone use to a minimal.

4.    Buy a nickel spot test, as this will be able to tell you if your phone contains nickel.

Ultimately, if you suspect you are allergic to you phone you should seek professional help. Several cell phones on the market do not contain this metal and maybe just what you need.

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