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Man Who invented The Mobile Phone Says People Who Spend So Much Time On It Need To ‘Get A Life’

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Martin Cooper

The inventor of the mobile phone has suggested that people who spend too much time on the device may want to rethink their priorities.

Martin Cooper, a 93-year-old American engineer, was appearing on BBC Breakfast when he suggested people should stop scrolling and ‘get a life’.

Cooper led the team at Motorola responsbile for the development of the first ever mobile phone in the 1970s. In 1973, he became the first person in history to make a handheld cellular phone call in public.

Now widely credited as the ‘father of the cell phone’ he admitted he actually doesn’t use the device all that much.

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Mr Cooper explained during the interview that he probably spends less than 5 per cent of his time on his phone.

Martin Cooper holds up his mobile phone in Oviedo, northern Spain, October 22, 2009. Cooper and Raymond Samuel Tomlinson will be awarded the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research at a traditional ceremony on Friday in the Asturian capital. Cooper and Tomlinson were nominated for the award in recognition of their research which led the development of the mobile phone and email respectively. QUALITY FROM SOURCE REUTERS/Felix Ordonez (SPAIN SCI TECH SOCIETY BUSINESS) - GM1E5AM1LBS01
Martin Cooper worked at Motorola in the 1970s and invented the first mobile phone. (Credits: Reuters)

When asked what he would say to those who spend upwards of five hours on theirs, he was incredulous.

‘You really spend five hours a day?’ he asked. ‘I would say “get a life!”.

How much time do we spend on our phones?

Whether keeping in touch with friends and family, doomscrolling Twitter or staying entertained with endless TikTok videos, phones are definitely an essential.

But with that said, you may still be surprised to learn that over our lifetimes we’ll spend almost a decade on our phones.

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A study by WhistleOut surveyed 1,000 American smartphone users to see just how much time we spend on our phones and the results are staggering.

Close-up shot of a young Asian woman scrolling on smartphone, managing banking online, underneath duvet in the dark.
We spend almost a decade of our lives on our phones, according to one survey.
(Credits: Getty Images)

The survey found that millennials (born 1981-1996) spend almost a quarter of their waking lives on their phones, taking up 23.1% of their day.

That figure drops to 16.5% for Generation X (born 1965- 1980) and is even lower for Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), with 9.9% of their waking hours spent scrolling.

In the study, researchers also calculated the average number of hours a day we spend on our phones, which also varied heavily between generations.

The average screentime per day for millennials is at 3.7 hours, Gen X spend an average of 3 hours and Boomers are again the lowest at 2.5 hours.

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Close up of woman's hand using smartphone in the dark, against illuminated city light bokeh
How much time do you spend on your phone? (Credits: Getty Images)

By totting up the figures, WhistleOut were able to estimate that the average phone user, over the course of their life, will spend 8.74 years on their phones.

But they explain that, particularly for millennials who were among the first people to grow up with this technology, a lot of phone usage is down to tech-focused jobs they’re in.

Still, if you want to follow Mr Cooper’s advice and put the phone down, there are a number of ways you can try to reduce your own screen time.

Source: metro.co.uk

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Vote buying alien to NDC values – Edem Agbana

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The member of parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has condemned alleged vote buying linked to Baba Jamal during recent political activities at Ayawaso East, describing the act as completely foreign to the values of the NDC.

During a discussion on Metro TV, Mr Agbana expressed concern about what he described as an open display of wealth during the event over the weekend.

He referred to videos circulating online which showed items such as television sets being distributed to people, stressing that such actions do not reflect the party he grew up to admire and join.

According to him, the NDC is built on core values of accountability, probity and transparency, and that explains why many party members have reacted strongly to the incident.

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He indicated that the outrage within the party shows a clear rejection of vote buying and similar practices.

Mr.Agbana also disagreed with comments attributed to the Greater Accra Regional Minister suggesting that vote buying happens in every election.

He maintained that such a view does not represent the position of the NDC and should not be normalised under any circumstances.

He pointed out that immediately the reports and videos emerged, the party leadership took a firm stance against the alleged acts rather than trying to justify them.

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He noted that the party was awaiting the release of an official report on the matter and expressed confidence that any recommendations would be fully implemented.

Mr.Agbana described the current leadership of the NDC as disciplined and principled, with a proven record of integrity.

He stressed that the party’s response to the issue shows that its reset agenda is not only directed at political opponents but also focused on internal discipline and self correction.

He further assured the public that the NDC will not protect any individual found culpable of vote buying. However, he added that anyone accused will be given a fair opportunity to respond, in line with the principles of natural justice.

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Mr.Agbana concluded that the party remains committed to building a strong and resilient political organisation that upholds probity, transparency and accountability at all levels.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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Government creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive – Trade Minister

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The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, says government has created an enabling environment for businesses and exporters to grow and thrive.

She made the remarks during a working visit to Kasapreko PLC, where she interacted with management and staff of the company.

According to the Minister, Ghana’s macroeconomic indicators have improved significantly, making it easier for businesses to plan and operate.

“When I became Minister, industry players were worried about the exchange rate and how it affected pricing and working capital. Today, that is no longer the case. The economy has done well, and the cedi has appreciated,” she said.

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Ofosu-Adjare noted that government’s economic recovery efforts under President John Dramani Mahama have stabilised the business environment, a development she said is already reflecting positively in the operations of local industries.

She explained that her ministry has adopted a deliberate approach of engaging exporters regularly to understand their challenges and address them promptly.

One of such issues, she said, was the time frame for the repatriation of export proceeds, which has since been resolved to help businesses improve cash flow.

The Minister expressed excitement about Kasapreko’s expansion plans, stressing that government is not only focused on attracting foreign direct investment but also committed to supporting Ghanaian-owned businesses.

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“My presence here shows that I am interested in local businesses expanding and taking their rightful place in the industry,” she said.

She added that local entrepreneurs invest in Ghana, live in the country, and contribute directly to national development, and therefore deserve strong government support.

Ofosu-Adjare assured Kasapreko PLC of government’s continued support to ensure its growth and sustainability.

She revealed that she would engage the Ghana Water Company to address water supply challenges facing the company.

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Management of Kasapreko PLC welcomed the Minister’s visit and commended government for policies that have helped stabilise the economy and improve business confidence.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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