Will there ever come the day when we can't operate without Smart Phones?

I think we are more or less being forced to move on with the times. Everything's done on their mobile nowadays. My children and grandchildren would be lost without their smart phones. I have a phone contract but not a smart phone and I refuse to use it for my banking

I mean you dont have to obviously but it adds to me life. I certainly know for my parents it has been a game changer in terms of being able to chat to the family all over the country on WhatsApp.

Almost everything I do is via smartphone now, and I absolutely hate it.

Whilst it is not essential to have a smart phone, especially if you have a laptop or tablet, it does make life easier and I wouldn't be without it.

I really resent having to use my phone to do work/school related things.
It's an older phone, it gets clogged up and overwhelmed with huge files and ever increasing apps and files, and I expect it will go the same way as my last one and totally freeze for good; losing the things which are important to me in the process.

No, I’m not in the same position. I love my iPhone and would hate not to have one, my life is on it! I decided very early on that having paid so much for one it was jolly well going to work for me, and it does. If there’s an app for anything I’ll have it. Going supermarket shopping I just take my car keys, bags and the phone. I pay for everything with the phone. I have maps for the whole of the UK, bird identification apps, all my music, all my photos, emails, my Kindle library... If, as it looks likely, the government decide we shall have some kind of vaccination passport it will be on a smart phone app. Smart phones may not be necessary but they are certainly very, very convenient. Why in particular do you not ever want to get one and why do you worry that you might have to?

Its the likliehood that any vaccination passport that is introduced will be on a smart phone app that worries me in particular Spidergran3.

As for why I dont ever want to get a smart phone. I find I can operate my life just fine without one, and to be honest don't need the expense of having one. Mind you, I've never been on facebook or twitter either.

Some notable people don't have a smart phone, including billionaire Warren Buffet.

Its great that having a smart phone really works for some people, though not so great for those of us that dont want to have one having no alternative but to do so in the future.

I think I'd worry too about having all my life on a small portable device, that knowing how clumsy I am with things, would drop and break.

I’ve found since I got my first smartphone 6 years ago my laptop is redundant. I use it for everything. I love it most of all for video calls with my grandchildren and can answer anywhere I am. They happened to video call today while I was walking in the countryside and I showed them where I was and they enjoyed seeing the sheep in the field.

I have a sim only deal and have never exceeded the £9 a month package as I’m on WiFi at home.

I’m in agreement Spidergran3. I love my iPhone. It’s easier to use if you also have an iPad because the operation system is the same. Smart phones are the future, even my 91 year old dad has one, and they are becoming more and more essential to do the basics of daily life when you’re paying for things, looking for discounts and offers, using tickets, looking for a place or for information about something., etc. etc. I also love the plant identifier app. It’s really worth the effort of initially learning how to use one.

I must be getting more like my late 87 yo Dad by the day.

He's never been on line, referring to all IT as 'the machine'

Having a lap top seems to suit all my needs, though I agree it must be lovely being able do things like to share a video of where you are out walking with children and grandchildren.

Ooops, just read that Warren Buffett has finally got a smart phone

I would be lost without my iPhone! I do everything on it, home or away, so much so that I don’t even use my old laptop. I don’t leave home without it, and often dream I’ve lost it!

I often dream of pretending I've lost mine.

I struggle with smartphones. I find the screen far too small and, after a carpal tunnel operation, the tips of most of the fingers on my right hand are numb, so I am always pressing too hard or not hard enough. I cannot use a stylus because it would need to be held between the (numb) tips of my right hand. I have tried, really tried.

I prefer a larger screen which contains a significant amount of data and is a sensible size.

I suppose it all depends on the life you lead. Personally I think they're the most wonderful, useful device.
The first one I saw was in 1997. It blew me away.

I have to test for covid each week and record online I've done it.
Send in my time sheets for work online.
Read school reports online. School vouchers? Online! Work queries? Online! Training? Online!

I spent 3 hours trying to book annual leave online the other day.
I couldn't do it, because first I had to download Adobe flash, although that only became apparent when I was halfway through booking which days on an online form..

I think everyone needs a smart phone for 21st century life. You have to move with the times or get left behind. I love mine and wouldn't be without it.

No need for it to be expensive. A child or grandchild can always gift you an unwanted phone or will be able to recommend a basic cheap model that will run the software needed for important apps like the Covid ones.
As others have said it is less than £10 a month for unlimited calls and texts and a small amount of data. You will not need to use your landline and so that bill can be reduced and it's much cheaper than pay as you go.

Have you tried voice control Monica?
I have a useful teenager who advises me on these things!!

Cheaper phones often don't have the memory capacity for lots of apps and files.

I think the OP will only want a few apps like the vaccination passport and so won't need too much memory.
A lot of files can be stored online or on a memory card in an android phone.

Same as Casdon and Spidergran3. Keys and iPhone are all that I need when out shopping. I would hate to go back to using cards.

When I visited my daughter, it was invaluable for the train tickets, times and delays.

Track and trace would work if everyone used the app on their smart phones. NHS QR codes.

My last iPhone cost me £120 (used one) last August + £45 for brand new Apple Battery. I pay £10.50 a month for all texts, calls and a massive data allowance.

I have iCloud and do a back up on iTunes. Same with my laptop. Do a back up every other day.

I have a memory card, then I can't find anything.
And when the apps update they revert back to internal storage.