As people continue to gravitate towards more efficient uses of technology, the older forms of software are slowly falling behind. According to Ewan Spence in his article titled The Mobile Browser Is Dead, Long Live The App, he discusses how apps are becoming a central focal point for people to use on a daily basis. They spend much more time on apps than on online browsers. He states “Only 22 minutes per day are spent in the browser, with the balance of time focused on applications.” And these 22 minutes are out of the average 2 hours and 42 minutes a day that people spend on their smart devices. The simplicity of applications attract people of all demographics and continue to grow. They’ve made presenting information as simple as possible so that even children can navigate applications with ease and those of the older generations and still engage in the technology they didn’t grow up knowing.

Something that was becoming similarly as popular as apps but a little more complicated in its history is digital currency, more specifically, Bitcoin. The Fierce Battle for the Soul of Bitcoin provides an overall synopsis for how Bitcoin came about, how it works, and expressed the overall popularity Bitcoin was able to grasp. In the article, it states “Last year more than $100 million in bitcoin transactions was processed and the value of bitcoins shot up from $13 to $1,200, despite the fact that regulators in China were cracking down.” The jump in popularity of Bitcoin was astonishing. This growth in crypto-currencies is forcing companies to question the possibility of endorsing Blockchain and Bitcoin. According to the article Blockchain Will Disrupt Every Industry “Blockchain is a disruptive technology because of it’s ability to digitize, decentralize, secure and incentivize the validation of transactions. A wide swath of industries are evaluating blockchain to determine what strategic differentiators could exist for their businesses if they leverage blockchain.” Crypto-currencies, despite their rather strange nature in comparison to common currency supported by banks, are more than likely going to be something more viable than anticipated. Particularly for people who may not wish to work with governments, they would feel more comfortable navigating crypto-currencies. These types of currency may even begin to take over our currency as they can be used universally throughout various nations. It could lead to a sort of globalized currency that could take away from the need for conversion.

We know all about apps and how we use them in our spare time and we all know about the term of digital currency that help us save more money but how these apps helped us connected to each other and why does digital currency help shape up the real world? Let’s find out about apps that were made for communication and how does digital currency get involved with the apps to get consumers to buy items in the digital world.

Human users, that’s us, used apps to connect each other through our communication and interaction so we could be more accurate during our spare time but the statistics were huge that according to Forbes.com’s article entitled, The Mobile Browser Is Dead, Long Live The App, Ewan Spence stated that “While users are spending more time on their devices (an average of 2 hours and 42 minutes per day, up four minutes on the same period last year), how they use that time has changed as well. Only 22 minutes per day are spent in the browser, with the balance of time focused on applications.” This quote explained that the more time we spend on our mobile devices, the less time we spend on other activities including sports, watching television, and family time.

Of course, we used apps for social media, gaming, TV, music, sports, work, school, and many others so we could increase our communication skills for our own benefit. Social media played a major in the history of apps that in Wired.com’s article, The Rise of Chat Apps, Mat Honan explained that Facebook is competing against WhatsApp, Kik, Snapchat, Line, KakaoTalk, and WeChat to get more users to enjoy text messaging without the hassle and the company just raised $19 billion to acquire WhatsApp to expand their company for their own sake. Social media could be a big subject for apps but when we use social media on apps more, we get more connected than ever in our society.

Now, we will learn about digital currency and the function it does to make more money for companies. When we use our money to buy items that we need, we have to use bitcoin which is digital cash and the founder of bitcoin was Satoshi Nakamoto when bitcoin was first introduced to the world in 2009, helping us to save or spend money with ease so we could use it later but in Wired.com’s article The Fierce Battle For The Soul Of Bitcoin, Robert Mcmillan mentioned that “Bitcoins aren’t created or controlled by a central organizing body like the Federal Reserve. They’re created—or mined, in Bitcoin parlance—by a global network of computers and governed by the cold rationality of mathematics and the laws of supply and demand. Bitcoin’s algorithms dictate that no more than 21 million bitcoins will ever be created; the math even determines how quickly new bitcoins get added—25 every 10 minutes. (That number drops by half every four years.) And crucially, from the crypto-libertarians’ point of view, the currency straddles the line between transparency and privacy. All transactions happen out in the open, recorded on bitcoin’s public ledger. But because bitcoin isn’t necessarily tied to any user’s identity, it can be spent anonymously like cash, meaning there’s a way to keep governments and marketers in the dark about your spending habits.” This quote proved an informative case that Bitcoins were mined by computers so that they could be used for us to purchase goods and service to help the economy in the real world today. But unfortunately for all of us users, the Bitcoin popularity declined that as stated in Fast Company’s article, How Bitcoin Ends, Douglas Rushkoff made an interesting case about Bitcoin and it’s that Bitcoin discourages transactions from users who purchase all items from online stores and became a less tool for the digital currency.

So at the end of my case, I have a reason to believe that both apps and digital currency are the main tools of our digital world because we used them to connect ourselves with each other and we could save up or spend our money to get us more spare time so we will benefit ourselves and others to make our society more connected in the future.

The internet has the capacity to incite change in society that is unprecedented. People cannot deny the influence that the connectivity provided by the internet has on the world. The great beauty in the internet is that it is ever changing; it evolves along side its users. The internet’s evolution is reflected in the movement away from the web browser to the use of apps. That is the major point of the Forbes article, “The Web Browser is Dead, Long Live the App.” Apps have proven useful in their ability to make information, entertainment, and a plethora of our needs more accessible than ever before.  The functionality of apps can transcend that of the browser because they are more specialized. In addition to being more specialized than that of the traditional websites you would find in your browser they have a relative ease in use that appeals to a more broad audience.

Another change that has occurred through the internet is the use of Bitcoin, “an anonymous, encrypted, government-free online currency”(McMillan, What is Bitcoin).  The issue that generally arises with bitcoin is that it is still largely reliant on the financial systems that are already in place. The worth of one bitcoin is measured by how much traditional currency it represents. Average people may find the idea of bitcoin very difficult to wrap their heads around and consider that it is risky to use money that is not backed by the government. On the contrary, some may find the idea of having money that is less restricted the best way to obtain more money and faster. I personally believe that digital currency has the potential to  fuel crime as it is less traceable. In “The Fierce Battle for the Soul of Bitcoin,” McMillan provides an example of how financial institutions are already fighting back against bitcoin. Banking regulators put an end to Tradehill, a US bitcoin exchange.

People in power are often threatened by new and innovative things that they feel threaten their hold onto power. Bitcoin does exactly that. Bitcoin is still not well understood by most of the public but the idea of it dismantling systems of finance that have been in place for such a long time might be very scary to people who hold on to their wealth and do not want to see up and comers be a part of their competition.

People are on their phones 24/7 and have a bunch of apps accessible to them all the time. It allows for people to be able to buy things with the touch of a button. Many phones have the option for the app to remember your username and password, your address, and credit card information which makes it that much more easier to purchase things from apps. Apps have evolved from debit card transactions to now being able to checkout using Paypal. Bitcoin is unlike regular banks or apps that handle money. Bitcoin refuses to be like banks where they hold on to your money or charge fees to take out money from the bank. Bitcoin allows people from all over the world to use one universal currency that is even between all countries. It can be later transferred to paper money if someone decides to buy your Bitcoins with their money. It can then be transferred into the person’s preferred currency.  Bitcoin is a clever idea. “But because bitcoin isn’t necessarily tied to any user’s identity, it can be spent anonymously like cash, meaning there’s a way to keep governments and marketers in the dark about your spending habits.” (Mcmillan). Bitcoin has the right motive by being “anonymous” but there is going to be a point where it will be harder to keep it that way. Douglas Rushkoff believes that once the Bitcoin coins runout then Bitcoin will be forced to become a banking system they were invented to disrupt. It is a great idea to have the Bitcoin app because it gives people a way to earn money while being able to stay anonymous  and due to the fact that many people care about their privacy, Bitcoin blew up. In the future, digital currency will not have hold a significant place in the world because of the simple fact that the bank system can not be competed with. Digital currency will however still play a part in society because as kids grow up, they are connected to the internet and will continue to use it. Even if it is to earn their own money that they could use towards their favorite video game instead of always asking their parents for money.

Apps have changed the way people function on a daily basis, there are apps that have been created for literally everything these days. We can now access our bank accounts through apps and even deposit checks through apps. In the article “ The Mobile Browser Is Dead, Long Live The App” by Ewan Spencer discusses how people are spending more time on their devices, they are spending over 2 hours a day on their devices. Spencer states  “Users are living in their smartphone’s applications…Users are turning away from the browser and relying on applications”. There are now multiple uses for applications such as weather apps, cooking apps, fitness lifestyle apps, apps that allow you to order food and shop instantly. Using apps are more convenient they allow you to do everything from one device like pay your bills, order food, or watch your favorite show. Digital currency is also becoming a thing now with apps like bitcoin , in the article “The Fierce Battle for the Soul of Bitcoin” by Robert Macmillan discusses the purpose of bitcoin. He states “But spending money within the bitcoin network would be essentially free. With a digital wallet and payment-processing services, you could, say, pay that cash-only cab driver with bitcoins via your smartphone”. I personally don’t think bitcoin will be very successful in the future because there seem to be many downfalls with the digital currency, Macmillan mentions issues like app crashing or being hacked which could potentially lead to people losing money.

Apps have definitely changed the delivery marketplace because now 90% of people’s mobile use is coming from apps. Apps have been beneficial to numerous companies because they offer worldwide exposure meaning that people across the world can gain access to the company and its tools instead of only local exposure. “The Mobile Browser Is Dead, Long Live The App,” states that only 22 minutes per day are spent in the browser as a result of the use of the mobile web is dropping while the methodology of Android and iOS is the dominant viewpoint. Apps are slowly taking over the use of a web browser because they are very quick and convenient. Through an app, you can order a meal, clean your house, order groceries to be delivered to your doorstep, get an Uber to take you anywhere, or order clothes from around the world. These apps have become our very lives, the oxygen we breathe considering that as soon as we wake up, we jump on our smartphones to check many of our numerous apps for messages from families/friends, updates on our orders placed through a company’s app, or reminders for what we will be doing that day. For example, we use Maps on iOS or Google Maps to ensure that we are not lost on our way to a destination, social media apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp to keep in contact with friends and family, the calendar app to stay aware of upcoming plans or deadlines, and shopping apps such as Amazon and clothing stores to manage our shopping habits. It makes me stop to think what we would do if we did not have access to these apps. We would most likely have to search for all of these companies through our web browsers which would take a longer time and most likely turn away those who are looking to get things done quickly and efficiently. I personally don’t see digital currency such as Bitcoin lasting very long because of the many issues described in “How Bitcoin Ends.” However, there are some benefits to using digital currency such as lower transaction costs, the ability to pay at anytime, and protection of your identity. In the article it states that “the money itself is worthless. Less than worthless, in fact. We are spending massive amounts of machine cycles and electricity, burning fossils fuels for no reason other than to prove our commitment to the coin. ” So basically, we are destroying our environment for digital currency that is not worth anything, if that doesn’t scream danger to you, then you must be oblivious. Also, no one seems to be discussing what will happen at the end once all of the bitcoins are mined. There is no plan being created by the blockchain investors, miners, and scholars for when this occurs which is also destructive in itself because what will happen to the people who use their computers and electricity to build the block chain in order to be paid in bitcoins. If there are no more bitcoins, what will they be paid with and how will this form of digital currency survive and stay above the waters? That is the main issue with Bitcoin and the fact that the people at the head of this business have no idea what they will be doing once all of the Bitcoins are mined answers the question of what the future of digital currency will look like, there most likely will be no future.

In the future, i feel like digital currency will become the norm. In today’s world maybe people use cash less and less and they stick to debit cards and credit cards. Bitcoin has been getting more popular throughout the years but i feel like many people in this generation found out how impact it was back in 2016 when the movie dope came out. Of course many people knew about it before 2016 but that movie cause the young generation to understand a little bit of how it works. Eventually since everything is becoming digital, digital currency is already making its way to an everyday use. Almost everyone uses apps like cash app zelle and quickpay to send money to people and it is convenient because it sends almost instantly.

A problem with digital currency is that it can be used for the wrong reasons. Digital currency like bitcoin can’t be tracked by the government so often its used as money to buy illegal things such as drugs and guns. Digital currency is used in the Black Market/Dark Web because of this reason.

Something positive about digital currency is that you can invest into it. Back when it first came out, one digital coin was worth a couple cents, now one coin is equivalent to about $4,000 so many millionaires were easily made. ”The new bitcoin millionaires are a weird breed: government-hating libertarians rich enough to hack the systems that make Washington, DC, function. In that town they even began to sound a little like VCs themselves. “Setting regulatory certainty is very important for bitcoin,” Ver says. “I’m opposed to the regulations, but the bitcoin businesses need to know the rules of the game in order to move ahead.” “Bitcoin’s JourneyThough it first appeared in 2009, bitcoin didn’t see much action until 2012, when more than 1,000 new merchants began accepting the digital currency. Since then the number of bitcoin transactions has climbed steadily. Its value has risen precipitously too”. In the future i feel like the government is going to get more involved in regulating it and find ways to track who spending it and from where.

On average, any human being who owns a smartphone spends about 2-4 hours on it. We no longer use our phone service and Wi-Fi for internet browsers. Applications are made for every separate transaction or need we have. For example, most restaurants allow you to order food before you arrive. They offer incentives to ensure that as many customers download these apps. Offering coupons/ reduced prices for mobile orders only, loyalty programs, etc.

I do find it more convenient to have an application for things I use daily. I find myself downloading at least one app a day. Also, nowadays, most mobile advertisements are about downloading applications. It is becoming more common and less needed to google different companies.

Digital currency is currently going through the process of creating more applications as well. It is not as popular as it should be, but it is currently being accessed through “Blockchain”. An app that is similar to PayPal but for bitcoins. The creators of Bitcoin wanted to test who would be the first adopters of the trend. He settled for what he considered “geeks” and “experimental groups”. Now, it is just an account with bitcoins that most people do not know what to do. Yet, many people know the expense of buying stock with bitcoin or working for them. They were unsure how to answer any security deals as in avoiding hackers or insurance on their items which led to issues. By 2020, bitcoin will be super popular, it could be a new form of currency.

Overall, I do not think bitcoin is safe enough to use as a regular bank account. Of course, business owners are excited to see where they are going with this. Consumers see that prices are increasing on bitcoin. It is harder to get anything than before. But bitcoins are completely virtual. “But because bitcoin isn’t necessarily tied to any user’s identity, it can be spent anonymously like cash, meaning there’s a way to keep governments and marketers in the dark about your spending habits.” (Mcmillan). As I stated, bitcoin can have its pros and cons.