Cellphones can be both a help and a hindrance, but few of us could manage without one now.

What would it be like to go without a cellphone for just one day? Most of us would feel uneasy and anxious. For better or worse, smartphones have changed and shaped our daily lives. They now play a big role in what we do every day. Some say smartphones make it easier to communicate with others. There is no doubt that they can improve our relationships with our friends and family, but they may also make us less caring. When people bury their heads into their gadgets, they hardly notice their surroundings. Are we too dependent on smartphones?

Smartphones offer most practical means to record life's happiest moments.Photo by Heng Guoliang / for China Daily