That seems rather circular. By definition Uber is a (supposedly) improved taxi service built on mobile computing/data service. If you were transported back in time before smartphones were common/socially essential, Uber wouldn't exist at all.
That would be like an older person complaining they "have to have a smartphone" to see pictures of their grandkids, when it's actually the other around. Because smartphones exist, they can see pictures they otherwise would not have seen at all because no one would have driven to the store, printed them out, and mailed them (or had a camera to take them with) without that technology.
Contrast that to something like parking, where using a phone app provides convenience and decreased operating costs, but the service itself is in no way dependent on people having phones.
>Contrast that to something like parking, where using a phone app provides convenience and decreased operating costs, but the service itself is in no way dependent on people having phones.
Well, if you can no longer pay for something that you used to be able to pay for with coins, you've lost something with a smartphone requirement.
Otherwise I get your argument but, if instead of smartphone, you say computer--now say that you don't really need a computer. You can phone people on your landline but many people won't pick up. OK, you can't use Amazon but there are local stores you can get to. And so forth. At some point, it's probably not like you'll starve but you're cut off from a lot of modern interaction.
That would be like an older person complaining they "have to have a smartphone" to see pictures of their grandkids, when it's actually the other around. Because smartphones exist, they can see pictures they otherwise would not have seen at all because no one would have driven to the store, printed them out, and mailed them (or had a camera to take them with) without that technology.
Contrast that to something like parking, where using a phone app provides convenience and decreased operating costs, but the service itself is in no way dependent on people having phones.