I think that one of the most powerful features of smartphone and online technology for second language reading is the ability to quickly check a word's meaning without interrupting the reading process. One of the major problems of reading autonomously, is that learners need to know 95-98% of words in order to read without constantly consulting a dictionary. In previous years, checking a paper dictionary or even an electronic one can interrupt the reading process and have a demoralizing effect on the reader. However, with many applications and online reading, one can simply touch a new word or hover over it with a mouse pointer to reveal the word's meaning (hopefully it's not polysemous!). This greatly reduces the amount of time needed to check dictionaries and should result in fewer interruptions, and thus positively impact autonomous reading in EFL. One caveat is that of course grammar, sentence structure, rhetorical devices, and metaphor can all make reading more difficult, but at least the lexical burden is somewhat reduced for less proficient learners by using this technology.

In my opinion it definitely does promote autonomic learning, since it makes the learner figure out his way by him/herself. Smartphones,computers and any kind of technology in language teaching and learning had proved to be very useful and many studies showed that it raised students autonomic learning.

Thanks a bunch to all of you for your insightful comments and suggestions.

I think that the emerging technologies ( smartphones are included) are fostering learner autonomy.

I recommend you the following link:

https://sisaljournal.org/archives/sep11/warschauer_liaw/?like=1&_wpnonce=76232868d7