WS 3371 Fall 2007

All the technological advancements we have read about over the semester have helped develop/connect the world we live in, and the telephone is by far no exception. I don't think I would be as close to some of my distant relatives in other states nor my friends and family only city blocks away. But while this is a great thing, it can also take away your privacy. Take the cell phone for example. You can be reached by anyone wherever you are. But I guess I could have had privacy if I didn't carry or buy a cell phone. But I've come to rely on my cell phone that I take it everywhere. Overall, the society we live in would be nowhere where it is today without the telephone.

First off, it pretty much blew my mind that the average 18 to 24 year old uses up 22 hours of time on their cell phone a month. I checked my phone's history, in the year and a half that I've had my phone I've made 31 hours worth of calls. I just couldn't believe that it takes only one month for most people to talk on their phones to my equivalent 1.5 years. But then again I hate talking on the phone and people know this and don’t tend to call me.

I thought the last half or so of “The World’s a Cell-Phone Stage” (about the phone etiquette) was really interesting. I can definitely see how etiquette is sort of playing catch up. I mean I can still remember the time when there wasn’t 6 warnings to turn off my cell phone before a movie played. I also thought it was interesting that people hate their phones but can’t live without it more than any other piece of technology. I guess for most people, once everyone knows you have a cell phone, they all expect you to answer it. If you don’t, the voicemail you get always starts with, “Why didn’t you pick up your phone?”

Oh, the infamous cell phone! I recall saying that I would not conform to society by purchasing a cell phone. Well, I held out as long as I could and purchased my first cell phone at 21 years of age (2001). Then I went on to say that I would never conform to the other technological advances with the cell phone; namely texting, using a camera, picture mail, and using the web. Well darn it, I conformed to that as well...so much that all of those features are included in my package at a flat rate!

I agree that the cell phone is one of the greatest inventions of all time. Now, I will say this: I use my cell phone every day all day, but I don't spend 22 hours talking on it in a month's time. If I leave home without it, I feel naked. It's the most amazing thing.

As with every new technology, there are pros and cons to the cell phone. Car accidents have increased because people use their cell phone while driving. Scientists say that the energy waves of the cell phone are going to the brain and may cause cancer. And other people say that cell phones takes the intimacy out of friendships and such. Either way, I can't live wihtout my cell phone and I thank whoever invented it!

I felt like I was going a bit mad reading all the statistics on the growing use of cell phones and its demographic distribution. A couple comparisons seemed unusual to me. The stat that men were more likely than women to admit that they did not drive as safely while under the influence of the cell phone was quite abnormal. When asked about there driving abilities while under the influence of other things, men are usually far less likely to admit to their impared abilities, at least in my experience. The other tidbit about how cells were the most hated yet loved technology also suprised me. I would have thought the telivision would have easily taken first, sapping peoples time like no other device can and leaving them feeling increasingly isolated from the real worlds events... Perhaps this is because many feel social pressure to be attached to their cell at all times and have no choice about where the line should be drawn. At what point does the dream of Angelic communication become too much and turn into a demonic nightmare that one begins to resent and attempt to escape from?

Like everyone else, I too feel that 22 hours of talking on a phone, let alone a cell phone, is quite excessive. I cannot imagine having the patience to sit on the phone and talk to someone for about 45-40 minutes per day. In addition, there is still a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the link between cellular phones and unsafe levels of radiation. In addition to this, it seems to me that using a cell phone this much is effectively taking a very good idea and abusing it. Cellular phones are great in case someone has an emergency or is running late for an appointment, but to make it a point to talk on the phone for almost an hour every day is excessive.

I do not, however, dispute that the cell phone is a wonderful invention. I have gotten so comfortable with having my cell phone that I do not know if I could give it up if I tried. Many things come with having a cells phone: the comfort that you can be reached if there is an emergency, the convenience of being able to contact almost anyone with access to a phone or the internet, and the ability to organize your life better by incorporating a calendar and appointments into the device. All in all, the cell phone offers us much more than simply a phone. Where the cell phone was once just a portable phone, they are now entertainment devices, calendars, web browsers, and phones. Every new feature that is packed into the cell phone makes it harder for the consumer to give it up in the future.

The cell phone is truly an amazing advancement in technology. Cell phones make it possible for people to stay in contact with others no matter where they are, and I feel this is the greatest attribute that cell phones have.
As was stated in "The World's Cell Phone Stage," an individual's cell phone is the individual. You know by calling that number that the same person will be there to answer each and every time you dial that number. Even when they do not answer you leave that person a message knowing he or she will get it and not someone else.
The readings seem to suggest that landlines will eventually fade out and cell phones will be the major means of communication. My question is wether or not this is possible? When I think of a cell phone, I think of it as being in contact with an individual. There are how many thousands of businesses across the U.S, will they have their own cell phone number as well?

When I first got my cell phone, I thought it was great; however, I soon began to realize that the cell phone was not the convenience I had imagined…but rather an inconvenience. I consider my cell phone an inconvenience because I get calls at bad times, (which is very annoying), I feel constantly attached to an invisible social network, and occasionally get a “why do I pay for your phone if you don’t answer it,” voice message. Even with those reasons, it is hard for me to believe that the cell phone is something we should be pissed about. I believe that the cell phone makes our world a safer place, (besides the talking while driving). Instead of having to reach a land-line to contact someone during an emergency; today all we have to do is reach for our cell phone. A quick response can save lives, so, as inconvenient as a cell phone may be, it still is a positive tool.

“47 percent of bay area respondents said they were inseparable from their wireless phone,” how can this be when only 6 years ago it was all about the pay phones (which have disappeared all together almost). I’m amazed at how integrated these little devices are into our lives... they’re little parasites/pests that live in our pockets or bags and demand our attention if someone is attempting to contact us. I’m surprised there wasn’t anything about personal ring tones (or I just missed it?), after all who doesn’t like to hear “chariots of fire” or “buy you a drank” in the middle of a lecture? It has become an inside joke amongst all cell phone users if your phone starts to sing to you while it’s supposed to be off, and we all get that embarrassed feeling for the poor victim. I enjoyed the statistic about people answering the phone during sex, isn’t that supposed to be the “most intimate” of times that is spent amongst couples?
As far as the land-lines go, wouldn’t it be interesting if you plugged your cell-phone into a dock at home and it would serve as the connection for your land-line phones? I have also heard about cell phones being used as a sort of debit card to buy things from vending machines, train ticket, and even pay for dinner in Japan... here’s the link.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/purchase-cocacola-in-japan-using-your-cellphone-204157.php

Well I definitely do not spend even close to 20 hours. Considering my plan has 500 min which is roughly 8 hours. Cell phones are a great invention though I have a hard time saying an invention. It is a really great modification to an already good idea (the phone). When I think about it 45 min a day is no that much considering how some people interact. I had to make break plans in the middle of hanging out with my friend because all she does is fiddle with her and receives calls non stop (it’s annoying). Anyway so I definitely can see how some people could spend that much time on the phone. As for most of us as much as I don’t like admitting it where would we be as far people on the go if it wasn’t for the cell phone? Would any of us sit at home for 4 hour expecting a call from someone important when now you can go out and about. Where would we be without the phone for that matter; I can’t see myself writing a letter to my bud in Lakeville asking whether he wants to go for drinks.

There will always be people who try to make something seem more horrible than it is. “Cell phones cause brain cancer”, they say, perhaps cell phones do, but perhaps they don’t. There should be a study to see whether people can get reception inside the skull. As for people who say something to the effect of cell phones are burden and eliminate what little privacy there is by and then stating that they speak from experience because that’s what happened when they got their cell phone. O.K. so get rid of it and you won’t be “burdened” by such a convenience as reaching into your pocket and making a call whenever you need to.

Peer pressure? Is that why everyone has cell phones? Maybe if you are in the 5th grade then peer pressure plays a bigger role or if you care a bit too much about fads, but it is more convenient to have one than not to have one. Try finding a pay phone when you need one, you can never do it; it’s like some horrible trick cell phone company is playing on you.

I thought it was very interesting that in the article, "The World's a cell-phone stage" the author refers to the cell phone as an "intimate technology". The author goes on to explain that cell phones have the capability to reach into our intimate zone and bring up a lot of emotions with it. I thought this was interesting because I think cell phones are a lot of things, but intimate. I think that intimate conversations should happen face to face. When you are talking to someone on a cell phone you cannot not read their body language or how it changes. I also do not think that a conversation on a cell phone is very intimate if 30 other people in the room can hear it. Whether or not you consider the cell phone intimate, I am sure most people can agree that having a cell phone is conveninent.

What I think all of us can agree on is that cell phones connect us to each other in a way no other technology has ever allowed us to do before. Cells phones have more than just created a social network. It has created and instantaneous mode of communication which has immediate gratification. Along with many of the other people in this class, I also tried to avoid cell phones for as long as I could. Not necessarily because I didn’t want to talk to people, but because I just didn’t want to be bothered everywhere I went. Even now, I keep my cell phone on silent most of the time, this way it never interrupts what I am doing. I have to agree though, that it does give me a great sense of security. Even though I keep my phone on silent, I still NEVER leave home without it. Just recently I finally convinced my mom she had to have a cell phone even if it was just for emergencies. Now she is more addicted than anyone else I know. It is so interesting how something we lived without for so many years can all of sudden be so pertinent to everyday life. How did people connect before cell phones? How did they make plans before? What did they do if they were lost? To be quite honest, I don’t even remember what I did.

I think it is amazing how quickly cell phones became part of our daily lives. In our society today, staying "connected" is very important and the cell phone gives us that option. The idea of staying "connected" is shown with the internet as well. People are drawn to the ability to communicate with others via technologies that makes it easy and convenient.

Making a comparison between the cell phone and the internet/computer, it is interesting to see how cell phones are becoming more expensive with each new models where as the computers are actually becoming a bit cheaper. Perhaps the cell phone provide a service that is more desirable to society. Take the iphone for example, having one with a few added accessories can equal the price of a computer. But a computer has more functions and are actually more useful. It shows the power of the cell phones relative to other growing technologies.

I guess cell phones are some sort of vast improvement in society, though I will definitely be sad to see the phone booths go, they were an excellent way to escape the rain, and there is something to be said about keeping conversations semi private. Maybe because I consider myself to be a private person, but talking on a cell phone in a public place for an extended period of time is my least favorite thing to do, I feel like I am annoying other people. On the other hand other people don't seem to have a problem with it, I wonder how much cell phones have contributed to the noise levels in public places, along with buses, cars, and all the other mechanized dealings we have today.

It is also interesting how irritating cell phones can be when people don't answer them. I wonder if they make people today worry more. I work late at night, and sometimes my mom calls me just to make sure I made it. But if my phone happens to be on silent she ends up calling me like 5 times because she's worried I was abducted or something.
In the past you used to worry about someone after a day or so of not answering their phone not 20 minutes.

In the report on cell phone use the author states that cell phone use is much more important to younger generations than to older. Is this because that is what they have grown up with or is it because of where they're at in life (at different ages different things are important to people)?

It seems logical to argue that ideal communication is communication that increases the opportunity to connect with other people (including on a global level), but it is interesting to consider the pros and cons of this communication. Some of us have taken this technology too far... I may be guilty of this. My phone is always on and almost always in my pocket or at least in the same room. Most nights I turn it on silent so that it doesn't interrupt my sleep, but I know several people that leave it on all night. This seems logical in case of emergency if this is the only phone that you have access too (in your dorm room or apartment), but then you also have to deal with friends calling from the bar at 3:00 am. -Maybe it really isn't that different from a land line in that sense- It's just that my parents phone doesn't ring at 3am because their friends are sleeping too.

They say that everyone needs to answer there cell phone right away and for the most part I agree, and I act apon that. However, I always feel that if I'm talking to someone in person or if my roommates are watching tv that my cell phone is not a main priority. Don't get me wrong, I love my phone and freak out when I lose it but I still know when it is not supposed to be used. However, along those lines its not like I'm a high class business woman in New York. I don't really get urgent calls.

My cell phone connects me to the world. I always have it on and almost always with me wherever I go. I have always turned it to vibrate during class and when I am at the movies but some people just don’t get it. Growing up I never saw so many previews before a movie that talk about shutting your phone off—as I do now. I think proper etiquette means that if you carry it with you all the time, you know when to turn it off and when not to answer it.

The University offered an etiquette dinner this semester and they talked about cell phone usage. I could not believe that we were learning etiquette about our cell phones. The speaker talked about when you should not answer it and the only circumstances that would permit you to answer a call—I thought that was just common sense.

Cell phones are very interesting and controversial subject. I love mine! My phone has become an extension of my self. I never leave my house without quickly patting my self down for key, wallet and phone. I am constantly aware of my phone, even just sitting in class I can tell if it is in my pocket, and know it’s status (ringer settings, waiting messages, battery levels or signal strength) all because it is such a familiar integrated part of my existence. Without my phone I experience anxiety, and feelings of vulnerability and seclusion. In everyday life I don’t spend excessive amounts of time talking on the phone, but when I am working I have had usages exceeding 50 hours a week. So I can relate to the national average.
Cell phone etiquette is extremely interesting. It is a rather odd and abstract concept. If you really look you can see how the phone breaches all most every societal courtesy. With no preordained guide to the proper and acceptable usage of a cell phone (due to it’s relatively recent development) society has had adverse responsive. I love to watch people riding the bus strain to listen to others conversations, or people awkwardly respond to questions spoken into wireless head sets.

Technology is both a blessing and a curse. The cell phone is the same way. They are a convenient technology that allows us to talk to people hundreds of miles away for a reasonable price. The give us a new connection with others and have replaced the landlines and letters that used to connect people. Cell phones also give us the versatility of talking with people anywhere at anytime.

However, cell phones take communication to the next level: they make you “always” available. Because of this reason, I view cell phones as a curse. Now don’t get me wrong, I love being able to communicate freely whenever I want, but I absolutely get irritated by the way people assume you are ALWAYS available! If you have your phone turned off or just ignore phone calls, you usually end up with 50 missed calls and voicemails— all because you wanted some privacy. Cell phones have removed something from society. Maybe it is privacy, maybe it is individualism, but something is gone from the way humans communicate.

The article on electronic reservation brings up interesting points about cell phone edict in correlation with our addiction to the 24/7 connectivity that cell phones grantee.

Is there proper cell phone edict? As time goes on, does/will people owe more and more commitment to their cell phone? For instance, because I have a cell phone, is it my responsibility to keep it with me, turned on, and answer it at all hours of the day? Or can I ignore it when it is ringing, leave it in my car while I go grocery shopping, or turn it off for a few days at a time. Is it rude to talk on the phone while in the bathroom? I think that I am a victim of the cell phone era and have a scewed point of view, this is why i asked these questions.

I think there is a blurry, hazardous line that can be crossed when you are connected at all hours of the day. Sometimes, people can forget to allow themselves some personal time. Some survey claims that 15% of people have answered their cell phones during sex? This shows that relationships are diluted with electronics—as well as intimate relationships. They are interrupted with outsiders concerns (incoming calls).

The evolution of communication technology is exciting. Even within my life time, we have really come a long way from the old rotary phone.

The authors repeated use of the term "angelic communication" is interesting. There seems to be an inherent desire to find the easiest way to communicate over long distances. Though they are far from angelic, I think that cellular phones have really made life easier. I know that they ultimately add to the list of crap that we have to keep and maintain, but I was able to text and call people in the US while I was in Europe. That was awesome!

Cell phones have become a major phenomenon in the toaday's world. I can't picture a world where we live our lives without cell phones. Ironically that era was only more than a decade ago. But have cell phones changed the way we live for the better or worse? My cell phone almost gives me a sense of identity and value. For example, I feel more content with myself on the days that I get more phone calls than usual. This is as if the more phone calls I get the more people are fund of me.Let alone text messages. I spent almost my entire day without my cell phone today. The only thing I could think about was the moment I open my cell and see the many missed calls and text that I did not recieve all day. I wonder whether if life would be alot simpler if there were no cell phones.

To be perfectly honest I thought that some of the statistics about cell phones where a bit low, in my group of friends all of us use text messaging so in my own world it seems that 100% of people in the age group of 18-22 use text messaging. I find myself often using my cell phone to call people to fill dead space; I have noticed that in last few weeks when I’m walking to or from class I make phone calls just to talk to people to fill the 20 minutes it takes me to walk to class or work. Like people in the articles I often feel obligated to answer my cell phone when I’m doing homework or just do not want to talk to people, if I let my cell phone go unanswered I often feel guilty. It will be interesting to see what happens with the cell phone in the coming years.

I recall a question brought up weeks ago about whether or not we know we need something before it’s invented and the extent of our dependence on the things that we use but don’t really need. Media communication certainly doesn’t fit with this outlook. Necessity, indeed, is still the mother of invention in this regard. Communications technologies were created with the specific intent of bringing people together – to solve the problem of not being able to communicate with anybody who wasn’t within shouting distance. Innovations since the telegraph have only tried to make this togetherness more of a reality. To speak or to see someone who is not actually near to you is to participate in a sort of virtual reality that is virtual only in the sense that our senses are being tricked into believing that face-to-face interaction is taking place. Anytime, anywhere. But this doesn’t imply that the interaction is somehow cheapened. On the contrary, with the world being such that it is, the ability to partake in this virtual-reality-based reality is a necessity.

I've always thought of cell phones as the one technology that controls us, and limits us. I say this, because look at everyone around you. The cell phone is always in hand, in the pocket, or vibrating in the back pocket of someone's backpack. The statistics offered on cell phones, I think, doesn't really depict the actual usuage, say, on a college campus. And the availablity that these phones give people can also hurt them and others in many different ways.

Not only do cell phones give you less privacy, but they also give people less manners. The "cell phone etiquette" is non-existant, I believe. it seems that as long as you have a cell phone, common courtesy and respecting the space of others goes out the door. I cannot tell you how many times I've been on the bus and learned about a girls night with the boy next door, or a guys bseball pics for the upcoming year. Cell phones allow us to broadcast information that really, should only be displayed in the privacy of our own homes.

First off, i hope this isn't too late - i was without internet last night for some unexplained reason... it was an experience about which i suppose i'll be posting when we get to internet addiction, eh?

Anyway, when i was in middle school, my mother sent me to Junior Cotillions. I remember we spent an entire lesson devoted to phone etiquette - don't call before ten in the morning, don't call after nine at night; when answering begin with "Goy's residence, Perry speaking," when calling offer your name and to whom you would like to speak... there was a lot to remember. I think that is when i started being afraid of phones and calling people during a time that they would be inconvenienced by answering to talk to me. No one does any of that anymore. I've called people past ten. I never say "Goy's residence, Perry speaking." (no one else does, either) Cell phones changed all that - why would anyone else be answering someone else's cell phone? Caller ID made it unnecessary to say who you are when you are calling, and many people don't even say goodbye before they hang up! America just seems to change to streamline...

It is surprisingly that cell phone technology first came out not long ago, only approximately 2 decades. I lived in a country which have a cell phone population greater than the whole country's population. On the average of 1.2 cell phones/person, that means even if thats a new born child in taiwan, he/she will already have a cell phone with them. It is scary to see how we became so depand on the cell phones. i remember when I was age 18 when I first get my cell phone, I was away from home and thats the reason why my parents allowed me to carry a phone. However looked at the society today, cell phone users has been greatly dropped in age. Even elementary school kids carries one so they can call their parents to pick them up. Since technology has been involved, the way we live our life were the same way we used to be anymore.