Cell Phone Obsession

One of the things I enjoy most about this class is the interesting guest speakers who visit us each week. Last week’s guest Charlie Nooney from MobiTV was great. In addition to giving us good solid information about current mobile technology, he also hinted at where he thinks things might go and why – and I have to say the future looks very exciting to me.

Like most people, I am addicted to my cell phone. I use it both for business and pleasure. I can “almost” not remember a time when we weren’t using them everywhere – which is funny since I am definitely of an age where I should remember a world without them. But that really speaks to just how central cell phones have become to our lives. Charlie kept referring to them as the “most personal targeted device” we own. When he said it, it really struck a chord with me. I had never thought of the phone in quite that way, but as soon as he said it, I realized he was absolutely right. I invest so much more of myself into my cell phone than I do any other gadget I own, including my computer. It goes with me everywhere and keeps me “plugged into” the various parts of my life. Heaven forbid I ever forget it or fail to charge the battery…especially during the week…and especially living here in L.A. Drive time in Los Angeles without a cell phone is sheer torture. It’s where I do all my catching up with friends and family. And, it’s also the place I conduct all of my personal business. Not surprisingly, I’m much too busy at work to do anything other than, well, work.

I’m also guilty of obsess over ring tones, call back tones, cell phone cases, cell phone colors, etc. These are really rather meaningless pastimes, but the customization aspect of these features does allow you to personalize a phone in a way you don’t with your computer. More confirmation of Charlie’s point. The phone is an incredibly personal device.

There are two ways to look at our current cell phone obsession. Some folks would argue that this is exactly the problem with cell phones – they don’t allow you to enjoy any “down” time. We are constantly trying to maximize every second of every day. And I have to be the first to admit, I am guilty. On the other hand, I think the cell phone also allows me a great deal of freedom. When I do need to be away from the office, I can take off, secure in the knowledge that if I do need to be reached or respond to an email, my wonderful cell phone gives me that capability.

I have so much more to say about this, but I’ve been swamped this week maximizing every second of every day for the last couple of weeks (score one for the cell phone haters) and knowing I have an early day in the morning, I think I will sign off for now and come back to this topic again later.