Are People Merging with Their Smartphones?

[fo-trut]

Have you looked around lately? The zombie apocalypse is already here. It's as if people have merged with their smartphones, as if the device is now a part of their bodies like another hand or another foot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTduyvT8zoM

Reality is becoming a little less real by the day. Can you even imagine what it will be like when virtual reality hits the mainstream?

[lurker172602]

I dunno.  I use an iPhone. I find text a very efficient way to communicate to organise meetings, lunches etc.  It is also my diary and notebook.  I use it as my shopping list (which may be what you are seeing in the supermarket, not much different from being head down reading a pencil and paper list in my book). It's my map when I go somewhere new, and my White and Yellow pages when I need them. It's my book or magazine when I'm waiting at the doctors.   It has a really good camera when I want to do happy snaps and allows me to share those photos with my family in another country.

Almost all my family and friends have smart phones and I can honestly say I have never sat down for a meal with any of them where they are "lost" in their phones.  I think used sensibly they are one of the best new inventions we have.

I will agree that walking (or driving!) while texting is pretty dumb, but the advantages far outweigh the negatives for me. 

[electric*mayhem*band]

[lurker172602]

Photoshop is a wonderful thing 

[givemeaspell]

what concerns me more is that toddlers are given them for entertainment, out for dinner and the child is wanting attention - give them a phone to play with.  I caught the bus recently and the sweetest little boy was talking to him mother the whole time she was looking at her phone.  made me very sad.  Give them a book, listen to them. 

[bakeandfry]

Mmm, good point...OUCH...damm pole aught look were its going..

[grapes_collector]

I just have a cheap mobile phone for making emergency calls only. 

BTW, what are people actually doing on them?

[zanadoo_56]

I don't have a mobile phone....and I don't want one...but it seems there are some companies where you can't even get some aspects of basic online service without owning one.  It is so frustrating but I really don't need a phone 99% of the time so I will just have to do without for the other 1%.

Australia Post Parcel Collect - As I once again request a parcel transfer via online (courtesy of sellers who insist on using Registered Post...grrrr), as usual nothing happens online and after nearly a week I have to phone customer service to get the item moved from where it has sat unable to be delivered, to 5km down the road where I can collect it.  As usual AP customer service plugs Parcel Collect where I can nominate a Post Office (instead of the useless one I'm stuck with) to have my parcels sent to.  Except.....there is no way to sign on to this service if you don't have a mobile phone.

Menulog - A restaurant/takeaway delivery service I used to order from...until the option of leaving the mobile phone box blank was taken away.  In lieu of a mobile SMS delivery time confirmation, they used to send an email.  Now, not any longer.  If you don't supply a mobile phone no then you can't place an order.  Some restaurants have their own websites....but use Menlog's software...so the same problem exists.  Of course I can phone a restaurant and sometimes I do, but ordering online can be handy when you don't have change or want to pay by PayPal.  Ironically their sister site Eatnow will accept a landline no if you put it in mobile no format...and you get a recorded message sent to your landline instead of an SMS.  Why Menlog don't have this (and frankly Aust Post as well) I have no idea as the technology work well.

Yahoo Mail - I'm sick of the constant reminders to supply them with a mobile number I don't have!  At some point even clicking the remind me later option won't take me on to my mail.  As I've already logged in to get to this point the answer is to click my Yahoo shortcut saved under favourites and I can finally get past is useless unwanted 'security message'.

When mobile phones become the ONLY option to get customer service it makes you think 'I can't manage without my mobile' takes on a whole new meaning.

[lurker172602]

I mentioned up there ^^^^^^ a few of the thing I use mine for grapes.

[village_person]

It's amusing to watch the women as they negotiate the stairs at Wynyard railway station. Two eyes searching the screens of the mobiles as they descend the stairs in high heels. Amazingly talented. I wonder what could be so interesting at 7:40am to make them want to be wedded to their phone screens.

[azureline**]

I am amused at why some are so interested in what other people are doing.