Windows Phone Thoughts: Mobile Phones & Constant Connectivity in Contemporary Culture

"In two decades, the mobile phone has snaked its way into almost every aspect of modern culture. Richard Benson . . . who now works as a consumer cultural trend forecaster for mobile phone firms Motorola and MM02, says: 'Like television and the motor car before it, the mobile has created new forms of behaviour, communication and thinking. We get obsessed by being "in touch"; we get stressed by being rung all the time; we flirt more and in new ways; we have created new forms of language; we feel more exposed being alone in public. . . . Richard Benson's research reveals that mobiles have stretched time and killed what we once called 'dead time'. 'We have become less easy waiting in queues, travelling on public transport or relaxing at home and now can't resist checking our messages, sending one, playing a game or tidying up our address book. Even when we do get a little human contact, the mobile intervenes. Few of us arrange exact times and places to meet. We "approximeet" - calling at the last minute to arrange when and where. Mobiles make time more flexible and elastic.'"

If you'd like an insightful and intelligent examination of the impact of mobile phones on today's culture, then you really should read this Observer article. It's a long look covering many recent hot topics including cellular phone etiquette, the impact of mobiles on relationships etc. One researcher apparently divides recent British history into 'BC' - the period before cellularisation - and 'AC' , ie now. Going a bit far perhaps, but wireless technology really has changed a huge number of things in society. As far as wireless connectivity goes, my last Pocket PC had IR, my current one adds Bluetooth and Wifi, my next one may well add 3G/GSM or even WifiMAX. What are your thoughts about the impact of ubiquitous mobile access? Do you agree that we'll become 'digital nomads', losing precious time to be still and think, or do you believe that the growing range and speed of wireless conections can only be a good thing?