“I need my cell phone” is a phrase that is true for many people. Cell phones are a great way to stay in touch with people, and smart phones have many other helpful resources. But I literally need my cell phone. I observed how much I use my phone for a few days and realized that I use it at least once every hour. It is my alarm clock every morning, receives my spiderbytes, allows me to text, email and BlackBerry Message (BBM) my friends and family, and so much more. It is the first thing I reach for when I wake up and the last thing I use before going to bed.
I call my parents frequently to check in and have an email chain with my family to share funny stories or coordinate a family dinner whenever I’m home for the holidays. I text my friends from home, who attend different schools, and people on campus. I check my Facebook and the weather. I play games, listen to music and use the calendar to remind me about things that I have to do. It is almost frightening how much I rely on my smart phone for communication as well as entertainment.
I noticed throughout the past few days that in terms of phone call, I contact my mom most out of anyone. I text and email her to discuss random things in my life occasionally, but I call her every day just to check in. When I was in high school I had a good relationship with her despite the occasional argument that was always short lived. However, now I call her to ask for advice or help. Although I am a nineteen year old who has learned how to take care of myself, I still like to talk to my mom and get her input or hear how things are at home. While I would love to see my mom every day and have face-to-face conversations, that is not physically possible and I do enjoy the independence I have gained since coming to college.
In William Gibson’s Neuromancer, he discusses the idea of a three dimensional “consensual hallucination” and this virtual world in cyberspace in which people can jack into in order to interact with others. Although I would love to be able to see my mother, I do not think that I would enjoy Gibson’s fictitious ideas becoming realities. I am grateful that I have such an easy way to communicate with people, but I don't think I could handle Gibson's depiction of cyberspace.
What a stark change. I would have faced a lot of negative peer pressure had I called home frequently.
ReplyDeleteWe did not have cell phones, but I think parenting has changed, too. In any case, Gibson really missed how people would use connected contact; you use it to augment the real-life self whereas Gibson's Sim Stim viewers and cyber cowboys use it to escape the self.
Fascinating.