I’ve shunned the “smart phone” rush for many years. I never
saw much use in having a phone that can provide instant web access (for an
added price of course), that can carry hundreds of favorite songs, can play
games, read books from, and help keep me organized. However, the time came to get a new
phone. Jordan referred to my phone as
being from “Saved by the Bell,” meaning it was ancient. At least it wasn’t the
size of a WWII walkie- talkie. The phone was compact and easily fit in my
pocket. It was a hand me down from Kevin so I know at one time it had to have
been the “coolest” phone around.
However, the battery wouldn’t keep charged and the speaker
sounded like I was talking through tin cans wired with string. Since newspaper revenues have declined we’ve
been leaning more on digital revenues. To prove a point on the popularity of
smart phones in a meeting the question was often asked to have those that own a
“smart phone” to raise their hand. As time went by it was evident that I was
the only one not raising my hand. I felt a sense of pride about that, the lone
holdout. It reminded me of other times I
held out, like the last one to use a manual typewriter in the office, or to put
down my stone chiseling tools and accept papyrus.
I also had privacy issues. I don’t have a Face book page because
I’m very private. I don’t talk a lot about myself or give details about my
life. In fact, I can be downright reclusive.
I don’t have a need to know what other people are doing or thinking
either. I figure that’s just their own business. One thing I have learned in all the training
and seminars I’ve attended on the new digital technology is that you give up
privacy when you go online, or use your cell phone, send a text or email. That’s
all trackable, not private at all.
But, I needed a phone. So when the new Iphone5 came out I
figured there’d be a deal on last year’s Iphone 4S. Jan and I took a trip to our local ATT store a
few weeks ago and purchased the 4S for me. They were offering the Iphone 4 for
only 99 cents so we got Jan one of those. I’m sure the clerk thought we were
high tech novices so when she asked if we were familiar with how to operate
these things I queried back about if it worked like my Ipad2. Jan said I gained instant credibility with the
clerk. It must have worked because the clerk then dived into all this jargon I
had no idea what she was talking about.
So, now I carry this high tech piece of knowledge in my
pocket, right were the old cell phone
used to be. And, there it pretty much
stays. I’m not much of a game player (Angry Birds is boringly repetitive), I
have a few songs on there but I prefer quiet and contemplative moments, and I
guess I’d rather look at multicolored prisms on my entry room wall than
download videos of dancing humans or animals.
Additionally, I find the effort it takes to be organized is stressful.
I’m not saying I wasted money. The phone works great and I’ve
even amazed a few of my kids with some tantalizingly clever text messages. I’m
sure as time goes along I’ll discover other uses. At least now I can raise my
hand when asked how many in the room have a smart phone. Now I just need a
smart person to go with the phone.
