| Is it just me, or are people these days becoming more | | | | critical fault. Put away the phone and have some fun |
| and more obsessed with their cellular phones and all of | | | | looking around and exploring the local area. You may |
| the fancy services and applications available with | | | | be amazed at what you find or who you talk to along |
| them? | | | | the way. |
| Are we standing at the threshold of a new era in | | | | The commercial then shows how the woman |
| communication and personal entertainment, where | | | | manages to play a movie on the iPhone to amuse the |
| people will literally be able to control most aspects of | | | | children. Yeah, movies are great when you go to the |
| their daily lives with their cell phone? | | | | theater or watch them at home, but is it really |
| Technology is changing and improving our life with | | | | necessary to have cars and SUVs with TVs and also |
| each passing moment at an accelerating rate. But the | | | | have movies and shows available for viewing on the |
| real question is, with many of these advancements, | | | | phone? |
| are they really to benefit society and enrich lives, or | | | | Too many of today's children spend way too much |
| are they secretly destroying them in the process, | | | | time at home in front of the TV or computer, and the |
| whether that was the original intention or not? | | | | last thing they need is to watch more of it on the road |
| Take the Apple iPhone 3GS for example. | | | | and whenever they want to on the phone or other |
| I don't have one myself (too expensive for my taste), | | | | handheld electronic device. |
| but I'll hand it to the ingenious folks at Apple for | | | | If you as a parent have to resort to electronics to |
| creating yet another must-have item that many people | | | | keep children amused, then you have some serious |
| are dying to own. As long as you also have a data | | | | parenting problems. Put away the phone and spend |
| plan to go with it, and you shell out a few extra bucks | | | | some quality time with the kids. Get them involved in |
| for even more features and apps, the world is literally | | | | hobbies that can still take place on the road and away |
| at your fingertips from communication to Internet | | | | from home. |
| access to gaming to programming the lights at your | | | | Finally, we see the same mother use the iPhone 3GS |
| home and more! | | | | to remotely turn off some lights at home. |
| It's slick, and with new applications still being developed, | | | | This is part of what will ultimately become a fully |
| we have yet to see the full potential of this incredibly | | | | automated home, complete with automated door locks |
| advanced product. | | | | and plumbing. Controlling the lights is just the beginning. |
| Now watch a recent commercial for this very same | | | | Is being able to control your lights by remote handy? |
| phone (link to video available in article at "The Rellim | | | | Sure. |
| Zone"). | | | | But what does it teach us about forgetting or not |
| In the commercial we have a mom who is heading to | | | | planning ahead? |
| the airport with her family. By using only the iPhone | | | | This takes away the consequence of forgetting or |
| 3GS (we're under assumption that everything in the | | | | overlooking an item. Now you don't have to remember |
| commercial is accurate, which I believe is true), this | | | | to use timers on your lights, or even go through your |
| mother is able to check into their flight, find a snack bar | | | | home and making sure everything is secure before |
| in the terminal (complete with a ratings system), | | | | you leave. Now you can just whip out your phone, hit a |
| arrange for her kids to watch a movie on the iPhone, | | | | few buttons, and hope that everything responded |
| and even remotely turn off some lights at home. | | | | correctly at home. |
| Is that fancy or what? | | | | In essence, this takes away the human element in |
| I'll admit that some of those features look pretty neat. I | | | | more ways than one. First, you are no longer required |
| most likely wouldn't use them myself, but the fact that | | | | to physically turn on and off lights, whether you do it |
| they are available is impressive. | | | | yourself, a timer does it, or a trusted friend or neighbor |
| But what kind of a society are we really seeing here? | | | | stops by the home. Second, this frees the human mind |
| By using the remote check-in and having airlines switch | | | | with one less thing to think about and remember. A |
| to an automated system, we're losing more customer | | | | good memory leads to having a sharper mind. As |
| service positions to technology. How many customer | | | | people grow dumber and more reliant on technology |
| service positions in call centers have moved overseas | | | | for the most basic of functions, that technology will |
| to India? For that matter, how many grocery store | | | | one day control every aspect of their very lives. |
| check-out clerks have been replaced by the self | | | | When seeing technology like the Apple iPhone 3GS |
| check-out registers? The grocery stores aren't giving | | | | being promoted for the average person, I can't help but |
| you a discount when you do the work of checking out | | | | think back to the 1993 movie Jurassic Park and Dr. Ian |
| your items. | | | | Malcom. After seeing some dinosaurs and going on a |
| I know that the airliner customer service agents aren't | | | | partial tour of the visitor center, he tells Mr. Hammond, |
| going anywhere yet (not that many of the financially | | | | "[Y]our scientists were so preoccupied with whether |
| troubled airliners couldn't lose positions here and there | | | | or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they |
| to try to save some money), but this part of a | | | | should." |
| downward trend. As more and more people get used | | | | Do we need advances in technology? |
| to using automated systems in commercial and other | | | | Certainly. Human society is waiting for the next great |
| areas, there will be many more customer service jobs | | | | advances in energy, transportation, medical, biology and |
| lost because of similar advances in technology. | | | | other critical areas involving life. The future depends on |
| The rest of the commercial goes in line with the | | | | it. |
| general dumbing down, self-centered, and | | | | Is it important to have the latest games and movies |
| entertainment-focused destruction of society. | | | | available at your fingertips for instant entertainment, or |
| For example, the woman uses the phone to find a | | | | be able to find something that you most likely would |
| snack for her kids. | | | | have easily found anyway? |
| Okay, when you're in an airport, how hard is it to find a | | | | No. |
| snack stand, counter-service restaurant, or even some | | | | Don't become reliant on cellular technology and instant |
| vending machines? Many terminals in most medium | | | | communication. It isn't the end of the world if you can't |
| and large airports are filled with places to get a snack | | | | access Facebook or MySpace for a few hours. Get |
| or meal. Major fast food franchises often have airport | | | | out and socialize in the real world, talking to real people |
| locations. Restaurants in airports is a huge industry. | | | | and exploring real locations. Get the kids to read a |
| Now as far as quality and affordability, that's a | | | | book or even magazine for once. Society has been |
| different story. | | | | able to survive without text messaging or using social |
| I could see using the phone to try to search for a | | | | networking sites from a cell phone. Kids can survive |
| particular style of food. But when it comes to just | | | | short and even long trips in the car without playing |
| "finding a snack," open your eyes and look around as | | | | video games or watching movies. |
| you walk to the gate. I'm sure the kids will survive if | | | | "And that's why I don't go anywhere without my |
| you don't find something immediately and have to | | | | iPhone." |
| *gasp* look around for a few minutes! Oh, the horror! | | | | Sadly, how many other people have fallen into the |
| Scavenging is a survival tool, and not being able to find | | | | same addiction and dependency? |
| something without the aid of an electronic device is a | | | | |