Seems everyone has a phone and many of those are smart phones. For example at lunch the other day all six of us in the restaurant were on our smart phones either texting, emailing or checking our blogs. (I’m in the later category). CNNTech article states that , “45% of cell phone owners said that their phone is a smartphone. Also, 49% of cell phone owners said that their phone operates on a smartphone platform common to the U.S. — which includes BlackBerry.” And, most of those are owned by adults. I have one. They said in an article that the biggest growth in smartphone ownership was among adults aged 18 to 24 (up 18%); the next highest growth was among those aged 45 to 54 (16%). Other demographic segments with high growth in smartphone use include whites (15%); those with some college education (14%); and women, rural dwellers and those aged 25-34 (13% each). The article also stated “The slowest growth in smartphone use was among people aged 65” which means I have 3 more years to go before I have to put mine away. Of course by then I probably will be using the next generation of whatever it is. So, this morning I was doing as this young man, enjoying a mocha latte and checking your blogs.
8 Comments
Tom Dills
The ubiquitous-ness of the smartphone amazes me. I’m a few years farther away from that demographic than you are, but I exhibit many of the characteristics. 🙂 I’ve got a 3+ year old Blackberry that is practically useless for reading blogs and surfing web sites. Which is probably a good thing for me, since if I had a “good” smartphone I’d never get anything useful accomplished! I’m not a person who feels the need to be constantly connected, so for me it is usually sufficient to spend a few hours in the evening with my iPad to catch up with my blog buddies. I’ve thought seriously about buying a new phone, but I’ve now got myself hung up on trying to find a suitable alternative to Verizon, so until I resolve that dilemma I’ll probably hang on to it.
In a coffee shop situation like you mention, the old school approach would have been to carry a book or magazine to pass away our quiet time. The phone and tablet have replaced that, and I think that is OK. I carry my iPad with me just about everywhere, and when I am connected I can check websites, but when I am not connected I always have something I can read “off line.” Phones in social situations is where I differ the most from the mainstream, I think. I see 8 people walk into a restaurant, phones at the ready in case they get some important message, then they spend the entire meal looking at their phones and barely interacting with each other.
Monte Stevens
It’s the most difficult task as a flight attendant to get passengers to let go of their portable electronic devices for an hour and half flight. And, as soon as we land those things are powered up and dinging and chiming all over the aircraft. I don’t own an ipad just for the simple reason it could suck me into a hole and I can’t afford one. 🙂 The iphone sucks me in enough.
I have a photo in my archives of a couple I encountered at a coffee shop. They both were in business suits lugging large computer bags. They setup their laptops across from the a table for two and started working away. I walked up and asked if I could take a photo of them because it used to be that a couple would sit across from each other and read the newspapers over morning coffee.
Earl
Personally, I like to use a smartphone smartly. Tell it what’s important to me and then let it notify me when something that meets that criteria happens.
Using it to try and digest the whole Internet is frustrating…small screen/keyboard and it’s basically slow.
Oh, I also have a very “strange” requirement of them…they must also be a decent PHONE…imagine that! 😉
Monte Stevens
You mean you want make phone calls with it? What a concept, Earl! 🙂
ken bello
At a family gathering a few days ago I saw more young people looking at their phones than each other. I think the phones are smarter than some of their owners.
Monte Stevens
YOu may be right, Ken. It is amazing what these smart phones do.
Paul
I notice that a lot and when I am having lunch with a friend, I will turn my phone completely off. This way, I don’t get the urge to check. I prefer that; however, they will often check theirs during that time. One of my friends was texting so much at lunch that I got up, got ready to leave. He asked me where I was going because he thought that we were having lunch together. I said: Yeah, I thought so too, but you seem to be more interested in texting than talking, so we’ll catch up later. Since then, when we’ve had lunch, no issue. 🙂 His right to text, mine to walk away from it.
Monte Stevens
The PED’s can be a problem for some people and when that happens they become a problem for others. I could not believe how many drivers I saw yesterday who were texting as the drove. I always let them get in front of me.