“Cell phones are so convenient that they are an inconvenience.”
Haruki Murakami
“When [mobile phones] first appeared, they
were so cool. Only when it was too late
did people realise that they are as cool as electronic tags on remand
prisoners.”
David Mitchell
“What about a text message? Isn’t that just using a telephone as a
telegraph? We’re going backwards.”
Michael Finkel
What was life like before mobile phones?
I should remember, since I was a university student when I got my first one. But it seems like I have gotten as used to having a mobile phone in my pocket as to having a wallet in my pocket, or a pair of glasses on the end of my nose.
I was reading an old novella written by Stephen King. It was written before mobiles became common. The main character continually has to find pay phones in order to get in touch with people. There’s a creepy guy following me around – I wonder if that café will let me borrow their phone so that I can get a taxi? My house is on fire! – Let’s run back to the pay phone and call the fire brigade!
It is such a different world that it is hard to concentrate on the story.
What will life be like when our mobile phones are just implanted in our brains?: More convenient, no doubt, especially when dealing with creepy people following us around or sudden house fires. We could take an instant video of a problem and send it to the emergency services with just a thought. But in another way, more stressful and inconvenient. How will we justify ignoring a phone call that is ringing inside our head?
No comments:
Post a Comment