I have always been a strong believer that the use of a cell phone has brought our social network closer together. However, some may thing that the cell phone has actually put a damper on society. From my experience of working in a consumer electronics store selling mobile phones and other technology, I often hear the excuse, “I don’t need a cell phone”, or “I use it just for emergencies”. This answers got me thinking if we actually do need to be attached to our phones and other technology constantly, or are we just destroying our own physical networks by focusing more on our extended networks through technology. Today’s society is full of people constantly focused on their phones, and not focusing on their physical relationships with each other. My goal of this paper is to find if the use of mobile phones has really hindered our physical networks as a society, or if they have made them stronger.
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Hey Chris, this is a really good question. Its very debatable and relevant, especially over the past few years. Makes me think back a few years ago when only “business people” owned blackberries, and now everyone has a smart phone, everyones always connected to the net.
I agree with Adam… if my phone’s not charged I feel lost. This is an interesting topic as cell phones and other related connective technologies have become a huge part of many peoples lives.
What might be an interesting way for you to gather some of this information would be to do an anonymous questionnaire asking questions like: Are you dependable on technology? Is your phone often on or off? etc.
It is a very good topic though, very current and probably a question many people ask themselves on a daily basis.
I think your idea is really interesting because the use of cellphones is something we encounter everyday. Specifically you, since you worked in retail selling cell phones to people. I’m sure you’ve heard all the reasoning behind it.
At this point, it’s basically impossible not to have a cell phone because if you don’t have one, you’re an alien. Even Andrew McGill has one (ha ha)
As for how to explore this, you might just want to make a point to observe how people use their cell phones in social situations. For example, when we were all in NYC there was a point where we were all sitting with our cellphones/checking emails in front of central park. While that’s entirely unnecessary, it’s become kind of an addiction for us- so maybe you could look at cellphone withdrawal or conduct an experiment to see how you feel without the use of your cellphone.
I hope this helps a bit.
I think your idea is a good one.
I agree with the other comments as well. When we were in NYC, I had my phone completely off and I honestly felt so disconnected, so I made sure I brought my computer to check my emails/ send emails daily if not twice a day. As sad as that probably sounds, it’s true. I think this would be an interesting social experiment you could possibly conduct instead of a paper (like Adam said). Maybe you could ask a couple of people to completely have their phone off for 24 hours and have them make a video diary/ or regular diary to document their feelings/ thoughts about this. To extend this example, perhaps you can ask the person first, which technology could they not live without! Maybe their cell phone is not on the top of their list, and whatever is make them take that away for 24 hours.
Or if you want to go with the paper you could possibly talk about the new law where people cannot drive and talk on their cell phones anymore in Ontario. Maybe even conduct an survey about how people feel about this.
Overall, I think this is a very good topic and it is very interesting!
I think that aside from assessing whether or not the use of mobile phones has really hindered our physical networks as a society, or if they have made them stronger becomes also a question of distinction as well. What is the difference between a physical network versus a ‘connected’ network. Or can there even be a distinction because we are all so heavily entrenched in the act of being ‘connected’ that it becomes somewhat of a post modern shift in times where lines have been blurred?
From what I see, I feel that mobile phones did hinder physical networks at one point, but through the development of ubiquitous environments and mass connectivity, it has now acted as a tool for building them. Now that elements of portability, location and GPS have evolved into our handhelds, it influences and drives personal interactions in certain cases because of these conveniences. Now that we are able to carry computers in our pockets, we can be behind a screen and interact in the physical world in tandem. The ability to talk to numerous people at once, as opposed to being restricted by three-way calls and phonebooks way way back, has influenced group meetings and the planning of events.
I truly believe that people are starting to realize that cellphones are tools for building physical networks, and that people undoubtedly miss the organic interaction between humans. Consider it a rebirth via modern portable technologies, the new renaissance of an ‘interconnected age’?