Coordination of Every Day Life

Einstein’s quote on the first page of this chapter is very relative to what I am going to discuss. “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once” (Ling, p. 57). I really do think that since the technology in the world has advanced to cell phones, time has begun to be taken for granted and Einstein would agree.

There used to be a time when people did things like going to their children’s sports games. That was it. Now while their children are scoring the winning goals, the parents are cheering from down the field while trying to decide what the course of action they will take at work tomorrow with a fellow employee on the cell phone. There is no long any sporting event that anyone can attend in which there are not several people on their phones.

Also, how many people drive while on their cell phones? A lot of people do. There are people who do it when they are tired or bored and they now think nothing of when years ago when there were no cell phones, people would stop and sleep or stop and get coffee when they were tired.

There are also times when people are walking down the street on their way to lunch, work, a business meeting or to a casual meeting of friends. They are talking to their friends, the families, their co-workers, their boss’s, and even sometimes they are tying to do things like pay bills or schedule things.

None of these things were even possible before cell phones were invented and introduced to the world. I think it is a interesting thing to ask people if they think there would be less time in their lives to get everything they do in one day done without a cell phone.

I also think that because of the cell phone, more and more people seem to think that they are experts at multi tasking. They drive while on the cell phones, they talk on the phone while grocery shopping and they talk while walking down streets in cities. I am sure that there have been studies about accidents, robberies and emotional feelings given and taken from people with the use of cell phones.

It would be hypocritical of me to say that I never do any of these things, because I definitely do. I do not necessarily need to be on my phone or have it all the time, but I do try talk on my phone in situations where I never would even feel the need to have the cell phone.

I have talked and even texted while I was driving. I live in Montana so in order to get my car here and home every year, I have to drive it her. It is 1700 miles give or takes a few and it feels like a million because through South Dakota, there is absolutely nothing to look at and the scenery is all flat prairie land. I talk to people on the phone and text the whole way. I do not know what I would have done without the cell phone on those trips but I can say one thing, it would be a hell of a lot harder to drive that far.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070921225558AAyOgwF

http://johnibii.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/multitasking-makes-you-less-efficient-a-dangerous-driver-experts-say/
http://www.frankwbaker.com/mediause.htm

Social Coordination

As stated in the book The Mobile Connection:The Cell Phone’s Impact on Society, “Louis Mumford said that the clock is not merely a means of keeping track of hours, but of synchronizing actions (Ling, p. 57).” Although this “clock” mentioned was probably one that hung on a wall or was worn on someone’s wrist when it was first written, but the whole idea of the clock has completely changed. Clocks can be found everywhere – they are in every classroom at work, in the corner of your computer screen, or more importantly on the face of your cell phone. There is no way of stopping time, it is everywhere you turn, and with the availability of time these days my eyes never go off it.

Like the good saying, “A watched pot never boils,” a watched clock doesn’t move any faster either. Even knowing this sort of saying my mind will still not allow me to go a day without looking at a clock. I am sure, however, that I am not the only one dealing with this addiction of time. The worst part about my addiction is how I view time. Ever since high school, I have worn a watch and although the face of it might have changed a bit, the time is still the same. For some reason however, when I want to find out what time it is, instead of looking quickly at my wrist, I take the time to search through my purse, wristlet or bag to find my cell phone. I consciously forget that my watch does serve some sort of purpose. My cell phone is not only a means of telling time though, it is also a means of organizing my time.

“Mobile telephony has introduced the ability to call quickly or to ‘text’ to others and change plans when new exigencies arise, using a type of microcoordination or the nuanced management of social interaction via the use of mobile communication (Ling, p. 58).” No longer are landlines the only means of social plans, now the cell phones both opens up opportunities as well as makes for a whole mess of change.

Before the cell phone, if a person had a Doctor’s appointment at a certain time and were going to be late, they were late. Now, if a person has an appointment and is going to be late they can call on their way and give fair warning or even cancel it because they are stuck in a traffic jam. Cell phones, thus cause my white out to cover the pages of my planner. It can also take important time that should be rejuvenating your body out of our lives like this article from TIME shows us. Nothing seems certain anymore. Meetings can change at the drop of a hat, dates can be scheduled and rescheduled and people can be included or not whenever it sees fit.

"Social Gatherings in the age of cell phones"

“If we decompose the concept of coordination, we lay bare several important dimensions: (1) the number of people involved in the activity, (2) the period between planning a meeting or an event and its execution, and (3) the degree to which the planned activities are simultaneous and collocated (Ling, p. 61).” Whenever I plan to go out with friends, there are always several steps involved to the coordination of time management.

First, there is always the person who “makes all the phone calls,” he/she seems to be the ring leader in the event planning process. They make all of the initial calls, see who is attending, explain the time, location, and transportation options and then possibly give them all of this information to pass along to the next person. I always seem to be that person. This however, as very nicely stated in the section of Social Coordination, can leave me with several possibilities.

“Social coordination can involve different numbers of people, there can be different delays between the planning of an activity and the activity itself and the coordinating parties can plan events that are both simultaneous and collocated or activities that are consecutive and dispersed (Ling, p. 61).” By having the social planning control I can decide to some degree who I want to invite to the outing, possible a time change and even the transportation. Overall, having a cell phone and having control over my time more than ever before allows me to organize my life as well as possibly others.

-S. Peterson

How Attached Are We to Cell Phones?

First off, my cell phone has been broken for about a week and a half now, and reading these articles makes me feel a little bit unusual, and almost like an outsider. As does walking around Saint Mary's campus and seeing everyone else talking on their phones, while I am not. There are perks, however, to not being attached to my mobile. In Rachel Campbell’s article, “Teenage Girls and Cellular Phones: Discourse of Independence, Safety, and ‘Rebellion’,” parents' have a 'digital leash' on their teenagers. I agree that in this article and with Donna in sense that my mom did the same thing to me in high school. In fact, my mom has gotten better, but now they have turned into a an hour long"Hi, how are you?" conversations instead. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and friends very much, but I found that when my cell phone was broken I had so much more free time, and that I get my homework done faster. I also discovered that as a whole I felt more relaxed, since there were no unexpected phone calls anymore, and all of my interactions with everyone felt so much more sincere.
It was in this sense that I discovered that everyone I knew had a "digital leash" on me, and how much I was attached to my phone. Everyone I know keeps asking me how I could "survive" my life without my cell phone. Are we really that attached to cell phones now? Apparently we are. When it comes to cell phones 63 percent of users say they have a very personal connection to their mobiles according to a Harris Interactive poll released by Ingenio. http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/06/29/cell-phone-users-attached-to-phones This makes sense given the fact that most of the people that we talk to on our mobile phones are our close confidants. I myself went through a peroid of withdrawal, feeling weird without someone to chat with at any given moment. I overcame this within a day or so, and actually started to enjoy my freedom, and as someone in class mentioned, I was relieved. I did not have to worry about calling anyone back and I didn't stress out that I was missing someone's call. I now have a cell phone again, and oddly enough, I do not miss it as much as I thought I would. In fact, I find it somewhat a nuisance.
There are many controversial articles online about the usage of cell phones and whether or not it is related to cancer. In Cell Phones and Cancer: No Clear Connection, http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/600_phone.html , John E. Moulder, Ph.D., a cancer researcher and professor of radiation oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, says that from the physics standpoint, biological effects from mobile phones are "somewhere between impossible and implausible." To the majority of people, this is a comforting statement, however, more studies are being done as it has potential cause for concern if otherwise proven differently.
Another interesting topic is the issue whether Men or Women talk more, and who talks more on their cell phone. According to this article, Men just barely talk more than women do on their cell phones, http://www.cellular-news.com/story/24322.php, and another article http://www.mobiledia.com/news/30468.html?rfp=dta revealed that men talk 35% more than women on their cell phone. How's that for busting myths? Both studies concluded that both men and women are increasingly using cell phones more because of convience. Any thoughts on this gender related issue and the stereotype of women talking more?

Teen Cell Phone Use = Freedom...Not quite?

After reading Rachel Campbell’s article, “Teenage Girls and Cellular Phones: Discourse of Independence, Safety, and ‘Rebellion’,” I began to reflect on my own personal use of the mobile telephone and the meaning the mobile telephone has in my life.

Campbell mentions, “cell phones : The electronic fun leash for teens… Parents envision it as an expansion of their protective eye. Can’t locate the wandering teen? Just dial. But teenagers see the cell phone as a gift of freedom, a device that instantly connects them to their friends, parties and latest gossip” (196). I complete agree with this statement. Why?

I received my mobile telephone from my mother at the age of 16 as a security measure because this is the age I was allowed to drive by myself. I am a younger person of my class, and was one of the last people to obtain my driver’s license. It was normal in my high school for a teen to receive a mobile telephone along with the privileges of driving. Mobile telephones were considered “cool,” and if you did not have one, you were out of the loop when it came to knowing about social functions. This was mentioned in Campbell’s article when she states, “the cellular phone is desirable because it is cool and exciting” (202). Therefore, I was excited about being able to drive because I thought with driving comes the freedom of going to places I wanted to go and seeing who I wanted to see when I wanted all planned through the use of the mobile telephone. This was all true to an extent.

My mother intended the use of my mobile telephone to be a safety and security measure, but at the same time as way to keep up with her daughter’s approaching freedom. Little did my mother know how the mobile telephone would become more than a security measure…

I never thought of the mobile telephone as being a “digital leash,” something that was mentioned in one of our readings for class and in Campbell’s article. Now that I think about it, my mother gave me the mobile telephone as a way to keep up with my busy schedule and be nosy.

Shortly after receiving my mobile telephone, my mother made rules such as call me to let me know your plans, and let me know when you are leaving. This seem like a fair thing at first, but then it developed into situations of wanting to know where I was going and who I was with, and if my mother did not approve she demanded for my return home. There were numerous times I would try to get around my mother’s questions, but would somehow become busted, which equaled zero fun, but no need to know that much! At least after reading Campbell’s article, I am glad to know I am not the only one who did this, but thanks to Campbell, I know it was my “assertion of independence” (206).

Now that I am in college and far away, I have become more dependent on my cell phone, more than I was in high school. My mobile telephone still acts as a “digital leash” for my mother from time to time, but my mother is slowly realizing I am becoming my own person who does not need to be stalked. I do believe my mobile telephone is a way to keep connected with my social network both at home and at school. I do believe my mobile phone is a device of freedom because I can choose to do what I want with it. Unlike my younger years, I do not consider the mobile telephone as a symbol being cool.

If you are interested in how cell phones impact teens here are two interesting articles to consider: Cell Phone Addiction In Teens- The New Smoking? and She's Gotta Have It

Teens and Cell Phones

Rachel Campbell's article "Teenage Girls and Cellular Phones: Discourses of Independence, Safety and 'Rebellion'" got me thinking and made me want to do some of my own research. As an older sister to two teen girls (with a shared cell phone), I decided to call them up and ask some pertinent questions. Madison (15) and Paige (13) disclosed information to me that is remarkably similar to that of Campbell's.

Campbell explains, "In the case of teenage girls' use of cellular phones, I will argue that three central but conflicting, discourses are at play: the media discourse of technology consumption for image and fun; the parental discourse of the public sphere as a place of danger and threat; and the youth culture discourse of self-determination and sociability" (197). I saw this near exact response from my sisters (see questions below), and thought it was very interesting. Teens want independence and privacy, but they (and more so their parents) wish for the feeling of security that the cell phone grants them. Teens don't want to be around Mom and Dad 24/7, but they still want to remain connected with them just in case.



QUESTION AND ANSWER:
Q: Do you always tell the truth to Mom and Dad about where you are/who you are with if they call you on the cell phone?
A:
Madison: No, I don't want them to know that stuff.

Paige: No, I don't want to get into trouble.

Q: Do you ever NOT answer your cell phone on purpose because it's Mom or Dad calling?
A:
Paige: No, I always answer. Maddy usually answers too. I answer because I just want to know what they want.

Madison: I answer the first time because they won't keep calling back.

Q: Does having a cell phone make you feel safer?
A:
Paige: Yeah, if we get into trouble, we can call someone.

Q: You actually got your cell phone from our grandparents, right? Why did they want you to have one?
A:
Madison: Because they actually trust us.

Paige: They wanted us to be safe when we go out with our friends.

Q: Why don't mom and dad want you two to have a cell phone?
A:
Madison: They think we don't NEED one.

Paige: And that we're too young...

Q: Why do GIRLS like to have cell phones?
A:
Madison: Because it makes them look cool and rich.

Paige: So they can talk to friends.

Q: Why do BOYS like to have cell phones?
A:
Paige: So they can talk to girls!!!

Q: So you think it's different between boys and girls?
A:
Paige: Yes! Just because we like to talk to our friends, but these boys all wanna text us!

Q: Do you care if you waste minutes or text messages? Have you ever gotten into trouble for going over?
A:
Madison: We CARE, but we still do it. They just told us to stop... but we only went a little over, so we didn't get into big trouble or anything...


So from these answers, it is easy to see that having a cell phone is a status symbol, a security device, and a sign of trust (and yet privacy) between the parties involved. It is interesting though that trust is an issue among teens and parents in the cell phone debate. The teens want enough trust from their parents to actually own the cell phone, but when the teens are questioned by their parents about their use of it, they may not be telling the whole truth. Campbell talks about "the confession" (206), in that teen girls have to battle with their own conscience when they are called by their parents. Should they risk getting into trouble or just keep what they're doing a secret? In the battle for independence, this is a tough question for teens to answer.

An argument that is also present among parents is the fact that although the cell phone may be beneficial, it could also be an unnecessary, expensive 'extra' that their kids just want so they can be considered 'cool.' Although Campbell says that the cell phone is primarily used for socializing, it does help the teens develop a sense of responsibility. She talks about "the girl's willingness to confess" (206) and "assertions of independence" (206) which all lead to the process of growing up and becoming a responsible adult. I believe that both parties (the parents and the child) have to develop some responsibility when it comes to the cell phone. An article by Lucy Lazaroni entitled, "Buying a cell phone for your teen" discusses how parents should not just buy any cell phone and blindly hand it to their children. Primarily, she focuses on the benefits of pre-paid cell phones and has a reference to them in a quote as a "hard stop." Another article, by Jennifer Mulrean on MSN Money, talks about other options, including family plans and disposable phones. She says, "Fact is, the costs can be reasonable, but you have to dip into the details to make it work."

So is it appropriate for teens to have cell phones? I think it's up to the parent to decide!

For more interesting reading on how marketers are targeting the younger generation and the apparent 'need' for these kids to have cell phones, check out this article by Laura Petrecca called "Cell Phone Marketers Calling All Preteens."

Popularity determined by a “Digital Divide”?

According to a survey conducted for ACE*COMM Corporation, 50% of North American teenagers prefer cell phones to television. The survey also revealed that these teenagers spend almost the same amount of time using their cell phones that they do on physical activity. Why, we ask ourselves, are teenagers so enamored with the cellular phone?

Ling describes the cell phone as having a “symbolic position” in a teenager’s life, and it seems a more accurate statement could not have been made. The position, however, is multifaceted. Internationally it is utilized as a way for teenagers to “facilitate their social interaction.” It is a fashion accessory. It is the epitome of cool. Ling states, “the adoption of the mobile telephone is not simply the action of an individual but, rather, of individuals aligning themselves with the peer culture in which they participate.”

But within this peer culture is a technological hierarchy- one that often creates a “digital divide” between social groups.

An article on Wired.com describes the social faux pas associated with teens that are (gasp!) without cell phone. The article follows a study which revealed that teenagers are likely to alienate peers who are not in the mobile network. The surveyed teens (from around the world) “were so immersed in the technology that they often saw little difference between meeting face to face and talking on the phone.”

The teens were not intentionally rude to those who were not in the “mobile” group, they were simply reacting to the new “in crowd” standards for their generation. "I don't think that the cell phone is causing us to be rude," said Paul Dittner, an analyst with market research firm Gartner Dataquest. "It's just another opportunity to create norms and accepted behavior."

And in this generation, only the technologically savvy survive.

Cell Phone Accesories Upgrade Your Status

Cell Phones have become more and more popular and hi-tech over the years. In fact, by next year, this news article ( Medical Records on Cell Phones) claims that people will be able to download their health records and even diagnostic tests and x-rays onto their mobile phones.

With this being said, obviously many more options have become available for mobile phones with upgraded accessories. Ling and Yttri make it a point to say that the mobile telephones these days are seen as a fashion accessory itself, and because cell phones have become so popular with the younger generation, you are seen as a “loser” if you are a cell-phone less teen. Better yet, you might be frowned upon even more if you do not have the latest trendy phone or the fabulous accessories available for that phone. Apparently the more expensive your phone is, the more popularity points you rack up.

There are so many different models and colors that phones come in these days and I find it pathetic that children/teens obsess so much over them. I mean I am somewhat addicted to my cell phone, but I could care less how hi-tech it is as long as it serves its purpose. Never in a million years would I judge someone or frown upon them for not having one. Honestly, I would applaud them for not having one, especially people here at school who are away from their family and friends. I think that it shows true strength and independence, which is what Saint Mary’s is all about teaching us.

On a side note though, I wanted to point out something that I found in the reading. It said that people in the age group of 9 to 20 years old only spend 29 minutes per day talking on their mobile phones. However, I disagree with this. I feel like every where I look people are on their phones whether its in the Dining Hall, walking to class, shopping or even sitting in your dorm room, people are chatting away. Twenty nine minutes seems like a very small number to me, but maybe that is because my roommate spends literally 3 hours alone saying goodnight to her boyfriend!

I guess the message that society is placing on us today is that mobile phones are ESSENTIAL, and this hilariously amusing article will tell you why. (Top 10 reasons cell phones have become essential for modern living - Phone Technologies & Issues - Helium).



-Molly

Cell Phones: No Longer and Extention of Face to Face Communication

In chapter fourteen, Gergen explains that the initial motives of the cell phone were to extend face-to-face communication in a more convenient matter. However, in today’s society, the cell phone has been used as the main source of communication while tradition face-to-face interactions have taken a backseat to traditional communicative ways. I find Gergen hit this point right on the head and I couldn’t agree more with his explanations. I personally have used the cell phone as my primary use of communication with people for many years. Though I do not feel this has hindered my social skills in a face-to-face environment, I have noticed when this is a consequence to others.

I received my first cell phone at the age of sixteen. In my household, when you received your driving license, a cell phone was mandatory to keep in the car with you at all times (for emergencies). However, for as long as I can remember, I never used the cell phone for only emergencies. As any other adolescent, I used the cell phone to let my parents know where I was at, talk on the phone with friends and most importantly, it allowed me to have private conversations without the fear of someone picking up the land line at the other end. Text messaging wasn’t a huge notion until I reached college. I initially started using text messages if I didn’t have the time for a phone call with the entire introductory of ‘hello’ and ‘how are you’. Now I use text messaging to carry out full conversations. (However, I do not rack up the phone bill like this teen) I feel that this has become habit and has allowed me to steer away from normal phone conversations. It’s flirtatious, fun and an easy way for me to manage what I say and how exactly I’d like to phrase it. With an increase of technology, texting has become much more convenient as well. I currently own a Blackberry 8830 which has not only a phone pad, but a full keyboard on it as well. This is extremely easy to use and allows me to even spend less time on a computer because I can access all my emails and messages at the palm of my hand.

So there ya have it, the history of my cell phone use and probably the main reason why my personally skills can be hesitant in a face to face setting. Instead of taking time to premeditate a perfect answer to your question and 'ever to delicately' type it into my blackberry, I only have the filter from my brain to my mouth.

Cell Phones and Kids: How young is too young?

Unlike many of my friends, I did not have a cell phone when I came to Saint Mary’s. It was a little embarrassing, actually. I had several boys ask me for my cell phone number at the illustrious DomerFest, only to have to break it to them that I did not own one. So second semester of my freshmen year when I finally owned my mobile friend, I was hooked.

I guess one question about cell phones that always kind of boggled my mind was that of how young is too young for a cell phone? One could argue the question, “What exactly is the difference between a 12-year-old being able to use the house phone and using a personal cell phone?” On the other hand, are we facilitating the individualization of America’s youth by allowing them to have cell phones? Kids used to come to their friend’s doors and ask if they can come out to play. Now they can send a text asking, “Yo! Can U cm ova 2 ply?” Vowels are even optional is today’s conversations.

There are ways that cell phone companies and manufacturers are making it easier on parents’ high blood pressure levels to allow their young children to have cell phones. Here is an article about how cell phone companies are actually implementing a system that will allow mom and dad to limit the minutes that Susan and Billy’s cell phones will actually work (that’s one helluva dropped call…).

However, I cannot help but cock my head at this idea; kids with Razr’s and iPhones? I, at just over one month away from my twenty second birthday, have a hard time talking to boys in face-to-face situations. I resort to my cell phone, text messages, instant messenger, facebook, carrier pigeons, singing telegrams, anything to avoid talking to someone that owns a Y chromosome to his face. If I can’t do it, I’m sure little Susan and Billy have a hard time doing it. If we allow them to own cell phones, I feel that we will be assisting in the ever growing epidemic of awkward courting circumstances. Before we know it, we might be proclaiming our wedding vows via picture messages.

There is no right answer to the question I posed. I guess it’s all up to interpretation and the mentality of the child in question. I personally do not think that children under the age of thirteen should own a cell phone. I figure if they can watch a movie with limited amounts of creative four letters words and human anatomy, they are mature enough to avoid in person conversations with others. However, if you feel that cell phones would improve the quality of life of your future children, younger siblings, dog, whatever, you can check out this website.

-Jeney

Are We Addicted to Cell Phones?

Hi, my name is Emily and I am a cell phone addict. After talking in class on Tuesday I began to think about my own usage of the cell phone and I realized that many of us find ourselves lost without our cellphones. Turns out, we're not alone. An AOL-Pew Research Center Mobile Lifestyle Survey revealed that 52% of Americans keep their cell phones on at ALL times. As cell phones continue to advance, and incorporate more features one can only assume that this cell phone addiction will become harder and harder to break.

Here is an article from TechNewsWorld that addresses the importance of the cell phone to a great majority of the population. The interesting part for me is when the Gene Koprowski refers to the cell phone as the "constant companion." This took me right back to the discussion we were having in class as to whether or not cell phones are increasing the social capital of society or, in fact, contributing to individualization.

Social capital refers to the connections individuals form with one another and the levels of communication involved in forming and sustaining these connections. In Koproski's article he writes that the AOL-Pew Survey reveals that 65% of young adults ages 18-29 send and receive text messages in addition to simply talking on their phones. In this sense one could argue that cell phones are actually increasing and possibly improving the social capital found in our society. Cell phones also have many different exciting features that add to their appeal. Today cell phones have morphed from just a telephone to include cameras, MP3 players, GPS devices, just to name a few.

While its impossible to deny that the cell phone connects us, I think its also very important to acknowledge the more negative social impacts. Cell phones have isolated individuals from the world in which they live. Instead of making small talk with strangers at the grocery store, getting to know the neighbors, or even just taking in the world in which we live, many of us are so busy talking on the phone or furiously texting to do any of these things. Michael Park of Fox News writes an interesting article that goes as far as to compare cell phones to cigarettes. But, wait, doesn't this seem a bit dramatic? I don't think so. People talk whenever they get the chance. It often doesn't matter where, when, or who may be around people like, and think that they need to talk. (I remember in high school when my mom took my phone away for a week I think I actually started to twitch from withdrawal.) This kind of obsession may improve our connections with those with whom we're communicating but what about all the new people, new conversations, and new experiences we're missing while on the phone?

So in sum, I suppose I'm on the individualization side to the cell phone debate. I do feel that the cell phone is just another innovation (much like the television and Internet) that has caused people to isolate themselves, purposefully or not, from society. It's time to start to think about breaking the addiction! But in the meantime (and for some comic relief), take a look at the Ten Commandments of Cell Phone Etiquette by Dan Briody, of InfoWorld.

thanks for the references to blogs

I really appreciate the offerings regarding blogs that you routinely use. I am fascinated by the notion of confessing through a blog and why we feel attracted to reading it (which I do). What type of community is being created and what does it say about what doesn't happen in lots of other communities we are a part of. We'll talk about this more when we get to our unit on blogging later in the semester.