I was driving home from work the other day, passing people driving and talking on their mobile/cell phones, and I had to think “What could they possible have to talk about that couldn’t wait until they got home?”
I’m not one to talk on my cell. I use it as my primary phone but still, I’m more into texting and the social media aspect of it. I despise talking on the phone. So, what is so important that these people must risk THEIR lives as well as OTHER lives driving down the road?
In The Past
I don’t know how old you are but I was born in 1968. Yes, I remember having 3 channels on tv and using rabbit ears to get them I also remember the very first cable tv boxes and playing around with the spin wheel to try to get in Playboy channel and late night HBO.
I also remember our phones back then. No, there were no mobile/cell phones back then. As a matter of fact, we didn’t have touchscreen or touch tone!
Old School Rotary Phone
This is the phone I used as a child for many years. No buttons and was wired to the wall as well as the receiver was attached tot he phone. They came in many different colors as well! Do you remember these?
The next phones I remember are the Slimline phones. These too came and many different colors however, our Slimline had Touch Tone. As a matter of fact, our very first Slimline did have a rotary dial and then they converted to Touch Tone.
Slimline/Princess Phones
Do you remember these? They had so many colors, how was one to choose?
Mind you, one things these phones did not have was multiple ring tones. You got a standard ring across the board. These phones were used for emergency purposes as well as communicating outside the comforts of your own home.
Oh, did I mention, there weren’t any car phones back then?
So how did we keep in touch with the world?
Communicating
Back in the day, as a child, we would tell our parents where we were going. When we got there, we would call home on the telephone and let them know we were there. If it wasn’t a residence we were going to, say for instance the skating rink, there were actual pay phones! You drop a dime in and call home. Later in time, the prices increased. Pay phones were a great way to keep in touch while on the road and in case of emergencies. When was the last time you saw a Pay phone and one that was operational?
If we were out with the family, shopping around, going to garage sales, boating, fishing, etc., we waited until we got home to call someone. that is just the way it worked. There were fewer accidents on the roads as well as less road rage incidents.
Present Day
Fast forward to present day and today’s technology.
Introducing the Mobile/Cell Phone!
It seems now days that everyone has a mobile/cell phone. They vary between old school flip phones to smartphones. Since incorporated mobile phones into our lives, we have become so dependent on them. We no longer have to wait to get home to call someone; we just pick up our cells and dial. We use our phones to keep in touch on social media as well. (This is by far my main use of my phone.)
Samsung Galaxy Note II
The mobile/cell phone has enable to allow us 24/7 contact with our friends, family, co-workers, and social media. I am all for that. I love having a phone at my disposable in case I break down on the highway or in case of emergency’s or even in case I need to use the GPS on it (however my new Durango R/T has navigation installed).
However, what I don’t like about mobile/cell phones is the ignorance it has brought into our world. People on our their cell phones 24/7.
- A couple is out to dinner and instead of talking to one another, they are staring at their phones, networking with their online world or texting friends and family.
- Checking out at the register at the grocery store, the cashier is ringing up the items and bagging them while the customer is jabbing on the phone about the party the night before.
- People driving down the road either talking on the phone or texting. I know you KNOW these people. They are the ones that go from 55 mph to 40 mph than back up to 65 mph and swerving every now and again.
There have been so many accidents on the roads since mobile/cell phones have come into our lives. Despite laws again mobile/cell phone usage while driving and/or making us use hands-free devices, people continue to ignore the laws and text/drive recklessly.
In Closing
There are so many times when I prefer the simple things in life. Back to the days of no cell phones and no distractions. On the other hand, I do like being in contact with my online world as well as my hubs in case of an emergency.
Back in the day, things were so much easier. Very minimal distractions from technology. Do you remember as a child sitting in front of the tv all the time? No. We actually went outside and played as children. OUTSIDE! Remember how much fun it was to make mud pies?
Times have really changed over the past 40 years and I’m sure more changes will be coming in the 40 more to come.
Where do you foresee our mobile/cell and/or communication technology in the next 10 years?
Do you miss the good ole days of no mobile/cell phones?
