Society and Mobile Devices 1 Running head: FINAL RESEARCH PAPER

Final Research Paper: Society and Mobile Devices College SOSC101 Month 18, 2010

Society and Mobile Devices 2 Abstract This paper is about the usage of mobile electronics in society and how people personally view them. The author focused on the most common mobile device, the cell-phone. This paper is about learning how others view you in public using mobile devices. This piece gives you a clear understanding of cell-phone etiquette and explains the authors values, interpersonal values and internal conflicts in regards to mobile devices in society. Also, common cell-phone usage courtesies and traditional forms of communication are touched upon.

Society and Mobile Devices 3 Every time you look around, whether it is across the coffee shop or down the street, you see a strange multitude of technologically crippled people going about their daily lives. To look at them is to gaze in wonder, at their pseudo, robot-like exteriors: jetting out antennas and cellphone ear pieces, and cords hanging around them, flailing about in the wind. People do not engage in casual conversation today with strangers anymore, nor do they speak idly. Instead, they venture out into society, armed with a much larger music library than I had in my first 20 years of life, at a fraction of its size, ignoring everyone around them, and more often times than not, making the most noise for everyone around them to hear. I am seeing more music and communication devices attached to people than I ever have before being used for many things: phone calls, emails, social networking, music and T.V. and various tasks are all accomplished using these items. I revel at times, sitting in a sea of other peoples phone calls and music, trying to understand why people are so rude. I find myself asking, At what point do we as society, put down our modern devices and pick up an old, fading communication technique of the past, the art of natural conversation. With all the smart phones, netbooks, Twitters, Facebooking and Blogging, it is no wonder we cannot hold a simple conversation face-to-face. Anymore, the gift of gab is truly a rare gift in public. Cell phones seem to prioritize communication with distant people over those sharing ones space, and the ethics of this new behavior are not universally agreed upon says James Katz, Professor at Rutgers University's Center for Mobile Communications. Why dont we talk to each other and communicate anymore without the quick-fast technology? Does mobile device technology insulate people within their own environment and prevent them from interacting with the outside world?

Society and Mobile Devices 4 Communication has changed greatly in the last 20 years. But, does the reliance on our technology promote or hinder effective communication in society today, and what do we experience, and how do we feel when we are confronted with the differences? In seeing how we communicate today relies on knowing where we have come from, in regards to portable communication devices and phone technologies. The number of cell-phone users in the United States is approximately 209 million in 2009, up phenomenally from 14 million in 1995, according to the latest edition of the national data book released by the U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. Census Bureau [UCB], 2009. . 2). I remember when cell-phones really started taking off, and there was a little media coverage about the new portable phone trend and how you were supposed to talk on it when in public. They reminded people to be self-aware: having the ability to see and understand how you are being viewed by everyone else. Part of this principle was to realize that what you were doing was rude, and take the phone outside away from everyone else when it rings. Also, talking in front of other people, especially people you do not know, is considered rude. There are no group dynamics anymore with cell-phone usage. In the past, individuals in the group were held accountable for their actions and asked to take it outside, but today it seems that the conflict is more institutionalized, greeted with an annoying acceptance, rather than rejection. Today, there are no reminders left in place about the rules that once were. The mutual respect that two different strangers once had for each other seems to be non-existent today. Often times, people will talk very loud right next to you; sometimes it is like you do not exist. There seems to be no common courtesy anymore, and the sad truth remains; cell-phone etiquette is worse than ever. This ridiculous need to be in touch with all people at all times is getting out

Society and Mobile Devices 5 of hand, and while we might think we are staying more connected with each other, we are in fact building anti-social walls around ourselves. There are conflicting views of cell-phone usage. The cell-phone, by definition, is an electronic device that is used for mobile telecommunication. I think it is the ultimate irony that the cell-phone, created to get people connected, has actually drawn people farther apart in communication. But, Not so, says Scott Campbell, an assistant professor at the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Michigan. "I think what it is doing is keeping them perpetually connected between face-to-face communications," he says (Schorn, D. 2006, 4). Instead of replacing traditional communication, Campbell says teens are taking advantage of the autonomy and freedom that new technologies afford them. "Technology is not changing teens, they are in control, they are taking advantage of the advances," he says (Schorn, D. 2006, 5). I think that taking advantage of free time is well worth some though, but taking all of your time to check what others are doing, or posting, or saying is scary. People need to understand their environment and need to know how they are treating others around them. While there are many different opinions on this matter, I believe the mobile phone has been a set-back to healthy communication in society today in regards to common courtesies. I was raised with a certain set of values, a set that was passed down to me from my family. The very same set of values that I hold high today are the same values that are getting compromised every time I am in public and around the rude cell-phone user. I, like everyone else in the audible vicinity, say nothing to the rude user at first. You really hope that the situation works itself out naturally. But, given a few minutes, I look at that user as violating my rights, my right to silence sometimes. I could reduce my dissonance by changing my point-ofview, but I think that this will only serve to bring up an internal conflict, having to shelve my

Society and Mobile Devices 6 true feelings. Conforming to this is kind of civil negligence is not an option for me. While I think that a certain number of interpersonal values conflicts will occur in life, I certainly can control my attitude about them. I do take personal control of my actions, and for this, I am a happier person. The presence of the cell phone and mobile device has caused changes in certain cultural norms, as well. Businesses, parks, movie theaters, and restaurants are just some of the spaces in which the appropriateness of cell phone conversations is disputed and sometimes unclear. The Cleveland Art Museum doesn't allow cell phones, but that does not always stop people from using them. It is getting so bad that industry giant Nokia, the worlds largest cell-phone maker, sponsored a notion that cell-phone users need to follow five basic rules. They went on to say (Nokia) part of a growing movement to rein in rogue cell phone users, a group that continues to grow in number and offense (Stephanie Miles, 2009). Nokia posted five rules on their website in accordance to cell-phone customs and courtesies. I think that the cell-phone has almost a human-like quality to them in regards to how people cherish their personal freedoms with them and their rights (or lack thereof ) with them. I think that it is almost like telling them how to parent their child. I would be hard pressed to find someone willing to listen to a stranger talk about their cell-phone usage. We have a long way to go to ensuring a daily peaceful cell-phone monologue in public. Personal human interaction is very important for day-to-day relationships and for the development of interpersonal relationships everywhere we go. Keeping in mind how we use our devices will benefit our society. Learning how to bridge the gap between the different users will be challenging. I suggest we use education and information to show everyone that anyone can have mobile electronics in public, and use them appropriately.

Society and Mobile Devices 7 References Daniel Schorn. (2006). CBS News: Cell-phones, evolution or revolution? Retrieved on April 11, 2010. from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/08/gentech/main 1695676.shtml James Katz. (2005). Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT Forum. Retrieved on April 11, 2010. from http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/forums/cell_phone_culture.htm Stephanie Miles. (2009). CNET: Nokia campaign aims to civilize cell phone users. Retrieved on April 11, 2010 from http://news.cnet.com/Nokia-campaign-aims-to-civilize-cell-phoneusers/2100-1040_3-242956.html U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). Newsroom: Homes with cell phones. Retrieved on April 11, 2010. from http://www.census.gov/Pressrelease/www/releases/archives/income_ wealth/014418.html