Is it possible that modern mobile communications are starting to get out of hand? A survey by Rogers Communications of the habits of “connected” Canadians contains a number of findings that can only be described as alarming.
First of all, the 2012 Rogers Innovation Report suggests we are all looking forward to even more life-improving applications, such as ones that monitor our cholesterol and others that automatically order food when the refrigerator is empty. This suggests, counterintuitively, that Canadians want to introduce nagging into their relationships with their cellphones and that we are blind to the national security implications of giving the country’s refrigerators artificial intelligence and the ability to talk to each other.
Then, we learn that 65 per cent of smartphone owners feel “naked” when they go out without them, which at least implies that a number of smartphone owners know what it is like to go out in a more traditional, land line-era state of undress.
Third, in a list of things people would rather give up (alcohol, 34 per cent; chocolate, 31 per cent) six per cent were willing to forego regular sex and four per cent would abandon regular bathing. Possibly the explanation here is an overlap of the two latter groups.
And fourth (squeamish and fastidious readers should look away at this stage) fully 82 per cent of connected Canadians use their mobile devices in the bathroom. Since Facebook updating, tweeting and emailing can’t easily be done while shaving or showering, this finding surely makes one rethink the wisdom of borrowing another person’s phone. And in future, each time we receive a text, it’s going to be difficult not to wonder what multi-tasking might have been involved.
Edmonton Journal
