Cell Phones, Gadgets and Quality of Life

      I love gadgets. I do, however, adamantly insist that my gadgets work for me and not against me. I also am very particular about allowing gadgets to intrude on my privacy and erode my quality of life. The image of a "Borg" staggering around with wires and antennas protruding in an "always totally connected" mode is not my idea of an acceptable quality of life.

      Devices like cell phones, PDAs, Blackberries, laptop computers, etc. can be used for work productivity, convenience, or entertainment. That is, when they are working for you. They can also be used to hammer you with advertising and spam, spy on you, and steal your personal information, your identity, and your money.

      It is important to define what your needs are, what your preferences are and to be clear about the difference. Personally, I use my cell phone as a phone with all the other bells and whistles blocked or disabled. I also carry a laptop computer. Its screen and keyboard are large enough to be practical and it has the software to function as a full- featured workstation and office.

      I don't find PDA's and Blackberries practical for my personal needs as they are presently defined. Some individuals find them to be useful tools and sometimes essential tools. Others seem more intrigued by the gadgets alone, than what they can do for them. So, do they increase your productivity or are they a time consuming distraction? You'll have to decide for yourself.

      These devices are being increasingly used for entertainment as well. Personally, I find the idea of watching a movie on a two-inch screen ridiculous. Text messaging is popular with and heavily used by teenagers, but as a communications medium it is slow and awkward to use compared to conventional email or a human voice contact. Granted, text messaging has legitimate uses, but it is also a portal of entry into your phone for spammers, scammers, thieves, and predators.

      What about games on your cell phone? Do you know anyone who has a life and still has extra time to play games on a cell phone?

      So what is wrong with having the latest, greatest gadget? Absolutely nothing. Gadgets are cool. It is helpful, however, to be very clear about the difference between a toy and a tool. If you like the toy, know that it is a toy, and want to play with the toy, go for it. For better or worse, cell phones are entrenched in our lives as an essential tool and convenience for the foreseeable future.

This is an excerpt from: A Primer on How to Protect Your Identity, Your Privacy, Your Money and Your Health from Your Cell Phone

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