h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As yet I don't own a mobile - I'm rarely in a position to need one. I'm sure I will eventually succumb, but it will either be the most basic model I can find, to use for emergencies e.g. stranded on a journey, or it will be complete with every gadget to keep me entertained wherever I am.

Mobile phones have certainly affected society. People expect to be able to contact each other 24/7 wherever they are. There's a pressure to respond instantly; we need a new ettiquette for texting/taking calls when in company.

As far as health issues go, I foresee more accidents causd by people being distracted while using a phone and driving/crossing the road etc, or repetitive strain from hand/finger positions rather than radiation damage.

Until one can reliably use a mobile anywhere in the world, people will still require more basic timepieces, cameras etc, but I guess the future will be global wifi reception. I'm not sure that's totally good - once people get to rely on technology, they lose certain basic abilities.

Of course it's possible to live without a mobile phone, but those who do will increasingly be seen as odd or impoverished by mobile users.

I have a mobile, it's for one thing: so my childminder can contact me to tell me if there's a problem with one of the gruesomes. Or so I can call her from a traffic jam and let her know i'm going to be late.

Apart from that I almost never use it. And when I do want to use it I've either run out of money or it's out of juice.

Blimey, I'd forgotten about this convo.

Still hardly use my mobile - although it is useful at meets so we can find each other.

I got one each for the Gruesomes now they are at secondary school and coming home on the bus - it is for emergencies and so far they have respected that. (they switch them off at school)

has one. It's either in his bag, switched off, or he doesn't hear it. So I've given up calling him.

But I do have a rather funky LG all-singing-all-dancing jobbie. But it was a present or I'd still have my ancient Siemens thing.

Having been massively ripped off in Bulgaria, I spent my first 6 months in HK with no phone of any kind.Stats show there are three mobiles in HK for every adult. I used to buy phone cards (v cheap) and phone home a weekends.
Then the Spearcarrier came to visit and laid the guilt trip on me (What happens if you get sick?)So bottom of the range with the prepay option.Still got it,in case I return to HK, but of course not using it here.
Two years ago I bought a handset with a loud ring for eight pounds, which is all I'm using at present Yes - you can manage without a mobile - wonder how long I'll hold out.

I can believe the 3 per adult stats very easily - in this house we now have 2 per adult. And if my boss gets his way, one of us will have 3. (not that my boss will get his way...)

Hubby has now bought a basic phone for us to share. I never remember to pick it up if I'm going out. We did take it on holiday though, it was handy being able to ring home without the hassle of finding & using a foreign public phone.

*tee hee*
Handy
*tee hee*