Is going mobile exciting or debilitating....both Coach, both!

I love in the movie, "Radio", when the coach of Radio's high school football team has taken Radio to dinner and asks which kind of pie he would like.  His response?  "Both Coach, both!"  This is not the case when it comes to the world of mobile.  If we could, it would be nice to relish the advantages and discard the disadvantages.  Let's first talk about the exciting aspects of mobile technology and its possibilities.  In our readings for this week, the most amazing concept that stood out to me is what mobile can do for underdeveloped countries.  In his TED talk video, Jan Chipchase states that almost 800,000 people worldwide cannot read or write.  He travels worldwide observing different cultures and learning how to implement mobile into their societal structure.
In Uganda, "mobile phones bring rudimentary banking services to places where there is no banking infrastructure".  Being able to provide E-Services such as health, education, business, and government will help to improve the quality of life for these people groups.  SMS (short message service) is text messaging through mobile devices and the Web.  The way these E-Services work is a user sends an SMS to a number designated for that particular service with their question/key words, and they receive an SMS response back.  This method is user friendly, available on all phones, has low network requirements so out-of-date phones can still be used, cost is low, and all locations outside of the USA receive messages free.  Some disadvantages to SMS are the illiterate population we discussed are unable to use it (unless they effectively delegate the tasks to others), there are limited input capabilities, and those who are unaware of what services are available are unable to find them and therefore unable to connect with them.

 
The "Digital Divide" is defined as the gap between those with regular, effective access and ability to use digital technologies and those without.  The goal is to be able to provide a higher level of information technologies worldwide, including to undeveloped countries.  The programs being implemented to attain these goals are enabling the mobile phones in the underdeveloped countries with the Mobile Web, training experts to be able to develop and deploy viable E-Services to these populations, and educating them to be able to develop their own services.  That's exciting!

Another exciting opportunity is personalizing ads.  Safeway has a membership program called "Just For You" that monitors the consumption patterns of its customers and sends offers that are customized just for them.  They also have an iPad application.  I, personally, love that I can get coupons digitally now based on my personal needs and goals.  It is extremely convenient to be in a certain part of town and receive a text from a program with which I am a member reminding me of discounts and special offers.  I take advantage of this all the time.  If it bugs me and I won't use it, I delete it.  It's that simple.

Some other advantages of mobile technology are it's personal, convenient, the speed at which ideas go around (this, obviously, can also be a massive disadvantage), the diffusion of innovations will happen more rapidly, and the mobile phone can transcend space by being able to go anywhere and time.  As a mom of three boys, I am extremely thankful for my phone and its contribution in helping me multitask and keeping everyone organized and coordinating our activities.  I am also able to maintain accountability and safety when we are all in different locations.  It gives me a sense of security.  Jan Chipchase also said, "The three most important things people carry across culture, across gender, and across contexts are keys, money, and their mobile phone."  These are considered important for survival and the survival of our loved ones.  In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, these fall into the safety and physiological categories.  Why has this become such a massive market?  People are willing to pay for stuff that has value, and "the stuff you take with you and actually end up using has some kind of spiritual, emotional, or functional value" (Chipchase).  Forward-thinking individuals and organizations with a vision to continually upgrade and increase the quality and usage of mobile phones and how they can be implemented to benefit societies around the globe are the visionaries who most likely will never go broke.  Chipchase states, "If you want a "BIG IDEA" you need to embrace everyone on the planet.  I agree!  As strategic communication professionals, this opens up a plethora of opportunities.  We have unlimited capabilities in this multimedia environment to communicate, which still includes traditional media outlets.  It also opens up vast employment opportunities for professionals trained in multimedia journalism and strategic communications. Yay!

If you were to ask my grandmother why she doesn't like cell phones, you might as well kick your feet up and enjoy the ride!  She would begin by telling you that you will get cancer by using one.  Although there are many health-related studies regarding the usage of mobile devices, her statement is not completely valid.  One of the main points on which I agree with her is texting and driving.  Text-related deaths and vehicle accidents are devastating side effects of mobile usage.  Using an even broader lens, mobile usage has transformed and greatly disturbed the public sphere as we knew it.  When I am on a date with my husband, the last thing I want is for him to be involved in a conversation on his cell phone.  Unfortunately, mobile devices are taking the place of quality time.  Without effort and setting the example, our children and grandchildren will not know what it is like to have face-to-face interaction and be able to effectively communicate emotionally.  There is also a lot of accountability person to person.  It's much easier to transmit difficult messages via text than handling it in person.  This is unfortunate.  In many scenarios such as in restaurants, elevators, on the bus, at a dinner party, at a baby or bridal shower, reception rooms, etc. it comes across as rude many times when someone is on their cell phone and interrupting the peaceful atmosphere.  One contribution to this is that most people speak louder than usual when they are on a cell phone.  Having ring tones interrupt calm modes of thought and tranquility tend to cause irritation in the public sphere.  Something I had not thought of is "forced eavesdropping". When we have no choice in hearing someone else's conversation and hearing too much, it has been reported to be disruptive.  It crosses boundaries.  A phone conversation is usually evident because without being able to use body language, visual gestures are replaced by verbal gestures.  "The flagrant disregard of manners and courtesies is a threat to order."  The advances in technology have far outpaced the shifting social boundaries, and we have not yet caught up to reestablish new boundaries.

 
 I look forward to hearing your thoughts on mobile technology and ideas you have!