I regard all talking gadgets that are used by people on the move as walkie-talkies, whether it is a basic mobile or a sophisticated video camera phone.With the introduction of the Apple Iphone in the Indian market, my first reaction was, “Oh, no! Not another walkie-talkie!”
The reason why I was aghast: yet another device that will reduce leisure time and family time; yet another device that will keep children indoors. In short, the iphone will be controlling your life.
Here are some of the reasons why I consider the iphone as not really a so-called boon:
* Touchscreen: As though you did not have enough said and researched about the over-use of fingers on the number / alphabet keys, with an iphone you are using them even more! All the time you will be jabbing away at that touchscreen, moving and scrolling up and down.
* The screen as a viewer: With the invention of the computer and the introduction of the World Wide Web, here’s what we got - people hunched over for hours on end facing a screen;
practically no blinking; peering at mini-sized fonts; not bothering to switch on an extra light in the room… in short, masses of people likely to soon have badly affected vision and over-strained back and neck muscles. Similarly, an iphone owner will be peering at the miniature screen, or bent over furiously tapping away. The ultimate beneficiaries: doctors!
* Camera facility: The iPhone is yet another photographic gadget to invade a person’s privacy. At one time, a camera was used strictly for vacation trips and birthdays to snap images for posterity. Now, with a camera in the phone, you have people taking a picture just about anywhere, often for no reason at all other than to show off. Or you may be having a pleasant lunch at a dining establishment and the next day you will be astonished to see your photograph in the newspaper in the restaurant review section. Very few individuals like to have this kind of publicity (especially if you don’t want anybody to know whom you were dining with!).
Here are some of the reasons why I consider the iphone as not really a so-called boon:
* Touchscreen: As though you did not have enough said and researched about the over-use of fingers on the number / alphabet keys, with an iphone you are using them even more! All the time you will be jabbing away at that touchscreen, moving and scrolling up and down.
* The screen as a viewer: With the invention of the computer and the introduction of the World Wide Web, here’s what we got - people hunched over for hours on end facing a screen;
practically no blinking; peering at mini-sized fonts; not bothering to switch on an extra light in the room… in short, masses of people likely to soon have badly affected vision and over-strained back and neck muscles. Similarly, an iphone owner will be peering at the miniature screen, or bent over furiously tapping away. The ultimate beneficiaries: doctors!
* Camera facility: The iPhone is yet another photographic gadget to invade a person’s privacy. At one time, a camera was used strictly for vacation trips and birthdays to snap images for posterity. Now, with a camera in the phone, you have people taking a picture just about anywhere, often for no reason at all other than to show off. Or you may be having a pleasant lunch at a dining establishment and the next day you will be astonished to see your photograph in the newspaper in the restaurant review section. Very few individuals like to have this kind of publicity (especially if you don’t want anybody to know whom you were dining with!).
* Audio player: It is nice to listen to audio CDs on the home music system or hum along with a song aired on the local radio station. With the ipod and the iphone, now you will see an individual intently listening to some music at extra loud volumes. It is not only audible to that person, but also to people nearby. So it is not just irritating to others, but is likely to create some serious damage to that individual’s ear drums.* Games: The iPhone has an additional feature catering to kids’ entertainment. Kids can play games like Scrabble or view video podcasts of their favourite TV shows. This is entertainment?! As it is, present-day kids spend way too much time watching television rather than fruitfully enjoying some outdoor game. Moreover, at one time Indian societal norms dictated that the mother should be strictly a homemaker; that is no longer the case today. With both parents taking up jobs to supplement the family income, there is less time in communication and bonding at home. Give me a scrabble board any day rather than playing it on a miniature screen! Scrabble is one of many family games that brings a family or a group of friends together.
* ‘A’ Certificate: Suppose your kids watch something inappropriate? Well, at least the
Apple Iphone 3G has thoughtfully provided a setting that allows you to enable ‘parental control’ to prevent kids from viewing what they should not. Hmmm…yet another headache to worry about! (You are already worrying about your child’s Internet times).
Sure, the Apple Iphone 3G gives you the advantage of storing tons of data and information. But what if it gets stolen? What if the most important data is stored in it and you don’t have it written somewhere else? Well, this ‘useful gizmo’ has a safety feature: You need to enter a passcode in case you lose your iPhone. Huh? – don’t you have enough email and bank passwords to remember?
So think about it: do you really want an iPhone to control your life?
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