Dumb Phones

I've noticed lately more and more people buried in their mobile
devices in public or even while they are in supposedly social
situations. While the former is understandable (the phone has taken
the place of books or magazines in waiting rooms and airport
terminals), the latter is downright rude.

Perhaps it is generational, since I did not grow up with a "smart"
phone in the 70s and 80s, it took me a long time to even see the
need for one. I have one now because I must, as a sysadmin who is
on-call it is expected. And I do amuse myself with it in public
waiting rooms (although typically with FBReader). But I make a point
to put it away and not check it when I'm with my friends or family.
If I'm checking something on my phone while someone is talking to me
face-to-face, I'm really telling them what they are saying is not
important, compared to whatever is on my phone. Why engage in
conversation with me at all if all you want to do is check your
facebook feed obsessively or text someone?

Ray Bradbury had it right, he was just a bit off as far as scale.
Rather than flat-screen TV wall displays (although I notice those
are proliferating quite rapidly in bars, restaurants and doctor's
offices), the device has shrunk and we are being stupefied by a
hand- held version of the interactive TV.