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Community Corner

Getting Smarter By The App

My new smart phone does everything. Almost.


I did it. I bought an iPhone. I joined the ranks of millions walking around with a smart phone in my pocket. And boy is it smart. 

It’s so smart, it can find itself if it gets lost.

My first cell phone was a flip-top. I liked that phone. It fit in my pocket (actually it fit in the palm of my hand) and was simple to use. It was a phone, plain and simple, without any fancy programs or features. It was all I needed.

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Eventually, I traded it for something more up-to-date and powerful. That phone, heavier and too big for my pocket, was more complicated with a calendar, text and email capability, a camera and games. It was supposed to make life easier, but easy brought with it the expectation of increased accessibility, which decreased my privacy.

Sure, I could have turned it off, but the expectation was that with such a powerful tool at my fingertips–almost like having a portable office–I would be more productive and accessible. People expected me to be available 24/7. Somewhat kicking and screaming I edged deeper into the cellular world.

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Today the capability of smart phones is amazing. My new phone apparently does everything but go to the grocery store for me. Who knows, maybe it does and I just haven’t discovered the app for that yet. 

There are apps for everything and anything. Need a diet plan or an exercise routine? There’s an app. Need to calculate your finances or track your gas usage? There’s an app. What about planning your vacation or finding kid-friendly entertainment or finding a bowling alley? There’s an app. As Apple always says, “I have an app for that.” Except there’s no app for curing acne

My son-in-law lost his contact lens at a tree lighting event. In the dark, it was impossible to look for it. Fortunately, someone had a flashlight app on his phone. We didn’t find the lens, but now I have a flashlight app on my phone. No more hunting in my purse in the dark for car keys.

I resisted buying the phone for months, but recently I needed to make a change in my phone plan and succumbed to the temptation, all the while swearing I wouldn’t turn into one of those folks always glued to their phone.

You’ve seen them; maybe you’re one of them.

The folks who frequently (some might say constantly) need to check their phone for fear they’ll miss a message or a text. The ones who the minute the plane lands turn on their phones, heads bent, oblivious to everything around them. The ones in line in stores or at the bank silently tapping miniature keyboards texting, playing games or watching a movie. And how about the folks who plunk their phones on the table when they sit down with you? Certain that monitoring their phone is acceptable anywhere–at meetings, on a date, in a restaurant–they answer calls with the comment, "Mind if I take this?"

Yes, I mind. You're with me right now.

Smart phones have become almost an extension of our bodies. People take them to the movies, church and even to bed. For some, leaving a phone at home or being without one for any length of time can bring on an anxiety attack.

To be honest, I think my iPhone is downright seductive. I’m enchanted. It has the capability to deliver the features of the Internet, phone and computer in one slim, slick techno device. It’s hard not to want to use its full capacity. Besides, being fun, it’s cool looking, like all the other Apple products we love so much. And the camera takes great pictures so no more carrying multiple devices.

Like all those other folks I mentioned, I’m taking it everywhere, downloading applications and slowly realizing I’m relying on its smartness. I may not be as smart as my phone, but I’m smart enough to know that as long as it’s in my pocket I can’t get lost either. That’s comforting.

Oops, that's my phone. "Mind if I take it?"

Yikes, I think I may be turning into one of those folks.

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