Life without a smartphone?

An interesting thing happened to me, well several interesting things happened actually, that have made me think about mobile connectivity, my life and mobile connectivity's intrusion into my life. Like most things, it took an observation of someone else's life for me to realise my own behaviours and habits were becoming quite anti-social to say the least.

Firstly, I observed a middle aged couple board the train to Gatwick on Christmas Eve 2010. After boarding the train and him taking out both BlackBerry and iPhone, a "conversation" ensued something like the following:

Him [whilst face in smartphone]: Jeff says the heating is broken...

Her: Tell him to call and get it fixed. He's a handyman isn't he?

Him [whilst face in smartphone]: I will email him instead... [starts email]

Him [whilst face in smartphone]: It's easier, the connection may drop on the train...

... [a short time passes] ...

Her: Shoot, I know what I forgot...

Him [whilst face in smartphone]: What's that?

Her: My iPod touch, oh well.

Him [whilst face in smartphone]: You only have some music on there, what else to do need it for?

Her: There are some games, it's just something to do when you are ignoring me.

Wow. Just wow. Well summarised Mrs 11:47AM Southern Service from CLJ to LGW.

The second such observation, this time with a friend of mine - has been bugging me for a while, but seeing as though it is such "normal" behaviour, I suppose I tolerated, in fact even copied... but he is constantly engrossed in his iPhone. Morning, noon and night. I enjoyed conversations with him - now he's here, but not here. Where? I don't know.

But I find myself doing the same... it pains me.

So on Friday, I sent myself to the Vodafone store... and bought a new non-smartphone. Here goes life without a smartphone.