During my reflection on the past week I had spent away from my cell phone (which meant away from text messaging and online weather/sports updates), reality also began to set in and I had to face the fact that I was about to enter back into a fast paced world.

While the guy on the plane probably wasn’t using his new communication device solely as a form of getting a date with a complete stranger, it isn’t surprising the lengths people will go to get a date. Advertising junior Andrea Paul was at the main library studying for an econ exam and was unexpectedly approached by two men. “Hey, you wanna go to the bar?” guy number 1 asked. “I’m at the library because I’m studying,” said Paul. “I’m not going to the bar tonight but maybe some other time,” she continued. She gave him her number anticipating there would be another opportunity to hang out. Not 20 minutes later, she received a text message from the same guy, while he was at the bar. It read, “Ur missing outJ.” What a way to get her attention. “I haven’t actually spoken with him since,” Paul said of her library admirer.

Monday, March 13, 12:27 p.m. The people on the way to class would rather converse with their iPod than with each other. Chances are, if people are talking to each other on their way to class it’s because they are asking their iPod-mate at the bus stop about their music selection. People at the crosswalk seem to live by a do-what-you-can-to-pass-the-time-in-the-quickest-possible-way philosophy. Everyone, and I mean everyone, seems to be utilizing a phone, listening to music or if they are incredibly into the latest and greatest advancement in the technological world, possibly viewing a movie on their video iPod.

The world of technology has allowed us to use things like a web cam to communicate and feel closer to a friend who might be 500 miles away. It has also aided in the personal feeling you get from conversing with someone. But it allows us to talk without tone and send monotone messages that can be translated in many different ways.

The funny thing is that even after realizing our gross dependence on technology, we still find it okay to be engulfed in every update and quirk of the latest electronic device.

In a journal of advertising research by Maura Clancey, she focuses on the effects a television has on people in the room when a set has been turned on. Her study states that when the TV is on it "freezes everybody," diminishes conversation and causes everything that goes on between people to stop and might induce viewers to blot out the real world. For example, you’re watching "Grey’s Anatomy” with friends on a Sunday night. Someone leaves the room for a minute only to return and find that anything other than something related to the show will not be accepted or acknowledged in conversation. This is a time people get together to watch a show they have been waiting all week for. There seems to be that bond that strengthens the relationship all because people watch the same show together.

Home for technology subjects

Thursday

March 8, 8:46 p.m.

“Oh my gosh, they’re coming out with an even better BlackBerry than that one, you have got to see it!” These were the first words out of my flight-mate’s mouth when he saw that the girl to his right was powering her Blackberry into the off position as our plane was about to leave the Memphis airport.

Because of this amazing little device, I was entertained for almost the duration of our one-and-a-half hour flight. The two struck up not only an intense conversation, but also a relationship because of their almost matching omni-cellular devices. These two could still be emailing each other everyday via Blackberry; heck, they could be engaged and planning their wedding by now.