Wireless tech creating a nation of "urban nomads"

Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:55PM EDT

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This week The Economist offers a typically thoughtful essay on what wireless technology, like Wi-Fi and cell phones, has done for us. Not from a computing standpoint, mind you, but from a social one. Has wireless tech turned us into a nation of neo-nomads, wanderers who work and play wherever they happen to find a signal? It certainly looks that way...

The Starbucks of the world are regularly crowded with MacBook-toting hipsters who use the cafes as their unofficial offices, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, the need for even a laptop and a coffee shop is on the decline, as users turn to the ever-increasing capabilities of smart phones like the BlackBerry and the iPhone to get their work done from just about anywhere.

But getting your work done from anywhere is old news: Now scientists in multiple fields are looking at how these technologies are changing family dynamics (they may actually bring relatives closer), relationships (the jury's out), and even architecture (as buildings now have to be designed with wireless signals in mind).

There's virtually no aspect of society that isn't feeling some impact from mobile tech: Even linguists are LOLing about what it's done to their field. And this one about knocked me off the couch: In Japan, five of the ten bestselling novels in 2007 were written on cell phones.

It's a long read, but an interesting one that will make you reconsider what you think you know about wireless technology. 

How has mobile tech impacted your life? Sound off in the comments. 

LINK: Nomads at last 

Comments on Wireless tech creating a nation of "urban nomads"

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  • 1 Posted by ecarpent@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    All these tech tools are interesting. I do not think that most people actually "need" them though. The majority of these tech advances seems to have created problems that didn't exist before, rather than alleviate or eliminate exisiting problems that we fantasized they would. Now, many teens use their cell phones for impromptu and self promoting photographic porn exchanges. Some people have died, or killed others trying to "text" and drive simultaneously in our multi-tasking world. Of course these are issues posed just by cell phone use. Most people seem to use these new tools as distractions and play things instead of using them to assist in or complete actual work. It would be interesting to know how often these new technologies are useful to society and how many people truly use them in that way. From what I have seen, recreation seems to be the main use and purpose for everything from cell phones to digital media, to wireless technology, and on to advanced software. Toys are fun. But these toys are expensive and seem to be more for show than true productivity. Maybe the next generation will benefit from these advances in the spirit they were intended.

  • 2 Posted by sciencetroll@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think you are right rogueist about net cafes being on the decline but things like the iTouch are getting more and more popular. i guess eventually everybody will have a cellular radio in their gadgets just like wifi now and wifi will be obsolete.

  • 3 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Like rogueist, I tend to want to work with a laptop and some wireless. I tend to look at iPhones and Blackberrys as smart phones that are great in their own right. However, I'd probably only use them for casual browsing and news following.

  • 4 Posted by super_dave_1984 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think tech is making us dumber. I can't remember anybody's phone numbers. They are all saved in my phone.

  • 5 Posted by bbelford62 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Tech makes us "dumber"? Have you worked with older, non-technical people? They are capable of a fraction of the production and drive down everyone else's abilities with their constant need for e-mail coaching, network guiding, application explanations, and need to protect their egos by storytelling about the "old days". We used to have a floor full of bookkeepers just for timesheets and expense reports. Now we all do it ourselves. No more secretaries either since everyone below a certain age can type and use letter templates. Receptionist? We all carry cell phones so that you can access us directly.

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