What about cell phones? Here is where we get into some real emotional issues. In asking my wife and daughter about this earth-shattering question of wireless worthiness, the cell phone was the number one keeper. As for me, I love cell phones. Like TV they have really had a huge impact on our lives, both good and bad. I saw a woman yesterday drive her Lexus SUV up on the curb while she was thumbing her Blackberry. No one was hurt, but I had to swerve to miss getting bumped. Talking on a cell phone is one thing, but accessing your email with a Blackberry or Treo is something else entirely. What's the matter with these people? Grow up.
The point is that cell phones are only a part of this problem. People do all sorts of stuff while driving like smoking, shaving, putting on makeup, eating a Big Mac, working their way through a cold six pack, or swatting at a misbehaving kid in the back seat. Add a cell phone to the mix and watch out. My brother claims to have seen a weathered cowboy-looking guy frying bacon on a hot plate on the front seat of his old pickup in heavy Houston traffic. Well, maybe not, but frankly it wouldn't surprise me if it were true.
I have already personally observed two rather severe car wrecks caused by women talking on cell phones. I am not picking on women here, but by just pure observation it seems most of those talking on cell phones while driving are women. Government studies have already confirmed that talking on a cell phone while driving is equivalent to drinking while driving (see “Keeping Connected Sometimes Means Turning Off Mobile Media” at www.elecdesign.com, ED Online 12456). I hate the thought of legislation to ban cell use while driving. Many states already have. Just what we need, more bloody laws. And who is going to obey them anyway? We have laws against driving while drinking and speeding but guess what, we do what we want anyway. And oh, by the way, those hands-free kits are a joke. Hands free or not, you are still talking and not paying attention. Sorry for the diversionary rant.
Yes, cell phones are great. But you know what, we got along fine with pay phones for decades before. And I suspect that over half the cell phone calls from cars are just idle chatter. You could live without this. Besides, you can still get a CB. On second thought, I better back off on this one. Having a cell phone in an emergency is a great thing. And with the E911 systems mostly in place, your carrier can find you wherever you are in an emergency.
What is your view of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi? Major wireless products. I use them both. But thinking back, I seem to remember doing pretty well without this convenience. Some people speak of such wireless products as giving us an amazing freedom to roam. Cell phones and wireless laptops only tie me down to my employer, email, customers, family, etc. Show me the freedom. No wonder everyone is so stressed out. Take a break.
Anyway, wireless is virtually all good news. None of us are anti-wireless for sure. We owe our jobs to it. And given the billions that the wireless carriers and manufacturers bring to the economy, what's not to like? Like many other things in our modern civilized life, wireless brings us conveniences and benefits, many of which we would not want to give up.
Well, you get the picture. Where did you end up? What is your most valuable wireless device? Mine? The TV remote control. Probably the best wireless device ever invented. Who wants to get up off the couch to change the channel or volume, especially when there are 200 marginally viewable channels of TV to surf through? Paraphrasing one the favorite gun owner's slogans, I will give up my remote when you pry it out of my cold dead hand.
Now go design some new wireless thing.